My Joy

Michigan Fashion Week Reflection

This past weekend was more than a show—it was a somatic experience. A full-spectrum celebration of color, comfort, co-creation, and the kind of joy that lives in your body long after the lights go down.

There are moments in life when you feel like every cell in your body is buzzing, not from stress, but from aliveness. That’s what this past weekend at Michigan Fashion Week felt like.

More ∞ Joy walked the runway in full spectrum. But what we presented wasn’t just a rainbow of handmade garments—it was a whole-body experience in co-creation, color therapy, and trust. This wasn’t just fashion. This was somatic storytelling.

Color as Psychology, Symbolism, and Energy

Each piece in the collection was dyed by hand using powdered pigment, pressed into fabric with intention, movement, and sometimes, just a gentle breeze. The shades weren’t random. They were carefully chosen to mirror each model’s energy: Franklin in Orange Crush, Shauna in Rust Brown, Yamalisa in Fuchsia. These weren’t costumes. They were conversations.

Color carries psychology. It speaks even when you don’t. Some colors calm the nervous system. Some spark movement. Others help us feel like we’re finally seen. I watch people stand taller in my clothes—not because they’re stylish, but because they’re heard.

The Somatics of a Fashion Show

There’s something surreal about being backstage. You’re standing for hours, darting between outfits and trying to remember how many pieces of rayon you’ve tied onto Parker. You lose track of time. Your feet hurt. But your heart? Your heart is wide open.

Being around creatives—designers, stylists, photographers, dancers—is its electric current. Everyone is nonverbally speaking through movement, posture, and the choice of textiles. You don’t need words to say: I see you.

I think often about overstimulation—how polyester or itchy fabrics can throw your nervous system into chaos. That’s why I switched to rayon. It drapes like water. It lets your body breathe. I want my models to feel safe and held by what they’re wearing, not masked or constrained by it.

Place-making and Pride

This Fashion Week happened in Grand Rapids, but I felt the pull of Paris in my bones—one day, yes. But for now, I’m so proud of what this city is becoming. A place where humans tell each other they look fantastic. Where diverse people can blossom on a runway and are met with applause. Where everyone’s color is welcome.

This is pride. Not just a rainbow—though the rainbow was there—but the individual expression of being fully seen. I saw it in the way Tiece glowed in lemon yellow. I saw it when Parker and I giggled during our last-minute parking lot fitting. I saw it every time someone spun and let their color lead the way.

The Art of Co-Creation

I didn’t design these looks alone. Each model had a say. Each human played Barbie with me, trusting me with their body and their energy. Parker said, “I trust you with my life.” That’s what fashion should feel like—mutual, embodied, reverent.

At the last minute, I had to swap models. My original idea dissolved, and I found myself delighted again by the new possibilities. Each body brought a new story to life. It felt like swing dancing—trusting the spin, feeling into the unknown, laughing as you go.

And even though my SD card wasn’t in the camera that day, I remember every detail. The sound of laughter. The way they crossed the street was like ducklings. The blur of color against the highway. Those were my moments, just for me.

A Rainbow Rooted in Process

Every piece in the show was handcrafted. Hand-tied. Hand-washed. I’ve become a human washing machine, and in doing so, a student of resilience. This collection began five years ago in failure—tie-dyeing with my nieces and nephews, only to have it all wash out the next day. I’ve come a long way since then. This is my redemption arc.

I’ve learned that comfort and beauty aren’t separate. They belong together. Many of the textiles I used were 100% rayon or soft stretch blends. They feel like water against the skin. I created this line because I’ve lived in discomfort. I’ve worn the prickly synthetics. I’ve sweated through the “fashion” that didn’t care for my body’s needs.

That’s why I dye by hand. That’s why I rinse by hand. I want the entire process to be personal because the result is personal.

When someone slips on a piece I’ve made and starts to move freely—to smile, to twirl, to stand taller—that’s the moment I’m working for.

Healing Through Fashion

As someone who’s navigated neurodivergence, sobriety, and spiritual reconnection, I believe color isn’t just visual—it’s visceral. Clothing becomes a second skin, and for many of us, that skin has never felt quite right.

So I create garments that let people feel right. Not fixed. Not corrected. But free.

This Is Just the Beginning

Michigan Fashion Week was a blur in the best way. But the afterglow is still alive in my chest. Each model planted a seed. Each look told a story. And I’m just getting started.

I want to invite more people to join this practice of color therapy, co-creation, and expressive fashion. You can: