The marble-pillared galleries of the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) were transformed by a new medium of artistic expression Saturday night, as local designers and boutiques showcased their Autumn/Winter collections at Fashion Week Minnesota’s fall production, Creative Renaissance. True to its name, the sold-out runway show sought to highlight the presence of an artistic awakening in the Twin Cities, inviting esteemed community leaders (deemed “luminaries”) to walk the runway in recognition of their contributions to this perceived movement. From celebrity sushi chef Billy Tserenbat to reality TV star Michelle Young, these luminaries represented a variety of professional achievements and community impacts, each one accredited as a vital force within the flourishing creative scene of the Twin Cities.
At what was surely one of the state’s biggest nights of fashion this fall, here is every local luminary who strutted the Mia’s runway in support of Fashion Week Minnesota’s Creative Renaissance—presented by Morrie’s Auto Group.
Jean Ketcham
Jean Ketcham is the co-founder and author of “Aging, but Dangerous,” a book and movement which empowers women to age with confidence and live boldly through each stage of life. At 84 years old, Ketcham hardly shies away from new experiences, and has recently organized female-led initiatives including “Martini Jump Sky Dive,” an event which led a group of women to jump from a plane and enjoy martinis at the bottom, and her self-compiled “Tastefully Nude,” calendar, featuring women over the age of 80. Ketcham walked the runway Saturday in a custom look by local mother-daughter design duo Alma Mia.
Ron Harris
With a passion for representing the interests and needs of his community, Ron Harris is the former Chief Resilience Officer of the city of Minneapolis and currently serves as the state director for the Harris-Walz campaign. Harris is also an active leader in the nonprofit sector, helping struggling communities in the U.S. prepare fpr their future through his work with the Resilient Cities Network. Harris walked the runway dressed by locally founded menswear boutique Jaxen Grey.
Billy Tserenbat
Billy Tserenbat strutted the runway with all the enthusiasm and character that the local sushi chef is known for, holding up his phone to the crowd as his Instagram livestream captured the waves of applause. With little need for introduction in the city of Minneapolis, Tsernebat is a two-time Global Sushi Challange finalist and the owner and chef of Billy Sushi, a North Loop staple. Outfitted in a horse-printed fleece jacket, Tserenbat half-walked, half-danced the runway that night dressed by Jaxen Grey.
Michelle Young
Well-known for her leading role on season 18 of ABC’s “The Bachelorette,” Michelle Young returned to Minneapolis shortly after her season aired and began the work of founding her nonprofit, The Michelle Young Foundation. Harnessing her background as an educator, Young’s foundation seeks to enrich educational experiences for children in underserved communities by creating customized scholarships and programming, including Homework and Hoops, an after-school program that tutors children on literacy and math skills while offering basketball coaching. Young walked Mia’s runway dressed by North Loop retailer MartinPatrick3.
Sean Sherman
Sean Sherman is the award-winning chef behind Owamni, a decolonized dining experience that prioritizes the use of native North American ingredients, a culinary gem which earned him the 2022 James Beard award for Best New Restaurant in the U.S. A member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe, Sherman has dedicated his career to revitalizing Indigenous food systems and promoting their transformative nutritional value. Sherman was named to the 2023 TIME 100 list of most influential people and earned the 2023 Juila Child Award in recognition of his culinary activism. He walked the runway dressed by MartinPatrick3 Saturday night, incorporating odes to his Native heritage through shoes and accessories.
Malik Rucker
Malik Rucker is a fifth-generation North Minneapolis community member and executive director of V3 Sports, a nonprofit that seeks to enrich the North Minneapolis community through wellness, fitness, and education. As a former defensive back for Western Michigan University, Rucker harnesses both his athletic background and his deep roots in the community to help foster opportunities for future generations of young athletes like himself. Rucker represented V3 Sports dressed by MartinPatrick3 on Mia’s runway.
Jacquelyn Vranicar —Morrie’s nominated luminary
Selected by presenting sponsor Morrie’s Auto Group as its designated community luminary, Jaquelyn Vranicar is a metastatic breast cancer survivor and advocate, and the founder or Vranicure, a nonprofit that raises awareness, funds, and support for metastatic breast cancer. Vranicar took to the runway as Morrie’s chosen luminary in an ensemble from MartinPatrick3.
