The Noir Fashion Week Power 30 Awards 2026 was more than a dinner — it was a declaration. Held during New York Fashion Week 2026 (NYFW26), the annual event brought together culture shifters, tastemakers, designers, media leaders, and global creatives for a powerful celebration of Black excellence in fashion and beyond.

From Atlanta to Milwaukee, from Nigeria to New York City, the room reflected the global reach of the diaspora.

“It’s an Honor to Be Recognized”

Content creator and social impact advocate Bri Hall shared her excitement about being honored after 16 years of serving the community through YouTube and creative platforms.

“Fashion is so important for the Black community… It’s just an honor to be one of the honorees today and I can’t wait to celebrate with all of these amazing and inspiring people.”

Her words captured the spirit of the evening — recognition, impact, and legacy.

Celebrity Wardrobe Stylist Harrison Crite, known as the “Global Monarch,” emphasized the significance of being celebrated during Black History Month.

“What better way to recognize Black folks than during Black History Month? Black people are stellar… It’s good to be recognized. It’s good to be seen.”

His message was clear: visibility matters.

A Platform Built for the Culture

At the heart of it all is Nicole M. Bess, Founder and CEO of Noir Fashion Week, who created the Power 30 to uplift culture shifters and innovators shaping the fashion industry.

“This is something that I created to celebrate the culture — the culture shifters, the tastemakers, the movers and the shakers… Noir Fashion Week is a platform that aids in the advancement of BIPOC and global creatives everywhere.”

The mission is intentional: advancement, access, and acknowledgment.

Fashion Forward: Metallics, Gold & Futuristic Energy

Draped in a gold ensemble, designer Ramillionaire shared his prediction, claiming metallic gold will dominate upcoming fashion seasons.

“Gold just inspired the look… It’s futuristic,” he added.

Black Excellence Across Industries

Dr. Jamal Bryant and Dr. Karri Bryant described the evening as:

“The best of Black excellence in culture, clothing, fashion, and everything in between.”

Educators and industry leaders also took center stage. Lynn Dixon-Speller, founder of Edessa School of Fashion in Milwaukee, highlighted a historic achievement — being one of the few U.S. colleges named after a Black woman and the only designated fashion school in the United States with global majority leadership.

Fashion Bomb Daily editor Rashidah Young, Dr. Kimberly (wearing Elizabeth Rucker), and Cortney Robertson of “I Believe In Me Girls” all reinforced one thing: the diaspora is building institutions, not just moments.

Africa in the Building

The energy was global. Attendees proudly repped Atlanta — “the new Harlem” — and shouted out Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, reminding everyone that the diaspora’s cultural influence stretches far beyond borders.

As the ninth year of Noir Fashion Week unfolds, one sentiment echoed throughout the night:

The best is yet to come.

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Why the Power 30 Matters

The Power 30 Awards Dinner is not just about fashion — it’s about infrastructure, ownership, leadership, and legacy within the Black community. During a time when representation in global fashion spaces is still evolving, Noir Fashion Week continues to create rooms where Black creatives are not only invited — they are centered.

For those watching from around the world, the message was simple:

If you’re not here, where are you?

Stay tuned to Inside the Diaspora for more exclusive coverage from global fashion weeks, cultural summits, and diaspora power moments bridging the gap, and changing the narrative.

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