Black style sets trends everywhere in the world. This region is no exception. Once again, T.Moore and his team will issue a reminder through Saint Louis Black Fashion Week. Taking place November 1 -2, the programming is presented in part by The Pennywell Hotel.
Moore and his style squad are curating a fashion experience designed to elevate the city’s creative scene and honor its homegrown talent. “This is for the city,” Moore said. “We don’t have to go to New York or Paris or London in order to see Black excellence.”
He wants the city to come out and see the amazing homegrown talent that has the gifts and skills to emerge within the national and global style industry. “You often get the term ‘church fashion show,’” Moore said with a chuckle. “But I said, ‘What if we take people that are very, genuinely serious about this—and actually build something beautiful.’”
The celebration kicks off Saturday, November 1, with the Fashion Summit and Market at The Pennywell Hotel from noon to 5 p.m., featuring panel discussions, fashion talks, and a curated vendor marketplace.
After the panels, it will be time to party. The Style House: Underground Pre-Party will take place from 8 p.m. to midnight.
On Sunday, November 2, Saint Louis Black Fashion Week will host its 11th annual runway show at The Palladium from 6 to 10 p.m., spotlighting the creative brilliance of Black designers from across the St. Louis area.
Moore’s mission has always been rooted in representation and excellence. “There was a fashion week here before, but the little bit of Black fashion you saw felt underrepresented,” he said. “I wanted to use my gifts to create a show that puts Black culture, Black designers, and creatives on a pedestal—in a high-end space.”
The origin for Moore’s Saint Louis Black Fashion Week can be traced back to his Suite 7, a fashion show he launched in 2014 while attending Harris-Stowe State University. What began as a student-led showcase evolved into an annual tradition. In 2018, he adopted a new name that sparked controversy.
“I’d get DMs saying, ‘This is the most racist show I’ve ever heard of,’ or ‘Can I buy a ticket if I’m not Black?’” Moore recalled. “And I always respond, ‘I’m pro-Black, anti-nothing.’ I don’t believe Black culture is superior to any other, but I do have deep respect, legacy, and love for my culture—and I want us to be taken just as seriously as anyone else.”
A producer, entrepreneur, and media specialist, Moore has lived and worked in Manhattan, Dallas, and Atlanta. Now, he’s pouring those experiences back into the city that raised him.
“This next decade is about growth,” he said. “My vision is for designers to walk away with new clients, connections to manufacturers, or even buyers from major brands who can help get their work sold in stores.”
Beyond fashion, Saint Louis Black Fashion Week is about transformation. “Yes, it’s fashion. Yes, it’s cool. But I genuinely believe we’re changing lives,” Moore said. “For the models, it’s the same—we want to help them develop so they can land high-paying opportunities, just like anybody else.”
More than a runway, Moore describes the experience as a cultural exhibit, a community collaboration and a labor of love.
“There were years I lost big and didn’t see a return,” Moore said. “But I saw the smiles on people’s faces. Designers had their first chance to showcase their work. Models who were ‘too short,’ or didn’t fit New York standards, left feeling confident because they got to walk that runway. And to me, that made it all worth it.”
T.Moore’s 11th Annual St. Louis Black Fashion Week will take place Saturday, November 1 and Sunday, November 2. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit https://posh.vip/e/11th-annual-saint-louis-black-fashion-week-experience.
Living It content is produced with funding by the ARPA for the Arts grants program in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis and the Community Development Administration.
