"Worn On Wall Street" Captures New Haven In Style

Kelsey P. Abiba Biao Photos.

As Kelsey P. walked down the runway, an electric buzz filled the air. From where she stood, a cropped black t-shirt with the words “God’s Timing” and a black pleated short skirt seemed alive.  She owned the stage: each step she took in her lace up combat ankle high black boots was graceful but assertive. The warm spotlight danced across her gold bracelets and hoop earrings.

You wouldn't be able to tell that she was nervous, a secret she revealed only after taking the runway by storm. A series of thunderous whoops and cheers followed as she made her way offstage, drowning any insecurities she once had. 

That infectious energy followed every model last Thursday, at an inaugural “ Worn on Wall Street” fashion show in CITA Park. The event was part of the city's thurd annual Black Wall Street Festival, showcasing Black and brown entrepreneurs and creatives across the Elm City. For the first time this year, the festival stretched across a full week, culminating in a day-long celebration on the New Haven Green,  

Each day featured a different cultural event, all leading to the Black Wall Street (BWS) Festival on the Green. City Cultural Affairs Director Adriane Jefferson called these “activation events.”

“We're trying to show that wealth can be created and cultivated amongst us as Black people,” she said.

Event curator Jayden “Style Strizz” Pressey.

Thursday's lineup featured 40 models representing six clothing brands, including A Hustler’s Vibe, Alternative Reality, Syd University, Threads by Tea, Duss Wayne, and the Strizz Collection. It was curated by  Jayden Pressey, CEO of the Strizz Collection.

Pressey, who goes by the fashion name “Style Strizz,” said that the show was about lowering the barrier to entry for the average person to get into fashion. In addition to running the Strizz Collection, he also serves as a lead stylist for Unsubscribed in Westport.

In addition, he wanted to  showcase the number of hyper-local apparel options for consumers in New Haven and beyond. Strizz, 24, curated Worn on Wall Street in collaboration with District New Haven’s Erika Stine, who helped with event logistics.

“I want them [the audience] to just take away the fact that they don't always have to go to Gucci or Prada or all the bigger brands to find something that's aesthetically pleasing to match what you want to be,” he said. “That there's a Black brand right around the corner from me that offers that same luxury aesthetic.”

Strizz added that another focus of the show was on “giving the models a place to be themselves,” including half of the models who had no prior modeling experience. To him, that mentorship—showing people the ropes and giving them a chance to break into the creative field—was just as important as the show itself.

Rashaan Boyd, who owns A Hustler's Vibe at 162 Edgewood Ave. 

As they prepared for the show, designers and entrepreneurs were aflutter with excitement. Rashaan Boyd, owner and designer of A Hustler’s Vibe at 162 Edgewood Ave., said he couldn’t say no to being a part of BWS fashion show. He’s been a vendor at the festival since its inception in 2022. Inclusivity is a huge ethos for the streetwear apparel brand, which carries  toddler fits all the way up to plus size sizes.

“The luxury is in the piece that you have,” he said. “ You are the person. You make the piece, the piece doesn't make you. So in a sense, where I can take a $5 piece of fabric and someone might think it was a Louis Vuitton piece.”

Boyd saw this as a moment to showcase his unreleased fall and winter collections, noting that there is a difference between wearing and styling clothes.

“I just want to close out the year strong, make sure that I get the people what they want this coming fall and winter and continue to just bless the streets with luxury street wear,” he said.

Jessica Kott, Que Payne, and Brigitte Cogswell.

Waiting for the show, Brigitte Cogswell passed the time with her best friend, Jessica Kott, and mother, Que Payne. She had come out to support her daughter, Agape Cogswell, who goes by the model name Agape Renee.

During the day, Agape works as a digital media specialist at Cornell Scott Hill Health Center. Through her job, her mom said, she’s been  getting out more around the city and finding recreational activities.

“She has been more connected through her job and coming home and telling us about all the things that are happening in the community,” she said.

“I really do feel that having the opportunity to see the designers will encourage us to kind of stretch out of our comfort zones and to try to support them,” she added. “Especially because I do want to begin to have fashion that speaks for me, that allows a message, right? I want to be purposeful with what I wear, right? I don't just want any designer on me.”

Ciera Murray and Imani Tyson.

Flicking her lemonade braids to the side, model Ciera Murray strutted down the runway in an oversized Syd University shirt, designed by Sydney Bell. Paired with black shades, beige block heels, and chunky gold hoop earrings, the message was clear: don’t mess with her.

Murray, 24, is an animal technician by day and model by night. She holds a host of creative pursuits, also being a makeup artist, hair stylist, and party promoter and is no stranger to the spotlight, thanks to her dance career as a kid. Her entry into the fashion world was only natural.

“I've always been the type of person who likes to be creative … so when it comes to fashion, you can literally put anything together, and you can make it your own,  be your own person, and it’s a way of showing your authenticity,” she said.

After attending BWS Festival last August, Murray said that she was determined to find a way to join in on the festivities this year.

“It's always been a great experience,” she said. “Just because Black Wall Street is made for Black people to connect, all types of people to connect and be able to share their dreams and their aspirations in life with everyone. And that's what I really love about it.”

Renee, wearing Threads By Tea.

Minutes later, 20-year-old  Imani Tyson wowed the audience as she sported the Strizz Collection’s “God’s Timing” trench coat with a white top and short ruffle skirt. Topped with some beaded necklaces, silver cross earrings, and cowboy black boots, she all but demanded a double take from attendees cheering her on.

She didn’t forget the pièce de résistance to complete the outfit: a clear mini swipe bag, first coined by the French brand Coperini.

“You know, it's all about the details,” she said.

Tyson is a rising senior at Southern Connecticut State University studying music. For her, the BWS Fashion Show and partner events were the “stepping stones” for her blossoming creative career, sharing her modeling and content creation journey on her YouTube channel.

Although Tyson is a Stratford resident, she does much of her modeling and influencing work in New Haven, noting the good scenery.

“I always come to New Haven to find those specific spots, but nobody ever knows that I'm in New Haven, because, you know, you gotta master it a little bit,” she said with a  laugh. “Otherwise everyones gonna try to jump on that train, and you gotta keep it simple.”

Kelsey P and Agape Renee. 

It wasn’t long until Renee took the stage, donning a sleeveless lilac dress designed by Tea Montgomery, owner of Threads by Tea.

By the end of the show, she had not only gained confidence, but made new friends including Kelsey. Both discovered that they are native New Haveners and New Haven Public School graduates: Renee graduated from New Haven Academy in 2014 and Kelsey from the same school just four years later.

As a plus size model, Kelsey said that it can be “disheartening” starting out in the modeling field, but has since learned how to get out of her comfort zone and feel comfortable in her own skin.

Adding to her worries was her one year hiatus from modeling, thinking she didn’t have the chops, but the night proved her wrong and invigorated her passion for modeling. She shouting out Strizz’s inclusivity in his clothing, saying that she personally resonated with his message. For her, God’s timing with her modeling career was now.

“Us coming together is the purpose [of this event], just to share the culture, to share the art, to share it with each other and like admire each other,” she said.

Renee agreed. Just like Kelsey, Renee was also out of the modeling game for a few months and was unsure if she would make the cut after auditions for the casting call, but made it through, and has said that she made memories and connections.

“If you are passionate about it, then pursue it,” she said. “Don't listen to any of the other noise. Take that leap, take that step, and just know that God is going to open the doors and if he shuts the doors, that wasn't the door for you to walk through.”