RefuSHE, the organization that provides support and resource programs to help East African refugee women and girls succeed, is hosting its annual Fashion Challenge on Thursday, February 24, but for this year’s event, Fashion Challenge 2022: Destination Nairobi, the organization tapped someone whose heart is near and dear to the cause to host the virtual runway show, model Halima Aden.
The Somali-American model, who broke barriers as the first woman to wear a hijab in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant and within the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, is teaming with the impactful organization to host the Project Runway-inspired Fashion Challenge for a night filled with haute couture runway moments.
The challenge consists of designers creating an original haute couture look using 6.5 meters of hand-dyed fabric from RefuSHE’s Artisan Collective Fall/Winter 2022 collection, a cotton/rayon blend hand-dyed by refugee artisans, a technique RefuSHE members learn as part of their vocational training curriculum. This year, the event is spotlighting nine East African designers, who were paired with a RefuSHE refugee whose story helped inspire the look. The organization also paired designers with a model for the show, provided runway accessories courtesy of jewelry brand, Kendra Scott, and the opportunity for designers to visit the RefuSHE campus to meet their mentee.
Aden will be hosting the festivities of the virtual live-streaming event (tickets are available here for $50), where the designers will reveal their final looks to a panel of prominent judges, including Adelle Onyango a Kenyan media personality, Vice President of Design at Kendra Scott, Denise Chumlea, and IAMISIGO’s Creative Director Bubu Ogisi, to name a few, to compete for the top honor of Fashion Challenge 2022: Destination Nairobi winner.
This year, along with a judges’ winner, there will also be a “fan favorite” winner. Following the event, viewers can vote for their personal top design on refushe.org. (And stay tuned to GRAZIA USA where winners will later be announced.)
Actress and Kat Graham, Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, will also make an appearance during the live stream, with all proceeds from the night benefiting RefuSHE.
Hosting the show is one that’s close to Aden, who was born in a refugee camp in Kenya and was later raised in Minnesota. “With my background in fashion, I’ve always adored the work that designers put into their runway shows. When I heard about the designers taking part in this special, one-of-a-kind fashion show, I knew I wanted to share my platform in support and to help get the word out,” Aden tells GRAZIA USA.
She got in touch with the RefuSHE team after a colleague connected her. “After meeting with them, I knew I wanted to support their mission in uplifting young girls and women,” Aden adds. “I have been very proud and inspired by the entire RefuSHE team.”
While Aden can’t give away too much, viewers can expect to be entertained during the livestream fashion show. “It’s definitely a surprise, but let’s just say it will be fun and very interactive!” the model teases.
What she’s most looking forward to is seeing the mentees’ inspiration come alive on the runway. “I’m very pumped about the debuting designers and the vision behind the fashion show. The girls have worked so incredibly hard leading up to the show and I can’t wait for the world to see.”
Adding, “As a refugee, you often times hear the word no, but I want people to know it takes just one yes to transform one’s life. I deeply admire the organization of RefuSHE as they are giving these young fashion designers the opportunity to show their art and craft. Women are the backbone of society and it’s important to give them a chance.”
For those who are aspiring designers, she says her top advice is always to “dream big and put your heart and soul into your craft.”
To purchase tickets ($50) to RefuSHE’s 2022 Fashion Challenge, taking place virtually on Thursday, February 24 at 7 p.m.-9 p.m. EST, visit refushe.org/fashion-challenge-2022.
