August 26, 2026

Color of Fashion Is Forming Denver’s Fashion Identity

Color of Fashion’s sixth season, which took place last week, is proof that this runway experience is not only cultivating a fashion community here in Denver, but a movement.

Founded by Alicia Myers and Samantha Joseph, Color of Fashion is a nonprofit organization focused on diversifying the fashion scene and pouring into those who make the industry thrive here in Denver. With food provided to the models (which is shockingly rare when it comes to preparation before runway shows), the entire team is supported, including hair and makeup artists. Additionally, designers are given a platform to showcase their art in a runway setting.

It takes the entire day to prepare for a runway show like Color of Fashion. This year, the team backstage adorned colorful CoF shirts and the energy was high from start to finish. While it takes months to prepare for a runway segment that may only last a few minutes, all of the work behind the scenes is what makes a fashion show so exciting and fulfilling. It’s one thing to see a garment on a shelf, on a hanger, or even on our screens. It’s an entirely different feeling to see a piece come to life with the vision behind it on display, as the designer works alongside the CoF team to tell their story through styling, hair, makeup, the model showcasing the piece and the energy behind the runway collection itself.

That’s why it’s no surprise that there was intention behind every detail of the show this season, including a stunning set design by Meron Siyum, complementing the beauty of the collection presented by LA-based mother-daughter designer duo, House of Aama.

HOUSE OF AAMA

Mother and designer Rebecca Henry’s background is in law. She still works as an attorney while she builds and grows House of Aama. There aren’t many individuals who know what it’s like to be in her shoes, working in two industries that are both demanding and require a unique skillset.

Daughter Akua Shabaka is the visionary of the duo, with a forward thinking approach as well as a lens focused on heritage and familial history. She is intimately learning from her mother, preserving their connection that is both personal and professional by allowing their brand to become not only a heartfelt tribute to the history behind their family, but also an innovative way to showcase Black heritage from the lens of fashion.

Rebecca Henry and Akua Shabaka, House of Aama. Photo by Austin Aubert

READ: Inside House of Aama’s Living Archive: How Heritage Meets Fashion

House of Aama’s collection for Color of Fashion showcased a moment where Henry and Shabaka’s legacy came to life. Rooted in pastels, elegant and feminine mesh dresses and lace sets graced the runway, coinciding with the drapery on the set design.

Photos by Austin Aubert

The segment continued with pieces from “Camp Aama,” a fictionalized Black resort community. The looks display “Black sailors and the water spirits of Yemaya, Olokun and Agwe that have served as spiritual anchors of African traditions in the diaspora,” according to the House of Aama website. Camp Aama depicts storytelling through fashion in a very real and raw way, with an innovative take on traditional silhouettes while telling a story about the Black experience and African diaspora that is often left untold.

With Denver’s proximity to the mountains and as a region that is rooted in those same values that traditionally “camp” represents, Camp Aama on the Color of Fashion runway was a natural fit. Although the Camp Aama collection, titled “SALT WATER,” derives from the stories behind Africans who crossed the Atlantic Ocean, the meaning of Camp took on a new iteration as Henry and Shabaka landed in Colorado for the first time and brought their artistry to our stage.

Part of the mission behind Color of Fashion is bringing high fashion to Denver in a way that we rarely get to see. As a gateway to the West, Denver is often overlooked when it comes to fashion. But the community is here, and it’s thriving, with a strong sense of appreciation for fashion as an art form embedded in our niche fashion culture. That’s why House of Aama’s showcase was such a big deal, allowing an intimate way for Denver to experience high fashion firsthand.

VINNAGE ABROAD

The show also featured Denver-based brand Vinnage Abroad, with a runway collection as the brand’s debut. Designer and Founder Vincent Greathouse is creating a movement as well, focused on garments that are elevated and embody the duality of the Black man whose sense of self exceeds the typical box that he’s more often than not expected to fit in.

Vincent Greenhouse and his fiancé Skyler Russell. *Photo by Sydney Foster*

READ: Vinnage Abroad: The Cooler Cousin of Tradition and Heritage

With tanks and crewnecks that are clearly very structured and well-made, falling at exactly the hip, the Vinnage Abroad silhouettes are modern and exude strength and style. The collection told a story through the lens of a fencer who is “suited up.” From practice wear to a casual day along with a suit for an occasion, Vinnage Abroad is a one-stop shop for the gentleman who aims to look and feel like the sophisticated man that he is. Carefully picked music brought the runway segment to life, contributing to the duality that Greathouse set out to showcase with the debut of his brand.

Photo by Austin Aubert

Two womenswear looks in the Vinnage Abroad showcase cemented the intentionality behind Greathouse’s story. One look was a button-up with an intricate twist in the back, cinching the waist as a flattering, functional and fashion-forward interpretation of womenswear. It made me want to call up Greathouse and request the same twist on a button-up of my own.

LILITH IN THE SKY x COF HMUA TEAM

The evening began with a feminine grunge collection from Lily Lee-tangredi and her brand Lilith in the Sky. As a RMCAD student and designer who not only just moved to Denver but just began her career in fashion, the collection was incredibly impressive and entirely hand-sewn. Her looks were paired with intricate hair and makeup designs by the Color of Fashion hair and makeup team, who are constantly choosing innovation and nonconformity when it comes to the styles they present on the runway. From an entirely studded head to braids with pins woven in perfectly, these looks showcased art in a striking form.

Lily Lee-tangredi. *Photo by Sydney F oster*

Lee-tangredi’s debut collection featured alternative, dark-feminine looks. Models stomped down the runway wearing iterations of corsets, dresses and skirts with chain details. Speaking of details, Lee-tangredi has a knack for incorporating her own signature flair into every piece. This young designer consistently adds dimension throughout her collection with either mini chains, pink ribbons, lace or studs. From head to toe, each look could have been pulled from a Tim Burton film, and we know he would approve.

READ: Behind the Beauty at Color of Fashion

After the show, guests had the opportunity to shop the looks to recreate in their own wardrobes. And with the versatility of many of the garments that were on display, it was a great chance to personally interact with the designers and learn how to style and care for their new investment piece.

With the theme “Party Like a Rockstar” informing the dress code for attendees, the evening was filled with energy. Rockstars of all kinds filled the Hyatt Centric, with cheetah print, leather, studs, stars, sequins, fringe and everything in between. Personal style made its presence known as we saw the best of the best when it comes to fashion. Denver isn’t afraid to push boundaries, and the attendees at this season of Color of Fashion were proof.

@color.of.fashion Season VI