Danielle Igbanugo, founder of Twin Cities nonprofit Coated In Love, has long believed that clothes have a transcendent ability to connect people.
She’s seen it in the mile-long lines that wrap around the Minneapolis Convention Center each winter at Coated In Love’s outreach event, 3,000 Acts of Kindess—as thousands of people experiencing homelessness wait patiently through the bite of below zero temperatures for the donation of a single coat. And she’s seen it in their tears, embraces, and testimonies of gratitude as hats, mittens, and scarves are passed around the Convention Center, curing something far deeper than the chill alone.
That’s why, when Igbanugo reconnected with local runway producer Richard Moody at a dinner party this summer, she felt there was no better platform to elevate the life-changing power of Coated In Love than the very one he specializes in: fashion shows.
“People in fashion want to give back, they’re always ready to adopt a new cause. So why not ‘adopt’ homelessness? It just makes sense,” says Igbanugo, who has a background in fashion herself as a former downtown boutique owner. “We’re in the business of clothes, and that’s exactly what these people need: shoes, boots, coats, scarves. Who can do it better than us?”
Igbanugo is now aligning her vision, mission, and resources with Moody’s to bring a new purpose to one of the Twin Cities’ most anticipated fall fashion events: MartinPatrick3’s 9th annual All Black Attire Fashion Show.
Produced by Moody since 2017, the event unfolds each fall in the intimate, string-lit alleyway between MartinPatrick3 and Hewing Hotel, bringing together a professional cast of models, stylists, musicians and performers to showcase the luxury boutique’s latest fall offerings. The attire, of course, enforces one simple rule: black, from head to toe.
“It started as just a big party in the beginning. But I’ve always had the desire to tie it to philanthropy, and so did the MartinPatrick3 owners,” says Moody, who has produced several events blending fashion and philanthropy in the past. “Here we are, nine years later, working with Coated In Love. And we only started charging for tickets last year, because it’s just gotten so big. It’s up to 400 people now.”
This year’s Sept. 16 event tacks on an extra rule to its all-black attire formality, calling guests to arrive with used winter gear donations for Coated In Love’s 3,000 Acts of Kindness event in December. A U-Haul will be parked outside the alleyway, collecting secondhand mittens, hats, scarves, and coats as models wearing luxury couture strut down the runway just a few feet away. The juxtaposition makes a clear statement, allowing two seemingly disparate truths to live together in harmony: “You can dress up, look fabulous, and still give back to the community,” as Moody puts it.
The night will also offer Coated In Love a platform for volunteer outreach, encouraging guests to join the mission at 3,000 Acts of Kindness on Dec. 14—which expects to see a turnout of more than 4,000 individuals experiencing homelessness this year. Every coat donated at the fashion show will go directly to these individuals—a simple act of kindness that can often mean the difference between survival in the thick of Minnesota’s harsh winters.
“We run out of coats every year at 12 o’clock, and we have to send thousands of people away in the middle of winter,” says Igbanugo. So I thought, ‘How can we close this gap and start getting as many coats as possible?’ We’re going to need at least 3,000 this year.”
Moody, in true character, is prepared to help close this gap with as much added flare as possible. This year’s event theme is inspired by the 1983 film “The Hunger,” a brooding theatrical horror film starring David Bowie.
“It’s about love and romance and betrayal and lust, “ says Moody. “You know, beady glasses and the whole New York vibe. It will be exciting to see how people show up.”
As for the runway, Moody prepares attendees for plenty of fringe, oversized bags, statement eyewear, and vintage accessories, with styling by Eric Fabian and Brittany Garrett from MartinPatrick3’s visual merchandising team. The casting reflects Moody’s continued commitment to diversity in fashion, bringing together professional models across a wide range of ages, sizes, and ethnicities—with the oldest cast member in their early 60s.
As Coated In Love begins to intertwine itself with Minnesota’s vibrant fashion community, Moody and Igbanugo already see the partnership extending beyond this year’s runway—with an eye on next year’s 10th anniversary show. The pair envision a fresh venue with double the capacity, an expanded lineup of performers and entertainers, and a reimagined model cast—one that integrates survivors of homelessness into the very runways they once felt worlds away from.
“It’s inspiring for people to see. These individuals that have been through it, come out on the other side, and, at the end of the day, are just like you and I,” says Igbanugo.
MartinPatrick3’s 9th All Black Attire Show on Sept. 16 is already sold out, but the evening’s spirit of giving doesn’t end with the runway. Moody encourages those without tickets to join the after-party at AVA, where additional donation and outreach opportunities will keep the momentum going—alongside more than 400 guests dressed in all black beneath a sea of disco lights. Looking ahead, you can join Igbanugo’s impactful mission by donating a coat, making a financial contribution, or signing up to volunteer at 3,000 Acts of Kindness on Dec. 14. Find the full list of ways to give at 3000actsofkindness.org.
“There’s no denying the lines and the amount of people in this city that need help,” says Igbanugo. “And not everything is about money either. You can give your used coats. You can give your time. You can give a hug. So come help out, right?”
