The Breakfast Club – "The Latest On The Scene: Usher Receives The Virgil Abloh Award From Harlem’s Fashion Row, During New York Fashion Week!"
Date: September 11, 2025
Host: Lauren LaRosa (with presence from Usher, Ruth E. Carter, and mentions of notable figures)
Episode Focus:
A unique, on-the-ground dispatch from New York Fashion Week, spotlighting Harlem’s Fashion Row 18th Annual Fashion Show and the momentous awarding of Usher with the Virgil Abloh Award, plus a reflection on the impact and evolution of Black creatives in fashion and culture.
Episode Overview
This episode departs from the Breakfast Club’s traditional in-studio format, as Lauren LaRosa invites listeners into the vibrant heart of New York Fashion Week. She recounts her experiences attending Harlem's Fashion Row's iconic Style Awards, delivering vivid commentary on the night’s standout honorees—most notably Usher, who received the Virgil Abloh Award. Lauren provides powerful commentary on community, legacy, and the generational shifts in the recognition of Black creatives in the fashion and entertainment industries.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Harlem’s Fashion Row: Mission and Evolution
[02:29–06:10]
- Lauren emphasizes Harlem’s Fashion Row (HFR) as a crucial community and launchpad for designers of color since 2007, spotlighting its continued growth and meaningful brand collaborations (Nike, Gap, Nordstrom, Tommy Hilfiger).
- HFR’s unique, ongoing outreach to HBCUs, supporting emerging Black designers with funding, internships, and industry exposure.
- Her personal journey with HFR, from encountering founder Brandice Daniel at an LA event to now witnessing the organization’s lasting influence in New York.
Quote:
“Harlem's Fashion Row is doing things like going into HBCUs and providing designers and students with funding, making sure they get platform, making sure they get internships that put them in fashion spaces and rooms and conversations they need...to dominate the world.” – Lauren LaRosa [04:55]
2. Building Community and Sustaining Support
[05:30–07:00]
- Lauren reflects on the challenge of retaining both financial and grassroots support in fashion, noting the rarity and importance of HFR’s intergenerational appeal and their ability to create communal spaces for Black creatives.
- She stresses the vital role of fellowship, resource-sharing, and mutual upliftment.
Quote:
“I keep using that word, community, because it is very important when you’re figuring something out, to have those people to be able to fellowship with, to pull resources from or be that for somebody else.” – Lauren LaRosa [05:49]
3. Moments from the Gala: Celebrities, Legends, and Honorees
[07:07–08:40]
- Celebrity attendees included Keri Hilson, Slick Rick, Dapper Dan, Melissa Butler (The Lip Bar), and Sherri Shepherd.
- Brandice Daniel’s (HFR founder) opening remarks reinforced HFR’s foundational mission—to become a lasting, supportive ecosystem for Black creatives in fashion.
4. Usher Receives the Virgil Abloh Award
[08:46–10:23]
- Usher is recognized for his cultural influence that extends far beyond music, drawing parallels with the late Virgil Abloh’s boundary-breaking role in fashion (especially at Louis Vuitton and in streetwear).
- Usher delivers a reflective and heartfelt acceptance speech, touching on self-belief, humility, and the importance of honoring one’s younger self.
Quote:
“The world produces waves. You surf, you drown, you decide. And everything that you do is for that 17-year-old version of yourself...That 17-year-old version of myself is the same thing that encourages me to this day, that makes me fearless and I would not be here without him.” – Usher [08:56]
“We’re taught to be humble, but I say we need to give ourselves more praise...It’s not cocky, it’s not conceited, it’s confidence. And that’s the way that it should be. You should encourage yourself.” – Usher [09:57]
5. Reflections on Legacy, Generations, and Modesty
[10:23–13:50]
- Lauren observes generational differences in how Black creatives pursue recognition. Legends like Usher and Slick Rick are content with their impact, less absorbed by accolades and public validation, in contrast with current social media–driven culture.
- Slick Rick’s presence is described as regal—influencing music and fashion for decades just by being present.
