Models “Disrupted” the runway with the Black Smoke collection at the annual Pop Smoke Fashion Gala on the evening of Tuesday, July 21st (the day after the late Pop Smoke’s birthday celebration), at the Brooklyn Museum, located at 200 Eastern Parkway.
Bashar Barakah Jackson, also known as Pop Smoke, was a beloved Canarsie resident and a talented rap artist that was taken from the world in 2020. Besides rapping, he had an eye for fashion and combining his style with designer brands.
Audrey “Mah Smoke” Jackson, along with creative director Javier Valencia, is keeping her talented late son’s love of fashion and culture, as well as his legacy, alive through Black Smoke fashion, a part of the Shoot for the Stars Foundation.
This year’s gala was hosted in a gorgeous section of the Brooklyn Museum, beginning with a cocktail and hors d’oeuvre reception starting at 6 p.m. in the glass pavilion area facing Eastern Parkway. The runway was set up behind it in the section of the museum that contains exposed brick foundation piers that were excavated and restored from the original design.
SiriusXM’s Swaggy Sie, who interviewed Pop Smoke several times, hosted the event, and DJ AK created a vibe that had the crowd moving with his musical tracks. There were live performances from Mah Jackson’s other son and Pop Smoke’s brother, Obasi Jackson, as well as Suckarie and Carlton Terrance Taylor.
The show featured several handbag, jewelry/accessory and clothing designers, including Karl Kani, Maria Mootoo, Noni Styles, Gangwani Collection, EMVE, Hellen Sarmiento and Scohe.
Disruption, the title of the Black Smoke collection, stunned the crowd. The style was urban culture, which Black Smoke’s other lines exude, meets elevated street wear. Models wore bright colors with eye-catching patterns, designs and textiles. Several pieces had 07 20 incorporated to represent Pop Smoke’s birthday. The crowd oohed, ahhed and applauded at the ensembles featured on the runway.
Throughout the evening, Swaggy Sie, Mah Jackson, partners and collaborators talked about the impact of Shoot for the Stars and how Pop Smoke’s legacy and culture continues to live on, every day, in all of the events, programs and fashion.
The foundation continues to grow and develop, and their contributions do as well. Shoot for the Stars has provided thousands of families with fresh produce, household goods and holiday experiences, served over 2,000 students through their youth programs and provided 3,500 young athletes with basketball training.
Visit ShootForTheStars.org for more information, to support, donate and to find out how to become involved.
