On March 17, the DC Fashion Foundation teamed up with style and fitness mavens for a day of workshops on looking and feeling your best, no matter where you are on your wellness journey.
The Fit & Fly event took place nearby Washington, DC and attracted an audience excited to learn about wellness from multiple angles
Throughout the day, a diverse set of speakers passionately addressed the topic of wellness from multiple angles. Meanwhile, the DC Fashion Incubator Designers-in-Residence helped the audience to up its style game, offering their designs in pop-up boutiques.
The day started with a presentation from Rochelle Monique, who spoke about wellness as a journey with intertwined physical and emotional elements. Having struggled with her weight since childhood, Rochelle realized that she needed a change or she may risk her life. She gathered nearly 50,000 Instagram followers as she underwent life-altering surgery and transformed into a fashion model and women’s health advocate. Her physical transformation, she explains, helped her to unlock greater happiness and cultivate her resilience.
DC Fashion Foundation volunteer Rachel speaks with Rochelle Monique, a model and women’s health advocate
Second, Yashica Russell addressed style’s role in wellness. Owner of womenswear boutique Kabi 926, Yashica lamented the state of options for plus-sized women. She found designs for this demographic to be expensive, difficult-to-find, and often unflattering. She opened her boutique to helped plus-sized women look their best at a reasonable price point. And finally, fitness guru James Lewis addressed the importance of nutrition in wellness.
Throughout the day, attendees put their lessons on the style-wellness connection into action by visiting pop-up boutiques run by the DC Fashion Incubator Designers-in-Residence. Belle Flowers Fashion Designer, Sheridonna Designs LLC, Embode Healing Arts, and Moore Wrap all showed their designs.
Sheridonna Wilson, owner of Sheridonna Designs LLC, shows off her extremely soft faux fur creations – perfect for attendees still staving off the last of winter’s chill
Emode Healing Arts brought its jewelry and beauty products, infused with crystals and Reiki energy, to promote spiritual wellness
Moore Wrap featured its signature garment – a versatile, one-size-fits-all wrap – to show attendees that great style does not require great effort
The DC Fashion Foundation thanks all who were involved with and came to the Fit & Fly event!