Countdown to Highest In The Room’s 4th Annual Gullah Gala at IAAM: Featured "Wha Gwan?: Dandy Disclosure" Guest Panel Event

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Less than two weeks until an extravagant night of fashion, culture, and Black excellence that will take place Saturday, May 17, during The 4th Annual Gullah Gala Fashion and Music Experience: “The Gullah Gatsby," at the International African American Museum (IAAM).

Created by Highest In The Room (HITR) with IAAM as the presenting sponsor: The Gullah Gala is a premier cultural couture fashion and music experience celebrating the rich heritage of the Gullah Geechee culture and the African Diaspora. A day after this major event, HITR will be hosting a notable, dynamic panel discussion entitled "Wha Gwan?: Dandy Disclosure" on Sunday, May 18, featuring Quentin Thrash, a tenured celebrity stylist and menswear influencer.

"Wha Gwan?: Dandy Disclosure" will delve into the theme of "Black Dandyism" and its profound influence on contemporary fashion. The panel will also explore how Gullah Geechee culture has contributed to the evolution of style and how it resonates with current fashion trends.

The panel includes a distinguished group featuring:

This event offers a unique opportunity to gain insights into the processes of fashion designers, stylists, and creatives to better understand the cultural significance of “Black Dandyism” from local, national, and international lenses.

Panel Discussion Details:

"Wha Gwan?: Dandy Disclosure" Panel Discussion

Introducing the 2025 Gullah Gala Featured Fashion Designers

Five fashion brands will showcase their latest apparel, clothing lines, and curatorial visions at the 2025 Gullah Gala. Those who will be participating are:

First Borne

  • Born in Harlem, New York and growing up in Teaneck, New Jersey, the now Charleston-residing fashion designer Nicole Fason created First Borne by creating one of a kind cut and sewn pieces, as well as thrifted upcycled garments. Fason expresses that “upcycling clothing is more than a sustainable practice—it’s a form of storytelling that honors the past while reimagining the future.” Each reused garment carries history in her threads, and by transforming it, she says that “it gives new life and purpose.” It has become a symbol of resilience, creativity, and reinvention. In this way, she hopes her upcycled fashion challenges fast trends and invites wearers to connect with something meaningful—where every stitch and patch reflects a journey, a memory, and a conscious choice to value legacy over waste.

Made In Heaven

  • Natalie Sanchez, a clothing designer from Chicago, Illinois, began her journey when she started sewing at a very young age with her grandmother. Her brand, Made In Heaven, centers on blending the past and present. The focus is to breathe new life into old garments, which grew into creating original pieces that blended nostalgia with modern wearability. With a background in hands-on fashion retail and a deep love for unique textures, silhouettes, and eras, she aims to help others express themselves authentically through what they wear. Natalie expresses that Made In Heaven is a space for creative exploration and sustainable fashion where every piece has history, love, and is one of a kind.

LeFrais Monde

  • LeFrais Monde believes that your brand should be your identity. Monde grew up in a very diverse atmosphere that placed him around different people, provided him different opportunities, and gave him a different perspective. He expresses that with LeFrais Monde he is not just broadcasting a clothing brand, he is bringing you into his world. “In Frais: We’re forever fresh.”

K.C. Murray

  • K.C. Murray is a seasoned hairstylist with over 15 years of experience, known for bringing vision and versatility to every project. From the salon—where she services men, women, and children—to high-fashion runways and national commercials, K.C. has styled for more than 200 fashion shows and over 50 commercial shoots. She has worked with major brands like Bank of America, Mercedes Sprinter Van, and Explore Charleston. Her creative fingerprint has been seen on the runways of New York Fashion Week and Charleston Fashion Week, as well as in editorial and film work. Driven by a deep love for fashion and all things creative, K.C. continues to evolve as an artist and visionary. Her mission is to break past limitations, explore higher heights, and live a life rooted in bold creativity—with no fears and no regrets.

Fresh Prince Fits

  • Fashion Designer Brandon Alston is a costume design and technologies graduate of the College of Charleston. Inspired by “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" growing up, Alston admired how actor Will Smith redefined fashion through his boldly unique style. This influence led Alston to create his own personal clothing company, Fresh Prince Fits Designs: A sustainable clothing brand offering a creative alternative to fast fashion. Alston expressed that he is known for blending sustainability with originality; making each of his pieces not just a design, but an experience that speaks to individual personality.

REMINDER: Get Your Tickets TODAY for the 2025 Gullah Gala

The International African American Museum (IAAM) is the presenting sponsor for the highly anticipated Gullah Gala 2025. This year’s Gullah Gala on Saturday, May 17, will continue to highlight the intersection of fashion, art, music, and cultural performance, providing a platform for designers, artists, and vendors to share their passionate work with a national audience.

Event Details:

The IAAM’s support of HITR’s Gullah Gala reinforces Charleston’s position as a global hub for Black excellence in fashion, music, and the arts. This collaboration hopes to bring further local, national, and international attention to the IAAM, HITR, and the Gullah Geechee community.