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When Executive Director Lisa Butler first started Syracuse Fashion Week in 2014, she saw a chance to pivot away from her former career in theater. Eleven years later, Syracuse Fashion Week is a cornerstone for local fashion.

“Change is a constant, and that’s how we evolve in life,” Butler said. “It was one of those now-or-never thoughts in my head.”

The ninth annual Syracuse Fashion Week hosted its 2025 fall fashion show, Syracuse Style, at Art in the Atrium on Saturday evening. In its glass building, the night’s sky radiated down to the runway, where models strutted down the runway with flair. As the nine brands and designers exhibited their latest collections, attendees applauded thunderously.

Many people went to the event to support their loved ones. But for Xuelian Gao, who came to support her daughter modelling for Cat of the Hill, the show was also a chance to spot her favorite looks. Gao lived vicariously through her daughter.

“I really wanted to be a designer, but for some reason, I didn’t go to classes to learn drawing or something,” Gao said. “But now, my girl’s modeling and I really like it to see the beautiful clothes, beautiful designs and meet different kinds of people.”

This year marks the first time Butler hosted Syracuse Style at the Atrium, pivoting away from its previous location at Palladian Hall. While Palladian Hall boasted a larger, more grand space, its high rental costs and less intimate space were the main drawbacks, Butler said. The new venue allows the show to highlight the surrounding area, a key part of Butler’s vision for the event, she said.

Combining the dramatics of theater, Butler started Syracuse Fashion Week to promote her custom-made wedding gowns and formal wear. Now, the show has blossomed into a platform to exhibit underground, local talent. Butler said she’s proud of the way the project has grown.

Since its inception, Syracuse Fashion Week has supported the Food Bank of Central New York. Over the last 11 years, they’ve raised over $20,000, which Butler said is the most “rewarding” part of her initiative.

“The work that they do right now is ever more important, unfortunately, and so that’s rewarding, when we can get the message out, when we can raise money, when I can make my donation after the shows are done,” Butler said.

A model shows off A. Rivera’s designs at the end of the runway. The event showcased nine different designers. Alexander Zhiltzov | Staff Photographer

At this year’s fashion show, models sported local brands like A. Rivera and Stiletto Love Boutique, displaying diverse collections of colors, patterns and textures. Children, teenagers and adults strutted the runway in outfits from Cat of the Hill’s collections.

The night began with designer Marke Zinkovitch’s work, which displayed a “Barbiecore” collection of tiaras and laced and patched dresses. Following the pink theme, Zinkovitch said she hopes her designs remind audience members of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and encourage women to get tested and detect breast cancer early on.

Zinkovitch’s designs center around bespoke fittings for plus-size women, she said. Her line is personalized to each model, empowering her clients to look their best for every occasion.

“I started my brand because as a plus-size woman myself, I have never really found clothing that fit me,” Zinkovitch said. “And so many plus-size women go to stores, they try on clothing, and they hate how they look because of the clothing.”

Zinkovitch spent six months putting her collection together, allocating time to make each dress while sourcing models for the show. By the end of the show, she said seeing her models feel confident in her clothes was the most rewarding part of the night.

Zinkovitch even modeled her own designs in the show, calling it the standout moment of her night.

“I just absolutely love that feeling of the music behind you and walking and seeing the crowd of faces and their reactions to the clothing,” she said. “I’ve never walked down a runway before, and this made me so confident.”

Unlike other fashion shows, Syracuse Style isn’t bound by a specific theme. This enables the show to flaunt different brands and designers without restriction, Butler said.

“I try to get as many original designers as possible. Sometimes we’ll have local boutiques. But it’s really to support creatives in Syracuse,” Butler said.

QueenRi’s Boutique featured traditional African dashiki attire, using the dashiki pattern in the show’s skirts and head garments. Leaning into fall colors, designer Marissa Johnson dove deeper into the clothing’s traditional roots.

Hailing from New York City, Johnson said that shows like Syracuse Style reveal the same level of talent as The Big Apple.

“People focus on New York Fashion Week, so I think (Syracuse Fashion Week) brings that sort of fashion week to us,” Johnson said. “It’s great for the city and it also raises funds for the food bank, so you’re feeding people at the same time. So for me, that is a reward in itself.”

Beyond patched dresses and traditional pieces, artworks were on display throughout the venue, with Utica-based studio artordie and Zoe Sauvé showcasing brute and honest pieces throughout.

For Johnson, fashion in Syracuse is a hidden gem in the community. She hopes events like these point people to the treasure.

“Syracuse is one of those cities that’s not out in the open like New York City, you’ve got to kind of search for what you’re what you’re interested in,” Butler said. “We should try to show people that there are so many really talented, creative people that live and work here.”

Published on October 5, 2025 at 10:26 pm