Young Executive Revives Buffalo Fashion Week
Khalil Carr, Buffalo’s youngest filmmaker and Executive Director of Buffalo Fashion Week goes in depth about his passion for the arts.
The Anticipated Rise for Buffalo Fashion
Written by: Jada Ivey January 2nd, 2024
Buffalo Fashion Week made a return last fall and it is not done yet. Khalil Carr popularly referred to as Buffalo’s Youngest filmmaker, has revived Buffalo Fashion Week (BFW). He brought together a team of people to create a vibrant community for emerging artists all around the area, including New York City.
In this revival he partnered up with ‘The Culture’ an emerging modeling casting agency led by Skye Mckelvie and Kimori Jamison. The fall fashion events lasted three days from October 17 through October 19 and has a promise to return this spring. With the upcoming Gala in February, proceeds will go to scholarships for students in creative arts.
Carr is a Buffalo native with hopes to rebuild and innovate the artistic community. His resume is full and is continuing to grow, he just executive produced a feature film titled ‘Levi’ where it sold out the North Park Theatre and additionally produced two fashion shows. He accomplished all this in under 6 months. We caught up with the Executive Director to get more in depth about what BFW is all about and his goals for the City of Buffalo.
Jada Ivey the Community & Content Manager conducts her interview:
As we know Buffalo has a lot of creatives. How can the creation and innovation of Buffalo Fashion Week stand out from the rest?
“Our commitment to have week long fashion shows & create vibrant spaces and communities whilst doing so. ”
In what ways do you ensure diversity and inclusion in both models and designers when creating a fashion show ?
“The most important thing to me is allowing everyone to be heard. Art expression is real regardless of who you are. Buffalo Fashion Weeks leadership team is committed & trained to make sure diversity and inclusion is a practice in our company. ”
Since BFW overall goal is to fund scholarships for film, fashion and music creatives in Buffalo. What made you come up with this goal and how are you going to stick with it ?
“Our market is small, the more kids wanting to pursue these fields will know that there needs to be something for us here. So they will get the ambition to start creating, like myself. When you are told something isn’t reachable you won’t reach it, but when you are told something is reachable regardless if its there or not you will find every way to make it possible!”
As we know BFW started 10 years ago , how do you make this bigger than what it already was ?
“Buffalo Fashion Week started more than 10 years ago but it stopped 10 years ago. My goal is to innovate the marketing towards the event, involving all types of art from music and film to create a robust community in Buffalo. Additionally bringing brands, designers & companies to Buffalo who can look at our city and trust that they can put a store here, or they can invest in a brick and mortar and they truly believe Buffalo is apart of the market.”
As we know you’ve always had a passion in film, but now you are also apart of the fashion community. 5 years ago, would you think you would be in the position to be an executive director of Buffalo Fashion Week or something like it?
“Never would I have thought that, I didn’t even know how to dress 5 years ago. But GOD surprises me in many ways as he opens doors for me and allows me to express my ideas all the time!”
Now lastly, can you tell us something the Buffalo community can look forward to in the next upcoming years in Buffalo’s fashion and art scene?
“It will be big, trust me. ”
It was crucial to recognize and highlight someone who truly makes a difference in the community. Buffalo has a promising future with its creative endeavors. It's incredible to witness young individuals like Khalil stepping up. He is just one of the many contributors to the Buffalo Renaissance.