While it may be the third time she has participated, former Fairview resident and fashion designer Delayne Dixon says the bright lights of New York Fashion Week are something she will never take for granted.
Dixon, who was born in Fairview before moving to Vancouver to attend the Art Institute of Vancouver in 2012, says the return to the Big Apple was her first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. She says it was another amazing opportunity to show off the styles she looks to perfect.
“I’ve been trying to make a little bit more gowns and dresses, so most of it was more luxury you could say, but definitely on the edgier side. Lots of black and red, sulfur, all-inclusive models, every size, and I hope people loved it,” she adds.
She says when it comes to nerves, it is like every other show until the clock starts counting down.
“The nerves don’t really hit me until my models are lined up backstage and we are about to go on… it’s months and months of work coming down to a 15-minute show; it’s all that anticipation growing up I guess,” she adds.
Dixon says, while she has been away from Fairview for more than a decade, she remains incredibly grateful for the support she continues to receive from family and friends in the region, and it’s something she carries with her every day. She hopes she can, in some small way, become an example for those who want to carve their own path in life.
“I definitely try to stay grounded and be grateful for where I’ve come from… It’s good to look back and sometimes when I’m stressed out I take a moment to look back to where I came from and be grateful that way.”
“Pursue what you are passionate about,” she adds. “It took me a long time to get where I am, but I was working part-time jobs while doing fashion to fund my business, but eventually hard work pays off, so I think everybody should do what they love to do.”
You can find Deylayne’s 2022 New York Fashion Week show here.