The non-profit Parties from Above staged its second annual Back-to-School Fashion Show at Dorchester’s Strand Theatre last Thursday (Aug. 28), just ahead of the Back-to-School rush. Shiaka ‘Sheik’ McIntosh, founder of the group that organizes birthday parties for kids who have lost their parents to violence or illness, says she wanted to give kids something other than sports as an outlet to create and have fun.
Pink roses and clear hair beads flew all over the stage as Journee Aahliya Wallace walked the runway during the fashion show.
The first installment was held last year at City Hall Pavilion and was considered a great success, but staging it in the neighborhood made it more accessible, McIntosh said.
The Strand was packed with parents, grandparents, and friends watching the little kids and teen-agers show off their fashion sense. Some of the clothing was supplied by designers, including Madrugada Designs and the teen-operated The New Generation (TNG).
Justin the Dancer performed in between fashion show segments. Seth Daniel photos
TNG was founded last summer by a group of Dorchester youths working summer jobs at the ABCD South Street Youth Center in Jamaica Plain. Their mission for the summer, which focuses partly on fashion design, was to take ideas to designs to “a shirt on the table.”
Teens such as Dorchester’s Thamel Thomas showed off and modeled the designs for the second year. DJ 4eiGner provided the music for the evening.
Yamiyah McGhee stole the show for the little kids edition, wowing the crowd with her confidence and fashion sense.
Twin boys show off their shirt and short set, part of a group of twin models in Twinology. The group is looking to establish the first Twin Day in Boston.
Shiaka ‘Sheik’ McIntosh welcomed the large crowd of parents and friends to the second edition of the fashion show at the Strand.
Jamilla, 7, shows a serious face while modeling her pink sequined gown.
James from The New Generation looked sleek in the custom red suitcoat designed by the teens at the ABCD South Street Youth Center program over the summer.
