LAKEWOOD, Ohio – Are we alone in the universe? This question has inspired countless tales and myths that have tested the boundaries of imagination. One of the most notorious examples – of course – is the myth that the U.S. government is hiding aliens and UFOs at the classified U.S. Air Force facility in Nevada known as Area 51.
An upcoming event in Greater Cleveland promises to tap into the mystique and fascination behind the ‘little green men’ of Area 51 legend — the second annual FRISKMEGOOD Area 51 Fashion Show, which lands at Studio West 117 in Lakewood on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 5 p.m.
Returning for the first time since the pandemic, the show promises to deliver a night of “out of this world” fashion and entertainment, with futuristic fashion pieces, ‘extraterrestrial’ models, dance numbers, reenactments of iconic pop culture moments, art vendors and more.
The creative mind behind FRISKMEGOOD and its Area 51 fashion show is Cleveland native Cierra Boyd, who is not alien to working among the stars. Boyd’s signature sneaker garments have been worn by celebrities such as Doja Cat, Cardi B and Keyshia Cole, earning acclaim in national publications like Nylon and Vogue. Her impact doesn’t stop there; Boyd’s innovative designs have also taken the spotlight on shows like HBO Max’s “The Hype,” “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” and have even been featured as part of Beyonce’s Ivy Park brand partnership with Adidas.
Now, she’s hosting a fashion show in Lakewood that she hopes will reach cosmic heights.
What to expect
Through her FRISKMEGOOD brand, Boyd is not putting on your everyday fashion show.
“I feel like we’ve been hearing a lot about like aliens and UFOs and invasions so I feel like it’s definitely a culturally relevant moment that is also going to be played out in a really dope way that is going to combine the mysteries of Area 51 with fashion that’s out of this world,” Boyd said.
With dances, pop culture references and alien flair, Boyd said the Area 51 show will be an unconventional, transformative and entertaining celebration of an alien-inspired collection of 50 to 60 looks from FRISKMEGOOD and other Cleveland-area designers. Pieces on display will include unique corsets and bras, body suits, menswear and more. She describes the collection as alien-themed “couture luxury street wear.”
“I’m really looking to create very futuristic silhouettes, inspired by space and extraterrestrial themes,” Boyd shared. “Other than making dope clothing, I love to entertain; It’s going to be crazy.”
Boyd also said her Area 51-themed fashion show will be in step with her brand’s commitment to individuality and sustainability. By upcycling – or reusing and transforming discarded or unused material to create something new – Boyd creates distinctive and environmentally conscious designs. Alternative materials like footballs, wire and credit cards will be reconstructed to help develop the otherworldly fashion designs guests will enjoy.
“Everything I’m creating will be upcycled, using unconventional materials. You may not be able to tell; high fashion is really the goal,” Boyd said. “Our audience is people who like to stand out, who are tired of fast fashion industries dominating their lives and are ready to make conscious decisions that are good for the environment.”
Not only will an extraterrestrial flair be applied to the fashion pieces themselves, thanks to FRISKMEGOOD’s 20-person glam team – led by Cleveland makeup artist Jessica Thomas – Boyd said runway models will have special effects hair and makeup from head to toe that will give each model the appearance of hailing from another star system.
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Live interviews Oct. 23: Hear directly from FRISKMEGOOD designer Cierra Boyd about her fashion career and Area 51 fashion show during a Facebook live interview on cleveland.com’s Facebook page at 7 p.m. and Instagram page at 7:20 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 23.
Painted skin, “cybernetic” accessories and eccentric enhancements aren’t the only unconventional aspects of the models. According to Boyd, the models will be diverse and of all shapes and sizes, promoting self-expression and inclusion.
“There will be men, women, plus size, short models – we don’t discriminate when it comes to models.” Boyd said. “My model is all about being confident with yourself…that’s why we have such a wide range of models.”
This evening doesn’t just entail an astronomical fashion show. An afterparty is also in store, featuring DJ MikeQ, who is most known as the DJ on HBO Max’s “Legendary” TV show.
Guests interested in purchasing fashion pieces on display will be able to do so at vendor tables during the event. FRISKMEGOOD-specific merchandise from the Area 51 collection will be available on FRISKMEGOOD.com. Vendors offering tattoos and clothing will also be available during the event.
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 28 at 5 p.m.
WHERE: Studio West 117 (1384 Hird Ave., Lakewood)
TICKETS: Starting at $30 for standard admission. Available on Eventbrite.