The Star Palace, situated alongside the historic Warnors Theatre in Downtown Fresno, was home to the first streetwear fashion show of Fresno, marking a significant milestone for the evolving landscape of Fresno fashion.
Dakari Cleveland, host and founder of The Alley In The Valley, has not only been involved in Downtown Fresno’s vendor community for over two years, but has become a staple presence on Kern Plaza during Art Hop.
Despite his short time contributing to the local cultural scene, Cleveland has been recognized for his efforts with the 2023 Above and Beyond Community Service Award at last year’s State of Downtown ceremony. The Alley In The Valley is well known for its vendor pop-ups.
“We focused on streetwear for the fashion show because streetwear is very relevant in the city of Fresno and in the Central Valley, but we feel like it doesn’t get highlighted on the stage in the fashion world, which it should be,” Cleveland said.
On Jan. 13, The Alley In The Valley hosted a fashion show dedicated to streetwear brands created in Fresno, Sacramento, Madera and Los Angeles. The show flaunted 12 brands which all presented a diverse array of streetwear styles. The brands were as follows: 444 Galore, CENCR, AFFILIATED & CO., Overdressed, The Venom Era, Cerebral, To The Bag 559, The 7th Scheme, Valley, ChessPiece Hybrid Clothing, Platinum Krooqs and QREATED.
Some brands, like 444 Galore and Valley, showcased their styling prowess by utilizing secondhand garments that individuals can find in their shops or pop-ups. Other brands, like To The Bag 559 and The 7th Scheme, presented original graphic designs on classic staples of streetwear garments like sweatpants, hoodies and T-shirts. QREATED, a brand founded by Quole Wilson, featured deconstructed looks inspired by the designer’s transition from living in Montana to Virginia.
“We [The Alley In The Valley] just want to continue to do what we can and just try to create a platform for as many brands and as many hardworking hustlers out here in the Central Valley in the State of California [to] have a platform and a space to show their work,” Cleveland said.
The Alley In The Valley first ever fashion show also featured performances from local talent, with sets by Biseeya, Ronny Bo, Nissh and Keke DaBrat, albeit, the spotlight shone more on the fashion presented.
Of the 12 brands and designers, balaclavas, or ski masks, and loose-fitting silhouettes were a trend on the runway. While Fresno is improving in its current state of fashion, it still falls slightly behind on trends. For example, the balaclava trend first saw its rise to high fashion in February 2023 with brands like Loewe, Simone Rocha and Marni incorporating the mask on the runway.
But it appears that despite the fading high fashion trend, the balaclava remains a staple to the underground scenes, as well as hip-hop and rap cultures.
In Fresno, it is embraced as a key accessory.
Perhaps the most eclectic assortment in the showcase was Cerebral’s presentation, showcasing a masterful fusion of various streetwear styles. Beyond the confines of typical hoodies and T-shirts, Cerebral styles its graphics with the latest streetwear trends, creating a large variation of styles to a wider collective.
One of the 13 distinctive looks was an ensemble paired with a brown hoodie and a plaid mini skirt, complemented by diamond-patterned stockings and beige leg warmers. Beside this model was a get up that featured a baggy blue satin bomber jacket with “Cerebral” embroidered into it and paired with khaki shorts.
The most lively catwalk was brought by The Venom Era, which first opened its segment with a collection of graphics on loungewear staples.
The collection, although only seemingly limited to black, displayed original pink and blue ombre graphics of angels and feminine entities. Towards the culmination of its presentation, four models, who are dancers from the local dance company Revive Dance Co., took the catwalk in lingerie of sequined adorned mesh bras styled with jeans.
In a surprising twist, the models not only showcased the garments but introduced functionality in how the garment may look while dancing. The fusion of fashion and dance brought an unexpected and exhilarating element to The Venom Era’s segment.
Candy Cowings, an attendee at the fashion show, said she came for her goddaughters who were in the show. However, she is glad to see Fresno expand its community involvement with fashion.
“It’s [fashion events] showing that Fresno is answering the call to provide something for the new generation, as well as the old, but to give them something to do, something to look forward to, being inspired and learning that ownership and designing and branding your own product and making your vision and dream come true,” Cowings said.
Cowings said that one of the main things she enjoyed seeing on the runway were trends from the past making an appearance on the runway.
“Some of the fashion that I did see like some of the mini skirts and things like that and the crop tops, that was also my generation,” she said. “It went out and now it’s back. So I see Fresno is really trying to tap into what’s happening outside of the Central Valley.”
Valley’s curated collection, home to Fresno’s bigger selection of quality streetwear brands and vintage garments, introduced ensembles styled with the signature touch of the owner’s brand Culture Cloth. Beyond Culture Cloth, models were styled in outfits capturing Fresno’s own culture and vibrant diverse population.
The collection not only embraced these cultural elements but also paid homage to the 1990s fashion vibes by featuring a blend of baggy clothing and form-fitting tops, ranging from relaxed fits and billowing silhouettes to the last model who became a canvas for artistry with an upcycled sweater vest paired with crop trousers.
Valley Fresno captured the diverse landscape of Fresno fashion, mirroring the dynamic styles often seen during community events such as Art Hop.
Towards the end of the fashion show, two designers emerged to showcase their original designs. Wilson’s brand QREATED, which was founded in Fresno, brought a new lens of high fashion streetwear to the current fashion timeline of the city.
QREATED’s collection introduced new ideas by combining airy crocheted bottoms and heavy textiles like corduroy. One detail present in most of the upcycled designs was the presence of chains, vines and rhinestones. Yet despite the subtle industrial take of one matching padded pant and contrasting panel jacket ensemble, one design stood out for exhibiting a matching cropped puffer jacket and asymmetrical skirt composed of camo print and vines.
“I go for the craziest maximalist [look], you know, over the edge [look], then try to dial it down to make it more functional from there,” Wilson said about his design philosophy. “But it always starts off as like crazy as it can be.”
Wilson’s collection for QREATED features one-of-a-kind looks that embrace nonconformity yet comfortable wearability.
“I think the people itself influenced the work,” Wilson said about how the local culture influences his work. “People I was around, whether that was my football team, whether it’s my best friend. I think more so the lessons I’ve learned from those people are always probably the biggest thing.”
With roots in Montana, Virginia and Fresno, Wilson’s diverse background served as a source for inspiration. Now based in Los Angeles, he’s bringing his ideas and varied experiences into Fresno.
“I was born in Montana, so a lot of the tones were Montana,” Wilson said. “[The] horses, big ranches and then going into Virginia, I went into a completely different world where it was just woods, forests, trees, botanical garden, so it’s like, definitely a switch of scenery.”
On the other hand, Platinum Krooqs, steered by Flip Capone, introduced soft materials to bold styles. In Capone’s menswear collection, models are dressed in furs, velvets and cashmeres exuding sophistication to mesh comfort and luxury.
The brand presented a unified vision with models walking stoically adorned with sunglasses, showcasing variations of crushed velvet cargos paired with either hoodies or cashmere sweaters.
While adhering to the cargo pant style, Platinum Krooqs distinguished itself through Capone’s craftsmanship of utilizing differing textiles that give the style a fresh twist. The cargos, handmade by Capone, varied from quilted satin to crushed velvet.
The Alley In The Valley fashion show not only served as a platform for these brands, but also as a testament to the developing fashion scene that extends past the city limits, creating a space for streetwear. Each brand brought a unique take to the runway, creating a dynamic streetwear scene found amongst the California cities.
Individuals can catch The Alley In The Valley pop-up outside of Kern Plaza during Art Hop on Feb. 1 from 5-10 p.m.
