By Jasmin Shirley
Around 1 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon, York College’s atrium was filled with music and students who packed the seats for the college’s Fashion Week. The event, which celebrated identity and creativity, featured the work of alumni Jeffrey Ampratwum, a creative director, stylist, and co-founder of the lifestyle brand KenJeffreys. Ampratwum’s collection was showcased with the theme of Black Dandyism, a cultural movement where Black individuals use elegant fashion to express themselves and challenge stereotypes.
The show began with a serene atmosphere as Sade’s voice filled the venue with her cover of Kanye West’s “Flashing Lights.” Students from various majors then walked the runway, modeling Ampratwum’s pieces.
In an interview, Ampratwum reflected on his original path from Biology major and pre-dental studies minor at York to a career in fashion. “I minored in pre-dental studies and majored in biology,” he said. “It was a hobby here and then essentially turned into a career.” Ampratwum said his college played a big part in his journey. “York College was very instrumental in helping support a lot of my dreams and goals and aspirations.”
When asked what advice he would give to students aspiring to work in fashion, he encouraged them to explore the many opportunities of the industry beyond just modeling. “I think there’s a lot of interest and availability in the city,” he said. “There’s also hair and makeup and photography… The arts, because they are viable careers that people can pursue.”
Ampratwum revealed that the inspiration for the show’s theme was connected to a significant cultural event. The theme, Black Dandyism, was chosen partly due to the Met Gala’s recent theme of “Superfine, Tailoring Black Style.” This was a direct nod to the book “Slaves to Fashion” by Monica Miller, which explores how Black creatives use dress as a tool to change conversations and perceptions. When asked about his inspiration, Ampratwum replied, “It talks about what highlights, you know, Black creatives specifically in professional dress form, you know, like how do we use dress as an agent for changing conversation. So that’s kind of like the inspiration for today’s fashion show.”
The event was a deeply personal one for Ampratwum, who produced his first fashion show at York in 2005. “It’ll be like 20 years since the first fashion show, which is nuts,” he said, reflecting on his time as a student.
After the show’s resounding success, Ampratwum was asked about his feelings and whether he considered the event a triumph. “It was amazing,” he exclaimed. “The students did a great job. You know, I can see myself as a student several years ago and what that meant to me… I’m very excited for them and happy that they were able to, you know, have fun.” The day was truly a celebration of identity, creativity, and the power of clothing to tell a story.
