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A glossy blue vinyl trench coat.聽

A high-slit mid-length denim skirt.

And a slinky peach gown with bell sleeves.聽

These were among the 35 contemporary, ready-to-wear looks DMV-based designer Anifa Mvuemba debuted at the 鈥淗anifa Dream鈥� fashion show Tuesday night.

More than 600 people wrapped in boldly colored garb attended the soiree, held at the National Portrait Gallery.

In her opening monologue, Mvuemba paid homage to Washington, saying that 鈥渉ome is the place where we feel the most comfort and love.鈥�

Her home, she said, is filled with memories of her youth and dreams of her future.

The 10-year-old brand has a dedicated following across the country and even around the world. But, show attendees resoundingly agreed that debuting the collection in the District was important for the city鈥檚 fashion scene 鈥� proving that the talent in D.C. is just as special as it is in New York.

鈥淚 love seeing people rep their home city, so I think it鈥檚 great to have people come to you here,鈥� said Devine Blacksher, 28, who traveled from New York to see the show. 鈥淚 think more people need to go home and do their s鈥�. I stand for it.鈥�

Two dozen models of varying curves sashayed down the runway in patent trousers, leather coats and shirt dresses that captured what some attendees called the 鈥減erfect silhouette.鈥�

Backstage, Mvuemba said she thinks it is important to share this moment with the city.

鈥淧eople just need to give D.C. a chance,鈥� she said. 鈥淕ive us a shot and we鈥檒l show you guys what we鈥檙e made of.鈥�

Mvuemba said she made it a point to hire as many local creatives for the show as possible, though it was difficult. 鈥淚 like challenges,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd look 鈥� it worked out.鈥�

Roughly 80% of the models who walked in the show are from the area, along with many of the other team members 鈥� like the DJ, members of the orchestra, photographers, videographers and makeup or hair artists.

The crowd was also packed with Washingtonians, many of whom were friends and fans of Mvuemba, as well as some editors and retailers from New York. Audience members showed off their own Hanifa originals: jewel-toned silk suits, ribbed-knit dresses and second-skin boots.

Fashion in the District has typically hinged more on practicality and office-appropriateness than on mix-matching colors or taking risks.

鈥淲hen you talk to somebody, they鈥檒l say 鈥極h, fashion and style doesn鈥檛 exist in D.C.鈥� But, that鈥檚 not true,鈥� said Christine Brooks-Cropper, president of the , a non-profit supporting the fashion business community in the area. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a very private industry that was underground.鈥�

Given the city鈥檚 reputation for hosting high end balls and galas, like the White House Correspondents Dinner, where attendees wear high-class couture, Brooks-Cropper said she doesn鈥檛 understand why more people don鈥檛 recognize the nation’s capital as a fashion city.

鈥淵eah, it鈥檚 a government city. But our style sense is no less than anywhere else,鈥� she said.

Dawn Miller, 46, is a self-declared fashion enthusiast who said she owns just about every Hanifa piece that will fit her body. She said when she thinks about D.C., she doesn鈥檛 instantly think fashion. But, Miller said, 鈥淗anifa鈥檚 show is giving me a whole different outlook on fashion in D.C.鈥�

In 2008, Brooks-Cropper helped establish the , legislation that 鈥嬧�媋dvises the mayor, the D.C. Council and the public on the views and needs of the fashion and beauty communities in the District. She said the legislation allowed the local industry to have access to grants, marketing initiatives and other resources they never had before because 鈥渁t the end of the day, those entities didn鈥檛 know that they existed.鈥�

excuse me i鈥檓 sorry… did y鈥檃ll see this??? this virtual runway show is 🤯🤯🤯

鈥� LO 💘 (@LustforLo)

Before Mvuemba鈥檚 first show last night, she broke the internet a year ago with a 3D runway show, gaining the attention of celebrities like Gabrielle Union, Lizzo and Kylie Jenner, who have since worn her designs known for emphasizing and embracing femininity.

On Monday night, the designer was honored as the .

But Mvuemba said it wasn鈥檛 always easy. She said she held every job in the industry from sewing, styling and taking photographs to taking out the trash.

鈥淚f you perfect your craft 鈥� your passion and work will take you where you need to go,鈥� Mvuemba advised other creatives in the DMV area.

Last May, the 31-year-old won $50,000 after being recognized as a Fashion Designers of America/ Vogue Fashion Fund Finalist. That money, Mvuemba said, helped her to fund the show, and helped her secure the National Portrait Gallery as it鈥檚 venue.

鈥淭he minute I walked in the space I knew I had to have it,鈥� Mvuemba said. 鈥淭his feels so grand and I feel like we can celebrate our evolution here and bring out a beautiful crowd.鈥�

DC鈥檚 designers take fashion by storm

Fashion has long thrived in the District鈥檚 neighborhoods 鈥� specifically street or urban wear. Despite there being no shortage of talent in Washington, local designers or other creatives said they were still not being recognized.

鈥淓ach neighborhood of D.C. has its own fashion center, its own fashion scene, its own culture of its neighborhood,鈥� Brooks-Cropper said. 鈥淭hat translates to the people and that translates to the style and it translates to the dress.鈥�

Plus, numerous universities in the DMV area 鈥� like Howard and Marymount 鈥� host degrees associated with fashion design, merchandising and entrepreneurship. So, Brooks-Cropper said, the talent has existed in the city for decades. 鈥淲hy push all these creative people away to New York or someplace else?鈥�

, 50, is a fashion influencer, stylist and content creator in D.C. She said she thinks D.C. is elevating to become one of the major fashion cities.

鈥淎 lot has started in the urban communities where fashion originated and was often duplicated,鈥� Delaney said. 鈥淏ut, being here today with Hanifa shows that Black designers have a platform and are standing tall on it.鈥�

Mvuemba鈥檚 high profile fashion show, she said, was long overdue.

Around the time that Brooks-Cropper was writing up the 2008 legislation, she emphasized that fashion can be used for economic development. Today, she said the city鈥檚 fashion district in downtown鈥檚 , featuring household name designers like Gucci, Tiffany and Carolina Herrera in addition to local luxury or streetwear brands, is a testament to that.

Ean Williams, executive director of , said the fashion community in D.C. is burgeoning. 鈥淭here are far more fashion businesses in D.C. than five to 10 years ago,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are a few significant players, but there is room at the table for all.鈥�

Brooks-Cropper said her main goal is to connect artists to the resources and the opportunities that they need. Now, with the infrastructure in place, she said 鈥渢he industry will be able to thrive successfully for a very, very long time.鈥�

Doncel Brown is another fashion designer in D.C. carving out space for himself in the industry.

He said living in the District allowed him to 鈥渟ee so many different parts of the world in one place鈥� ultimately influencing his brand, . 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I would have got that same experience had I not been in D.C.,鈥� he said.

 

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Brown said he hopes the District can build a brand that is unique to D.C., so that people have to come to the city exclusively to experience it.

Delaney agreed. 鈥淎 lot of the fashion stylists, designers, as well as influencers that create impeccable content and work, deserve their due,鈥� she said.

鈥淚t’s our time here in D.C.鈥