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Trans Media supporters with Sharaun, in gold at the Trans Media Fashion Show. Photo by Vern Hester -
On the runway at The Trans Media Fashion Show. Photo by Vern Hester -
On the runway at the Trans Media Fashion Show Photo by Vern Hester -
On the runway. Photo by Vern Hester -
On the runway at The Trans Media Fashion Show. Photo by Vern Hester -
On the runway. Photo by Vern Hester -
On the runway. Photo by Vern Hester -
From left, Dr. Robin Gay, Terra Campbell, Oliver Bobadilla, and Zahara Bassett. Photo by Vern Hester -
On the runway at The Trans Media Fashion Show. Photo by Vern Hester -
On the runway at The Trans Media Fashion Show. Photo by Vern Hester -
Ariana Ray and Dante Hernandez. Photo by Vern Hester -
At the tables. Photo by Vern Hester -
Friends enjoying The Trans Media Fashion Show. Photo by Vern Hester -
Friends enjoying the show. Photo by Vern Hester -
Friends enjoying The Trans Media Fashion Show. Photo by Vern Hester -
From left, supporter David S. Hackett, Tony Riviello, and Steven Solomon at The Trans Media Fashion Show. Photo by Vern Hester -
From left; Steven Solomon, Ella Jasso, and Alvin Paris. Photo by Vern Hester -
From left, Mark Jeffrey, Kyle Dunn, Eugene Tang, and Charlie Peterson. Photo by Vern Hester -
The crew of volunteers with Steven Solomon center, at The Trans Media Fashion Show. Photo by Vern Hester -
The infamous parachute dress on display at Fashion Bar. Photo by Vern Hester -
Activist, queer journalist, and make-up artist A.J. Slayz left, with two volunteers before The Trans Media Fashion Show. Photo by Vern Hester -
Trans Media creator and CEO Tony Long, third from left with volunteers before The Trans Media Fahion Show. Photo by Vern Hester -
Trans model, activist, and enviornmentalist Stefanie Clark with Howard Brown Health Senoir Individual Giving Officer Steven Solomon. Photo by Vern Hester -
On the runway. Photo by Vern Hester -
Howard Brown Health staff with Steven Solomon center. Photo by Vern Hester
The event served as a fundraiser for Howard Brown Health, Broadway Youth Center and the Vernita Gray Council for Philanthropy, all the while presenting transgender clothing collections designed by local trans artists as part of Fashion Week.
The event was held at FashionBar in Water Tower Place and included appearances by activist, environmentalist and 80-year-old transgender model Stefanie Clark along with Trans Media CEO creator and producer Tony Long, and America's Next Top Model finalist and founder of the Model Tribe Sharaun.
Among the designers with works in the show were DoviArt, who has presented her designs on Trans Media Fashion; Aspen Sweet, a 17-year-old who walked in the Trans Media Show in the fall of 2023 and has gone on to start her own designer brand; and Long (who's also the founder of FashionBar) as IAMTONYLONG.
The fourth collection was presented by Howard Brown's resell outlet the Brown Elephant. Zahara Bassett, CEO of Life is Work served as the emcee for the show.
According to the company website, "FashionBar LLC is a premier fashion strategy and consulting company that provides end to end services in fashion business consulting, design, and development of custom garments and patterns of fashion collections with a go-to-market strategy in order to support all facets of the Chicago fashion industry."
The Vernita Gray Council for Philanthropy is an auxiliary board made up of influencers and innovators who help further the mission of Howard Brown Health through fundraising, engagement and outreach. The Council hosts cultivation and outreach monthly events to engage the community in attracting VGC members, donors, corporate partners, and patients. Sponsors for the event included FashionBar and W.W. Grainger, with support from ERIS Brewery and Cider House.
The Vernita Grey Council for Philanthropy will be screening the film HIV and the Journey to Zero on May 14. For more information regarding FashionBar go to http://www.fashionbarchicago.com. For more information regarding Howard Brown Health go to http://howardbrown.org.