Throwing it back to our last couple of weeks from Fashion shows to film days, plus a deep dive into our history, the icons that paved the way for Gem Cultural Agency.
Throw Back — VOL. 07
It's been a wild couple of weeks, so crazy that if you were paying close enough attention you would have noticed there was no Newsletter last week. We would never want to leave you guys hanging so we are back and better this week to report on everything that's been going on and everywhere we’ve been. And since some of these snippets are throwbacks in reference to this week's issue we will be doing a deep dive into some fashion history with the Ebony Fashion Fair and the Harlem Fashion Row.
Model - Edlyn Eugene
Last week our team filmed a promo video for the company. We wanted to make it feel like an introduction to who we are while also showing what we can create for potential clients. The concept came from the vivid imagination of our Founder Moremi, and was brought to life with our full team on October 17.
Shoot Day
The team met in Freeman Alley on the Lower East Side as that is where the longest scene of the video took place. Models had a call time of 12 pm, unknowingly to the GCA team there was a Snuggle pop up happening on the same street. The line stretched all the way around the block but it did not discourage the team and models from giving it their all in every shot.
Female lead model Edlyn Eugene wore an original deconstructed denim cropped jacket by designer Reesemarie of Reesies Piec333s (@reesiespiec333s). Male models Tyreese Folkes and Joselito Burgos Jr. wore unreleased pieces from Ghetto Fires (@ghettofires). Our final Model Jalene Burgos wore a top made by our founder from a past portfolio project. It was a cold day in New York so styling had to revolve around the models' comfortability. We especially did not want our girls to be freezing as they were wearing skirts and cropped tops.
The campaign was filmed and directed by Kyle Anderson(@okpadawan) , who collaborated closely with GCA founder Moremi Gbayisomore to bring her creative vision to life. The 3.5-hour shoot included a full video production alongside still photography captured by Rose Goodrich(@iknowrose_) , a New York City–based street photographer. Both creatives worked alongside Moremi to execute the campaign concept and continue their partnership with GEM Cultural Agency, collaborating on client brand events and future digital campaigns. With a couple other members from the team missing who we deeply missed, we were able to come together and create something beautiful.
We wrapped our final scene at a local coffee shop before heading back to the alley for a few last shots. This campaign was especially meaningful to bring to life alongside Moremi, and we can’t wait for you all to experience it!
Follow GEM Cultural Agency on Instagram for behind-the-scenes footage and stay tuned for the official campaign video, premiering November 7. Interested in working with us? If you’re a brand looking for digital marketing services or know someone who is, visit our Services tab to learn more. Let’s bring your vision to life!
Now it's time we gaze back to a fashion moment of the past to acknowledge how far we’ve come and who put us on the path to getting there. As an agency that specializes in granting exposure for black designers and black models, it's only right we pay homage to a woman who pathed new avenues (or runways) for black creativity to be seen.
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I am of course talking about Eunice W. Johnson and her Ebony Fashion Fair.
Following a precursor event in 1956, Johnson officially launched the showcase through the Johnson Publishing Company in 1958. What started as a charity show, would explode over its fifty year run into an internationally traveled fashion institute, flying in the face of mainstream beauty standards, and showing that black models and designers undoubtedly deserve a place on the stage.
Before the time of the Ebony Fashion Fair’s conception, the American fashion industry kept a tight hold on who was allowed to create and who was allowed to embody beauty.While there was no lack of black designers, they were denied institutional legitimacy. Mainstream erasure actively resisted giving black designers public recognition for their work, and without recognition most were successfully kept out of the industry. Anne Lowe is testament to this: the black female designer behind Jackie Kennedy’s 1953 wedding dress, regularly commissioned by Rockefellers, the Roosevelts, the du Ponts, she was referred to as “Society’s best-kept secret”. It was not until 1964 that an article in The Saturday Evening Post credited her with many of her best works.
And so a show not only highlighting black creatives, but presenting their work ,along with Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, and Christian Dior, on color-rich skin was unheard of.
It was also a hit.
Raising fifty-five million in charitable donations, the traveling showcase paraded models in haute couture in front of audiences in 180 cities within the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. The success of the Ebony Fashion fair tilted the world of luxury fashion on its head, and its effects are still evident to this day.
We owe a lot to Eunice W. Johnson and the black voices she uplifted. Their unwillingness to be ignored sparked many conversations we are continuing to have today. Why is black ownership important? Who should have access to luxury fashion?
Where would be without the Ebony Fashion Fair?
One Lace Fashion Show Event Coverage
Thursday October 22. 2026
From the Ebony Fashion fair in 1956 to Soho Runways in 2026.
This week, the GCA team attended the One Lace Runway Show in SoHo. Our founder, Moremi, first connected with the designer during one of our scouting days, where his display immediately caught her eye. Styled to resemble a Fifth Avenue storefront window, the presentation offered a striking introduction to his work and creative vision. What began as a moment of curiosity turned into a conversation about his upcoming runway show, leading to an invitation for Moremi and the GCA team to attend. We’re always excited to discover emerging talent and build meaningful connections within the creative community.
The One Lace team shut down the corner of Spring and Mercer, giving downtown Manhattan a runway show that was fierce and magnetic. Featuring a full collection of 12 cut-and-sew pieces, One Lace offers a fresh take on formalwear through reworked silhouettes. Women were seen wearing skirts and tiny tops that flattered their feminine features.
Styling was also something to write home about. The finale look featured a female model wearing a caged top with a white skirt made from what looked like deconstructed button-ups. The look was gorgeous, but the shoes really stole the show for us. The cutest white feather kitten heels and a white rose were the perfect details to complete the runway story.
Fluorescent red lighting and fog transformed the set, taking us out of the NYC streets and transporting us to an alternate dimension. To us, it felt like an alternate Upper East Side. With its reworked businesswear, the collection feels fresh and relevant to the times. People are becoming more adventurous with fashion, and we could definitely see officewear moving in a more expressive direction as older generations cycle out and Gen Z moves in.
One Lace transported SoHo into the future of fashion. The models looked comfortable and walked powerfully in their outfits. The menswear had a traditional, regal feeling, with exaggerated shoulders and wider proportions up top, while still keeping things cool through different patterns, patchwork, and cuts.
The GCA team had a great time at the show, check out the brand instagram for inquiries and if you ever catch yourself at the corner of Spring and Mercer look out for the ONE LACE van.
As you can tell, it's been a busy couple of weeks for us, and it's only going to get busier. If you're not on our instagram you need to be! That's where you can get live updates of events we are attending/hosting that you, yes YOU! Can also attend.
@gemculturalagency
Our company open house RSVP link is live! Come meet the team and learn about what we do here at GCA while enjoying seasonal drinks & bites. There will also be Art/ Fashion displays plus lots and lots of gifts!
RSVP To Winter House!
We will see you back here next week, no skips!
Co-Writers & Editors
Moremi Gbayisomore & Brian King
Written and edited by the GCA team.