Adebayo Jones brings opulent fashion to Rochester runway

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Meghan Mundy LLC presents an intimate runway showcase featuring London-based fashion mogul Adebayo Jones at the Culver Road Armory tomorrow. Often called the King of Couture in the fashion world, Jones will share his opulent designs in Rochester for the first time.

Meghan Mundy, a professional stylist, founded Fashion Week of Rochester, an annual event that has run for the past 14 years. The event spotlights local designers, boutiques, businesses and artists, while also raising awareness about youth homelessness, with proceeds supporting The Center for Youth.

Photos courtesy of LaLew PR

The event will kick off with a cocktail hour, giving fashion enthusiasts a chance to mingle. Following that, the runway will showcase local talent modeling Jones’s menswear and womenswear. Mundy describes the pieces as a reflection of Jones’s signature opulence and attention to detail.

“His menswear has an almost ‘Bridgerton’ feel, while his womenswear is old-world charm and elegance. I find that everything in fashion is starting to look the same, but his work is beautifully crafted and unique,” says Mundy.

After the runway show, attendees can meet Jones and stroll among the models wearing his creations. They can also schedule an appointment for a three-day trunk show Jan. 26–28. During the trunk show appointments, guests can place a deposit and get measured for one of Jones’s designs, which will be handmade in Europe.

Through her work with Fashion Week of Rochester, Mundy stays connected to the key people and events shaping the fashion industry, both regionally and internationally. She first encountered Jones’s work after a serendipitous meeting at African Fashion Week Toronto last fall.

While backstage with a friend before the show, a man in a black sequin suit approached Mundy and jokingly asked if she had brought the drink she was holding back for him. The pair shared a laugh without any formal introductions.

Later that evening, Mundy watched a few walks in the show before leaving early to prepare for an early morning departure. As she was heading out, a friend of Jones urged her to get in touch with the designer.

After returning to Rochester, Mundy called Jones, and they realized he was the man in the black sequin suit. They met in person in Rochester, and coincidentally, Jones was in the U.S. again during Fashion Week of Rochester, attending all three nights that October. It was then that Mundy and Jones began planning his first Rochester show.

Mundy hopes the audience leaves feeling inspired and excited about owning clothing that is unique to them.

“My goal since starting Fashion Week and hosting trunk shows with others has been to be inclusive and make everyone aware that being fashionable is for everybody,” says Mundy. “I hope what the community sees from Jones coming is that our city is welcoming to and desired by designers who want to showcase their work in a new market.”

Down the road, Mundy plans to continue producing smaller runway shows throughout the year, using them as a springboard for designers to join the larger events of Fashion Week of Rochester.

“I’ve been energized by this show because it is something new and on a smaller scale than Fashion Week. I want to bring in designers, host small, intimate shows, get them exposure, and then feature them in Fashion Week. It’s a whole new energy and will build the brand of Meghan Mundy LLC while also building the brand of Fashion Week,” says Mundy.

Meghan Mundy LLC Presents Adebayo Jones takes place on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 6–9 p.m. in the Community Gallery at the Culver Road Armory. Tickets can be purchased online.

Evan Coleman is a Rochester Beacon contributing writer. 

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