Quote:
“These are people…you’re not hearing them scream what they need, what they should be getting, what they should be awarded every day. They’re just really doing the work, doing what they love, and doing it at a high level.” – Lauren LaRosa [11:30]
6. Ruth E. Carter Honored with the Ann Lowe Maverick Award
[13:50–14:22]
- Ruth E. Carter, legendary Hollywood costume designer (noted for Black Panther), receives the first Ann Lowe Maverick Award, honoring excellence in story-driven design.
- Lauren reflects on Carter’s era of creativity—crafting masterpieces “without phones, TikTok, or mood boards,” compared to today’s more instantaneous creative environment.
Quote:
“Tonight I accept this award in the name of Ann Lowe and in honor of every designer, tailor and creative who stitched beauty into the world even when the doors were closed.” – Ruth E. Carter [14:22]
7. The Deeper Message: Impact Over Clout
[14:22–16:30]
- Lauren urges listeners to focus on substance and legacy over social media “flowers.”
- She pays homage to the diligent work ethic of previous generations, noting that tangible impact is more important than fleeting visibility.
Quote:
“Whether you’re getting your flowers while you can smell them or not, I want to make sure I’m getting my flowers for something that I’ve done that has substance in life and legacy. Because that’s real impact.” – Lauren LaRosa [15:39]
8. Personal Touch: Fashion, Partnerships, and Community
[16:30–17:50]
- Lauren highlights her partnership with Foot Locker, wearing a two-piece set by Black designer Megan Renee.
- She invites listeners to check her social media for exclusive visuals and behind-the-scenes fun, underlining the spirit of inclusivity and celebration.
9. Final Thoughts & Closing
[17:50–18:49]
- Lauren underscores the importance of intention, purpose, and true community as she continues to chronicle Fashion Week.
- Warm invitation to listeners to connect, share their NYFW experiences, and look forward to more immersive, street-level episodes.
Quote:
“At the end of the day, there is always a lot to talk about, a lot to do, and you guys could be anywhere with anybody, but you choose to be right here with me every episode, and I appreciate you guys for it.” – Lauren LaRosa [17:58]
Notable Quotes With Timestamps
- “Harlem's Fashion Row is doing things like going into HBCUs and providing designers and students with funding…” – Lauren LaRosa [04:55]
- “The world produces waves. You surf, you drown, you decide.” – Usher (quoting Virgil Abloh) [08:56]
- “We’re taught to be humble, but I say we need to give ourselves more praise...It’s not cocky, it’s not conceited, it’s confidence.” – Usher [09:57]
- “These are people…They’re just really doing the work, doing what they love, and doing it at a high level.” – Lauren LaRosa [11:30]
- “Tonight I accept this award in the name of Ann Lowe and in honor of every designer, tailor and creative who stitched beauty into the world even when the doors were closed.” – Ruth E. Carter [14:22]
- “Whether you’re getting your flowers while you can smell them or not, I want to make sure I’m getting my flowers for something that I’ve done that has substance in life and legacy.” – Lauren LaRosa [15:39]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [02:29] Episode kicks off: Lauren’s context and intro to Harlem’s Fashion Row
- [04:55] HFR’s mission and impact at HBCUs
- [08:46] Usher receives the Virgil Abloh Award; Usher speaks
- [13:50] Ruth E. Carter receives the Ann Lowe Maverick Award; Ruth speaks
- [15:39] Lauren on “flowers,” substance, and legacy
- [16:30] Lauren highlights her Fashion Week look and Foot Locker partner moment
- [17:58] Lauren’s closing appreciation and invitation to listeners
Overall Tone & Takeaways
Lauren’s storytelling style is warm, reflective, and deeply rooted in community pride. Throughout the episode, she celebrates not only the major honorees but also the unseen labor and legacy of Black creatives who have shaped fashion and culture—ending on an empowering note about seeking impact, not just hype.
Recommended For:
Anyone interested in the intersection of Black culture, legacy, and fashion; those seeking behind-the-scenes insight on NYFW; fans of Usher, Ruth E. Carter, or Harlem’s Fashion Row; and listeners looking for inspiration on building real, lasting impact.