Fashion Week Spotlight
Chelsea Grays, an alumna and adjunct professor, played a pivotal role behind the scenes at a fashion show linked to London Fashion Week from September 17 to 21. Grays described the atmosphere as a blend of structured organization and chaotic energy. Dressers rushed to assist models with quick outfit changes, while makeup artists applied final touches. Meanwhile, online influencers mingled backstage, engaging with designers and models while documenting the vibrant scene.
The audience, numbering around 300, filled the runway space, illuminated by bright lights focused on the models. At the runway’s end, photographers and videographers captured the unfolding spectacle, which occasionally faced last-minute hurdles. Grays recalled a moment when a model urgently approached her, exclaiming, “I can’t find my shirt.” In response, Grays quickly fashioned a temporary solution.
Designing with Purpose
For Grays, her work extends beyond mere fashion; it embodies a mission to create positive change. “It’s more than me just making something for people to buy,” she explained. Over the past two years, she has taught various courses at North Carolina Central University, including Drawing I and Fashion Illustration. Her designs address pressing social issues such as homelessness, police brutality, and mental health awareness.
In her debut London show in 2025, Grays drew inspiration from mental health themes, particularly feelings of anxiety and overwhelm, branding her collection “Drowning.” The following year, she expanded on this concept, focusing on ideas of growth and freshness symbolized by elements associated with water.
Grays initiates her design process by exploring ideas, moods, or narratives, often sparked by dreams. She conducts extensive research, delving into magazines, artistic illustrations, and fashion history. “I sleep a lot and might not talk to people for a month or two,” she noted. Following her research, she gathers fabrics and materials to start creating samples, which she then finalizes in collaboration with models, determining shoe choices, hairstyles, and the best-fitting garments.
A Journey into Fashion
Grays’ journey into fashion began as a childhood pastime, sketching clothing and footwear. It was only near the completion of her psychology degree that she considered pursuing a career in fashion. Hailing from a creative family in Cleveland, her mother’s artistic talents, combined with her father’s 3D printing skills and her uncle’s drawing, fostered her own creativity. She recalled participating in fashion shows organized by her aunt during her youth.
Her family background also influences her designs, often incorporating military-inspired elements, functional garments, and protective features, reflecting the military service of her father and brother. Grays achieved an MFA in fashion design from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco in 2019, followed by two years of study at the Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne in Paris, where she noted being the only Black student and the sole American in her class.
Grays has showcased her work at New York Fashion Week five times and participated in the PROJECT trade show in Las Vegas, solidifying her presence in the fashion industry.
Source: North Carolina Central University
