Fashion Week has always been about the runway, but House of Musa is proving that the real impact can happen far beyond the catwalk. Led by designer Omotayo “Musa” Akintoye, House of Musa recently wrapped its 2026 Fashion Week with three days of fashion, culture, entrepreneurship, technology, and community programming centered around one powerful theme: “Spreading the Gold Through Opportunity and Ownership”.
Drawing more than 1,500 attendees throughout the week, the experience transformed Fashion Week into a platform for connection, commerce, creativity, and access—while continuing to position Washington, DC as a growing hub for Black fashion and creative talent
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More Than A Runway
The week opened September 1 with Urban Canvas, a Black vendor marketplace and clothing drive at Sandlot Uptown. The event welcomed approximately 550 attendees and more than 50 Black-owned vendors, creating an environment where fashion and entrepreneurship could exist side by side.
The community component was equally important, with more than 300 articles of clothing collected for the Progressive Life Center to support local foster children.
Rather than simply showcasing what is next in fashion, Urban Canvas created space for people to discover businesses, make connections, shop with purpose, and contribute to the community.
Bringing The Conversation To The Table
September 2 shifted the focus from shopping to dialogue with the Style Symposium at Smoke and Mirrors.
The 400-person gathering brought together fashion, modeling, culture, business, and technology for conversations designed to look beyond the surface of the industry. Anita Mason spoke candidly about barriers within the modeling industry and how managing the career of her son, model Alton Mason, has helped reshape her perspective on the space.
Hollyandroo offered another perspective on cultural influence and independent design, discussing how global artists such as Davido have commissioned one-of-a-kind pieces from local designers rather than relying solely on major fashion houses.
Then came technology. Amazon’s Jordan Jones delivered a live AI demonstration for more than 50 attendees, highlighting practical ways entrepreneurs can begin using artificial intelligence to build and scale their businesses.
It was a fitting addition to a Fashion Week centered around ownership: in an industry changing rapidly through technology, access to information and tools can become just as valuable as access to the runway.
Symphonies Of Gold Closes The Week
The week culminated September 3 with Symphonies of Gold, an orchestra-accompanied runway finale at the Hamilton Hotel. With approximately 650 guests in attendance, the evening paired House of Musa’s avant-garde fashion aesthetic with live orchestral performance, creating a finale that felt as much like a cultural production as a traditional runway show.
Three days. Three distinct experiences. One larger mission.
That distinction is central to Musa's vision.
“Everyone who attended any event can attest they were all completely different, and they were able to leave with something special — whether it be a new connection, a collaboration, a product, or a gem that will help further their endeavors,” said Omotayo “Musa” Akintoye, founder and designer of House of Musa. “This is the Timbuktu I’m looking to rebuild.”
Spreading the Gold
House of Musa Fashion Week was presented in partnership with AFRO+, FLY by Design, Grey Goose, BEN at Amazon, Together at Amazon, Amazon AXU, Coca-Cola, A Toast to the Hustle, Remitly, Plugged In Sessions, and Progressive Life Center. The collection of partners reflects the broader ecosystem House of Musa is building—one where fashion can intersect with technology, business, entertainment, philanthropy, and community. For Musa, the goal isn't simply to create a memorable fashion moment. It's to create access. And ultimately, access to ownership.
As Washington, DC continues to cultivate its identity as a destination for Black creative talent, House of Musa is contributing to that momentum by creating a space where designers, entrepreneurs, artists, businesses, and consumers can meet in the middle.
And perhaps that is the bigger story behind this year's Fashion Week, that the gold isn't just in the garments. It's in what happens when people are given the opportunity to build, connect, collaborate, and own what comes next. For more information on House of Musa and upcoming initiatives, follow House of Musa across its digital platforms.
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