DJ Taylor
DJ Taylor is a Minnesota United FC player and fashion designer who walked the runway in a custom ensemble from his own brand, Venci, preceding the label’s full Autumn/Winter collection. Alongside his athletic and creative achievements, Taylor is an avid supporter of the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation, which builds mentorships between Twin Cities’ youth and community leaders. Read more about Taylor in our faces of fashion week spotlight.
Tameka Jones
Tameka Jones is the founder and CEO of Lip Esteem, a plant-based, cruelty-free cosmetic line that empowers women to embrace their natural features. Calling on 20-plus years of experience as a professional makeup artist, Jones founded Lip Esteem during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to bring positivity into the community, and she now owns a brick-and-mortar store on Selby Avenue in St. Paul. Lip Esteem was recently selected as this year’s cosmetic provider for the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders. Saturday night, Jones walked the runway sporting a gold sequined gown by local designer Ramadhan Designs (and of course, a generous red lip).
Olivia Jefferson
Dressed by local vintage brand Rosella Vintage, Olivia Jefferson, Vice President of Social Impact at Best Buy, called to mind the height of 1960s womenswear in her autumnal matching dress and cardigan. In her role at Best Buy, Jefferson focuses on implementing social impact initiatives that reverberate across communities. A key component of Jefferson’s role lies in fostering a spirit of generosity, responsible for leading Best Buy’s strategic giving and managing its multimillion-dollar annual grants.
Mary Grove
Dressed by North Loop womenswear hot spot Statement Boutique, Mary Grove walked the runway on behalf of her community impact as managing partner of Bread & Butter Ventures and co-founder of Silicon North Stars youth program. Much of Grove’s work revolves around passing along her knowledge and resources to help enrich the community, whether it be investing in changemaking startups with Bread & Butter or helping young Minnesotans pursue careers in tech through Silicon North Stars.
Andrew Peterson
Andrew Peterson is a leader in the blossoming local film industry, currently serving as Executive Director for FilmNorth, the largest filmmaker support organization in the Upper Midwest. A creative in his own right, Peterson has produced multiple feature films, serves as the Director of Programming for the Provincetown International Film Festival, and regularly consults independent films and film festivals. Peterson walked the runway dressed by Billy Reid, located in the 50th and France neighborhood of Edina.
Bahja Mohamoud
Bahja Mohamoud is the reigning Miss Somalia, and at just 23 years old, is preparing to make history as the first American Somali to compete at Miss World. As a passionate medical student, Mohamoud has harnessed her education to found a telehealth medical nonprofit in Somalia, and has post-grad aspirations of becoming a family doctor specializing in women’s and children’s healthcare. Mohamoud walked the runway at Mia dressed in a red and gold gown by local designer Najma Hassan.
Lynn Farmer
Walking through the galleries of Mia is not an unfamiliar activity for Lynn Farmer, who serves as the institution’s Chief Audience and Engagement Officer. But Saturday night, Farmer did so dressed in a stunning floor-length gown and matching mask piece by local fashion label Qe’bella Couture, representing Mia as a community luminary. Read more about Farmer’s community impacts in our faces of fashion week spotlight post.
Marques Johnson
Marques Johnson, a.k.a. “Ques” is a St. Paul native with a passion for music, food, and community. Johnson’s range of creative endeavors span wide, formerly supporting up-ad-coming musicians at Live Nation, and now enriching the Uptown neighborhood as co-founder of Tender Lovin’ Chix, a restaurant and bar founded alongside Billy Sushi owner Billy Tserenbat. Johnson walked the runway in an ensemble by androgynous designer Scott J. Lehmann.
Amy James
Notorious iHeartRadio DJ Amy James brought her signature energy to the runway Saturday night, dressed in a blue floral gown by Jordan Carpenter Fashion, enhanced by intricate tassel detailing.
Maliza Kalema
In the spirit of Creative Renaissance, Maliza Kalema took to the runway to represent InspireMSP, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting the community’s youth with creative industry career opportunities. As Program Director, Kalema is an active advocate for the underserved youth, whom she also connects with through her self-founded program Sown Emancipation, a youth entrepreneurship initiative. Kalema strutted the runway in a playful number by local designer and sustainability advocate Danielle Everine.
Rai’ Janee Meadows
Rai’ Janee Meadows is the 2024 Miss Black Minnesota USA, and an active advocate for drug abuse awareness in Minnesota. After tragically losing her brother to an accidental fentanyl poisoning in 2022, Meadows is using her platform to help eradicate fentanyl from her surrounding communities. Meadows walked the runway of Creative Renaissance in a yellow tiered gown by Jordan Carpenter Fashions.