The Aknvas & Melke Pop Up Event
The Aknvas and Melke Pop Up Event, hosted by the Four Seasons Hotel and curated by The Edit, was a one-of-a kind retail experience meant to highlight emerging brands for buyers, vendors, stylists, and fashion enthusiasts alike. The Edit, which was launched earlier this year, is defined as “a space for pop up retail experiences and meaningful connections” and so far has produced a Black Owned Edit, an AAPI edit, and a Women Led edit. In its latest installment, The Pride Edit, six LGBTQIA+ designers were showcased: skincare line Antara, clothing brands Aknvas, Melke, Private Policy, and Terry Singh, along with artist Benjamin Saulnier.
Antara, created by Cord Coen seeking healing after a tragic car accident, is a CDB focused skincare line with a range of oils and balms founded on “purity”, “potency” and “transparency.
AKNVAS, offers both womenswear and menswear and is inspired by designer Christian Juul Nielsen Danish roots and New York sensibility. Predominantly made in New York the brand focuses on silhouettes, bold prints, and the ability to wear from day to night.
MELKE, founded by Emma Gage, is a genderfluid sustainable fashion label know for it’s bold and whimsical designs. The brand aims to fight for economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
Private Policy uses clothing to explore themes, express diversity, and bring about awareness. Haoran Li and Siying Qu model their collections around social topics, such as big pharma, enslaved fisherman, and the balance between nature and the metropolitan life,
Terry Singh is a namesake brand that promotes personal expression through gender inclusive designs.
Benjamin Saulnier, a New York based artist, describes himself as an “Aesthetic Interpreter”. With watercolor as his main medium his art explores the relationship between color, composition, and self.
The Edit was wonderfully curated in celebration of Pride and The Four Seasons provided a perfect back drop to begin great conversations over six incredible brands that are shaping the current landscape of fashion and art alike.
Images + Article by Melia Robinson, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Alexa Dyer, Graphic Designer, PhotoBook Magazine
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