NAT GEO PRESENTS:’FIT FOR A QUEEN IMMERSIVE FASHION SHOW featuring looks from JêBlanc, Theophilio, Studio 189, Head of State,anOnlyChild, Almasika, L’Enchanteur and more — SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10th
National Geographic made its debut at New York Fashion Week on Saturday, February 10th at Moonlight Studios in New York City in front of 200+ industry influencers, celebrities, fashion tastemakers, and media with its immersive fashion show Nat Geo Presents: ‘Fit for a Queen, celebrating the premiere of docu-series QUEENS (premiering March 4 on Nat Geo, March 5 on Disney+ and Hulu).
I got to attend the exciting immersive NYFW event that featured looks from emerging designers in fashion, jewelry and footwear inspired by National Geographic’s documentary-series. The visually spectacular experience celebrates the parallels between queens of nature and women revolutionizing industries, particularly fashion.
The ‘Fit for a Queen fashion show incorporated holographic images of the female animals featured in QUEENS, alongside powerful women and gender non-conforming models, to bring a new perspective to these intimate, dynamic narratives of queendom.
QUEENS, narrated by Angela Bassett, is reshaping the landscape of the natural history genre with its female-led filmmaking team capturing formidable matriarchs ruling in the natural world. The groundbreaking series features six iconic worlds ruled by the most impressive female leaders in the animal kingdom. Likewise, the ‘Fit for a Queen fashion show will incorporate holographic images of these impressive female animals alongside powerful women models to bring a new perspective to these intimate, dynamic narratives of queendom.
The ‘Fit for a Queen fashion show will highlight matriarchal themes from this season of QUEENS, including African Queens with the lioness, Coastal Queens with the brown bear, and Savanna Queens with the elephant. This mesmerizing experience transcends fashion, emphasizing how Nat Geo is reshaping the natural history genre with influential women at the forefront, both in front of and behind the camera.
Like the series, the ‘Fit for a Queen experience is produced and led by powerful women–in front of and behind the scenes. A rising female star in the fashion community, Sakinah Bashir, is curating and styling the wild fashion show featuring looks from designers JêBlanc, Theophilio, Studio 189, Bed on Water and more; jewelry from Almasika and L’Enchanteaur; and shoes by Téjahn Burnette. Each look represents the animals and environments depicted in QUEENS cohesively and is inspired by the late nineties runway shows with deep color tones, with dramatic headpieces, and adornments.
“New York Fashion Week is arguably pop culture’s most epic and influential event of the year,” says Janet Vissering, Senior Vice President, Production and Development, National Geographic and lead executive in charge of QUEENS. “While it might seem a wild departure for Nat Geo, what better place to give a nod to queendom and celebrate our contribution to the movement of unstoppable women and powerful female matriarchs.”
Filmmakers from the QUEENS women-led team who were in attendance at the event included Vanessa Berlowitz, executive producer and founder of Wildstar Films, Sophie Darlington and Erin Ranney, directors of photography, and Faith Musembi, producer and director.
The creators and producers behind Nat Geo Presents: ‘Fit for a Queen is the visionary Black-female-owned, women-led team at award-winning multicultural marketing agency Pop’N Creative.
Sakinah Bashir, a rising female star in the fashion community, curated and styled the fierce fashion show. The event showcased bold patterns and sculptural silhouettes inspired by the animal kingdom, crafted by designers JêBlanc, Sergio Hudson, Bohn Jsell, An Only Child, Head of State, Theophilio, Studio 189, Bed on Water,Almasika, L’Enchanteur. Footwear looks were curated by designer Téjahn Burnet.
Each look was inspired by the late 90’s runway shows with deep color tones, dramatic headpieces, and adornments. The mesmerizing experience transcended fashion, emphasizing how Nat Geo is reshaping the natural history genre with influential females at the forefront, both in front of and behind the camera.
Plant Kween opened the show as “Mother Nature,” where they introduced the journey that guests would experience throughout the fashion show. Sophie Darlington, a wildlife cinematographer who worked on the series, was featured as a model in Act 1, wearing a pink Sergio Hudson outfit.
Act I also featured a formidable hologram of the lioness from the “Crater Queens” episode, and showcased a model wearing a custom tan crushed velvet design inspired by the color and fur of a lioness by designerTheophilio.
Act II showcased a hologram of the awe-inspiring brown bear from “Coastal Queens” with a model walking in a custom design representing “water” by JèBlanc. Act III was all about the elephant from “Savanna Queens,” showcasing a hologram of the majestic animal alongside a model in a custom design by Theophilio featuring the shape and sleeves inspired by an elephant and her trunk.
Dancers regaled the crowd with beautifully choreographed animal-like movements and featured Alicia Graf Mack, the youngest and first Black Dean and Director at the Juilliard School Dance Division, who performed alongside her young daughter, and Leslie Andrea Williams, a Juilliard graduate and creative artist who was named in The New York Times “Best Dance of 2019” list.
The show featured the original QUEENS main title track and music video, “Umi,” by UK artist Alewya, released earlier this week. The song is now streaming on Spotify and the music video is available on YouTube. The beautiful score by composer Morgan Kibby, plus the full soundtrack, will be released by Hollywood Records and available for streaming on March 1 on the official National Geographic Spotify Playlist.
The creators and event producers behind Nat Geo Presents: ‘Fit for a Queen is the visionary Black-female-owned, women-led team at award-winning multicultural marketing agency Pop’N Creative, led by Lori Hall and Jessica Lane Alexander.
Sponsors for the event included McBride Sisters Wine Company and specialty coffee company Kahawa 1893.
QUEENS, narrated by Angela Bassett, is reshaping the landscape of the natural history genre with its female-led filmmaking team capturing powerful matriarchs ruling in the natural world. The groundbreaking series features six iconic worlds ruled by the most impressive female leaders in the kingdom.
The wildest places on the planet have always been home to powerful leaders, but this a story of a new hero – fierce, smart, resilient and … female. QUEENS features matriarchies and female leaders around the world to tell a story of sacrifice and resilience but also of friendship and love. These QUEENS aren’t always kind or gentle, letting nothing come between them and the success and safety of their families. Guided by award-winning actress Angela Bassett’s powerful narration, QUEENS brings the natural world into focus through the female lens for the very first time. Four years in the making and helmed by a female-led production team from around the world – groundbreaking in the natural history space – the seven-part series leverages cutting-edge technology to reveal surprising insights into how females in the natural world rise to power, often relying on cooperation and wisdom over brute strength to get ahead. The final episode of the series celebrates the women who have gone to the ends of the Earth and dedicated their lives to documenting and protecting animal queens. We don’t call her Mother Nature for nothing. All hail … the QUEENS.
ABOUT QUEENS :
Narrated by Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Flood, Good Night Oppy)
Premieres March 4 on National Geographic; March 5 on Disney+ and Hulu
MARCH 4 ON NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, MARCH 5 ON DISNEY+ AND HULU
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