By Kathy Chouteau



What boasts a throng of talented local fashion designers, models of all ages and backgrounds, a Reggae-lovin’ DJ and the hottest made-in-Richmond T-shirts you’re ever going to witness in one place? It’s none other than the T-Shirt Con Fashion Show!

Set for Sat., July 20, from 1-4 p.m. at Bridge Storage and Art Space’s film space, 23 Maine Ave., Richmond, the T-Shirt Con Fashion Show is hosted by onsite business R&R Coffee and will bring together the community to check out the latest T-shirt designs from some of Richmond’s best fashion designers.

Strutting down the runway to showcase the designers’ wares that day will be models spanning the decades in age, ranging from toddler to twenty somethings. The event’s entrance fee will be $7 per person.

Stepping up as DJ during the fashion show will be DJ SelectaRebel and performers will include singer NiNi Heart and rapper/spoken word artist Jlyricevans. Christina Alexandria will take control of the mic as event emcee and Ruth De Leon Valle is the show’s director.

In addition to the runway show, attendees will have the opportunity to purchase the T-shirt designs and more at onsite vendor tables hosted by the designers and spread throughout Bridge’s beautiful, art-rich grounds.

T-shirt fashion designers participating in the show and selling their made-in-Richmond creations Saturday will include: @Twinxculture; @Savageicewear; @Chillandgrow; @Left.rightandbearhanded; @Toorawgear; @Safadiscustoms; @Baysickinc; and @Explore360.tv.

Food will also be for sale via Chef Rebecca Orengo McFarlane and drinks via R&R Coffee’s kiosk.

We caught up with R&R Coffee owner, Phillip Mitchell, and asked him why he was interested in following up his wildly successful “All Included Fashion Show”—held in January of this year at Bridge—by hosting this summertime T-Shirt Con Fashion Show.

“I wanted to highlight the diversity of Richmond and also the talented T-shirt artists that are out there every day,” said Mitchell.

“With all of the growth happening in Richmond, I wanted to make sure that the folks that have been in Richmond all along are being highlighted and are being recognized for all the work that they are doing,” he added.

According to Mitchell, the “R&R” in R&R Coffee stands for Richmond-born and Richmond-grown, as evidenced by the business’ frequent, hyper-local community events. Learn more about R&R Coffee here and follow the latest T-Shirt Con Fashion Show updates on Instagram at @coffee.rr.