Nyack, NY – Rockland County is once again stepping onto the global fashion stage as Rockland Fashion Week returns for its sixth year, promising to be the most dynamic edition yet.
Produced by Hope Wade Designs of Nyack, this year’s theme, “Fashion Through the Ages,” celebrates style across generations and cultures. The weeklong celebration of creativity and community will culminate in a gala runway show on Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Palisades Center in West Nyack. The runway will be set up in front of the H&M store on the first floor.
The event kicks off with an official Launch Party hosted by Hotel Nyack on Friday, November 7, at 6 p.m., where designers, models, and sponsors will gather ahead of the main showcase. Earlier that same day, from noon to 6 p.m., Rockland Fashion Week will host a Pop-Up Shop event in downtown Nyack featuring 26 participating stores, supported by a grant from the Nyack Tourism Grant program.
The main runway event will highlight the work of 12 designers from both local and national backgrounds, including Hope Wade’s own couture collection. The show will feature entertainment by VP Records, saxophonist Herve Alexandre, and MC Qui Talks.
“Rockland Fashion Week is more than just a fashion event—it’s a celebration of creativity, diversity, and community,” said Wade. “We’re proud to showcase the incredible talent right here in our region and to inspire the next generation of designers, stylists, and artists.”
Tickets for the runway show are available online, with VIP options offering a cocktail hour at Carlitos Tequileria, priority seating, and a swag bag filled with gifts. Guests are encouraged to attend dressed in their best “fashionista” style.
Community involvement remains at the heart of Rockland Fashion Week. The event includes partnerships with local schools, giving students from Clarkstown North High School behind-the-scenes experience in fashion production. In addition, the program will make a charitable donation to a nonprofit organization—past recipients include Jawonio, the Martin Luther King Cultural Center, and the Center for Safety and Change. This year, Rockland Fashion Week will also collaborate with BRIDGES to feature some of its clients on the runway.
The event’s reputation has grown beyond Rockland County, drawing attendees from neighboring states such as Maryland, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Support from Rockland Tourism has allowed for expanded outreach, increasing awareness of the county’s growing role in the fashion industry.
Wade, who opened her Nyack boutique during the height of the pandemic in 2020, has since established herself as a leading figure in local fashion. Her red flute gown, worn by Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Darlene Love on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” is now part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum collection. Love even surprised attendees by walking the runway at last year’s event.
Beyond fashion, Wade has earned national recognition for her community leadership, including receiving the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024. She currently serves as president of the Alpha Academy Tristate Alumnae Association and sits on the boards of the Arts Council of Rockland and the Cooper Union Alumni Association.
Looking ahead, Wade envisions Rockland Fashion Week growing into a year-round fashion hub. “I want it to become a full-time employer and training school for models and fashion professionals,” she said. “I dream of building a factory for designers—especially those of color—to produce their clothing locally, and of offering scholarships to emerging designers.”
For Wade, Rockland County’s diversity and energy make it the ideal home for such ambitions. “Nyack reminds me of Port Royal in Kingston, Jamaica, where I grew up,” she said. “It’s vibrant, creative, and full of possibilities. And the people are beautiful.”
Designers featured this year include Fredlyne Burns (La Painture), Time To Clothe, So Nyce Designs, Riddim Driven, Highly Humble, Hope Wade Designs, LaTeffaney (Kurvacious), and Lorraine Freeman (Customly Yours), with several based right here in Rockland County.
Tickets for Rockland Fashion Week 2025 can be found at Eventbrite. More information is available at rocklandfashionweek.com.