The Garifuna Experience Podcast

Episode 10: Threads of Heritage: Weaving Culture into NYC's Fashion Scene

Jose Francisco Avila Episode 10

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In this episode of The Garifuna Experience Podcast, host José Francisco Ávila unveils a bold new initiative: Garifuna Fashion Weekend 2026. This special event, timed to coincide with Garifuna-American Heritage Month, is designed to elevate Garifuna creative talent and establish New York City as a leading hub for Garifuna fashion.

José explores the rich, yet often overlooked, influence of Garifuna culture on the NYC fashion scene. He spotlights a new generation of designers, stylists, and models who are blending traditional Garifuna attire with modern, high-fashion aesthetics. The episode serves as a strategic call to action, detailing how Garifuna Fashion Weekend will serve as a vital platform for career-building, networking, and economic empowerment for the community's creative professionals.

Key highlights include:

·       Past to Present: A look at how the vibrant colors and patterns of traditional Garifuna dress  are being reimagined for the runway.

·       Industry Pioneers: Exclusive profiles on Garifuna fashion professionals already making their mark in NYC.

·       A Strategic Vision: The mission behind Garifuna Fashion Weekend as an economic catalyst and community-building event.

Tune in to discover how Garifuna culture is weaving its way into the fabric of New York's fashion industry, creating a more inclusive and dynamic future.

Resources:

The Garífuna Experience in NYC | Bronx walking tour

The Garifuna Experience in NYC 

The Happy Land Memorial Walking Tour 

Garifuna Heritage Walking Tour (BronxNet Video)

Daysi Collection Inc

Roberto Johnson

FEDÚ: A Celebration of Life and Heritage

JRC Garifuna Collection 

Thurito Martinez Enterprises

Books by José Francisco Ávila

Pan-Garifuna Afro-Latino Power of Pride: My Quest for Racial, Ancestral, Ethnic and Cultural Identity

Garífuna Ancestry: The DNA Quest to Decipher the Garifuna Distant Past 



People on this episode