The Weekday Shows...
TUESDAY, APRIL 7
The inaugural show of Richmond Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 was themed Prototype: Made to Inspire, hosted at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. In support of non-profit organization, Dress for Success Central VA, the night showcased the innovation, craft, and bold fashion of designers who push boundaries and experiment with form.
Mapulder Vol. 1 showed a bright and cheerful spring collection of floral dresses and patterned men’s shirts, along with charming matching “Mommy and Me” dresses.
Suigens stunned the audience with bold, otherworldly poly-spandex gowns and futuristic visor shades.
LAVIET
Designer Camille Do presented the first capsule collection for her brand, LAVIET, entitled Goodbye Gặp Lại Sau, meaning “goodbye, see you later.” The show was dedicated to Do’s late grandmother and used as a means to both communicate grief and acknowledge her Vietnamese roots through the exploration of traditional fabrics and silhouettes. The designs were constructed from second-hand fabric and sewn by specialized áo dài seamstresses.
The show opened with a black chiffon áo dài with coordinating Quần Áo Dài and statement pieces like black gloves, a red crystal necklace, and a black parasol with cascading crystal bead strings. Do’s collection featured an orchid motif, representing prosperity and elegance, seen on earrings, hair clips, or simply carried as a bouquet.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8
The theme of RVAFW day two, hosted at the Common House, was The Collective: Established and Curated. The night featured standout spring looks from esteemed designers and boutiques, spotlighting their signature style and creative visions. The beneficiary for this show was Dress for Success Central Virginia.
VERDALINA
Founded by Deborah Boschen in 2013, Verdalina is Richmond’s exclusive source for sustainable, slow fashion crafted with intentionality. Each piece is made using fair trade, organic, and responsibly sourced environmental materials. The brands carried at the boutique represent contemporary designers with a strong attention to detail, and without a disposable attitude towards clothing.
The showcased pieces consisted of flowy dresses perfect for the spring and summer seasons. The primary color palette consists of pale pink, robin’s egg blue, and white, with yellow and light orange accents.
SASSY JONES
Charis Jones, the founder of Sassy Jones, started her company in 2013 with a mission to design pieces that inspire women to feel confident, expressive, and unapologetically themselves. Lisa Jones, Charis’ mother, said her daughter has been holding a handbag since she was two, and had a bedazzler growing up that she would use to customize her clothing. Since developing her brand, Charis has created a global community known as the Sassy Nation, where people from all over the world come out to see Sassy Jones. The show was built on resilience and was dedicated to women who choose themselves.
The designs featured on Jones’ latest collection are bold, expressive, and feature striking details such as rhinestones and faux pearls. Models took to the runway in a mix of formal attire and matching sets in vivid colors and daring patterns.
THURSDAY, APRIL 9
Thursday’s theme, The Framework: Vision in Form, spotlighted emerging designers who reimagine silhouettes and push their creative boundaries to tell innovative narratives through fashion. In addition to fashion, the night included a performance by Kaitlin Walz and a sustainability poster created by VCUarts sophomore Fashion Merchandising students in collaboration with one of RVAFW’s sponsors, Redfern Hemp.
PLV
PLV, which stands for peace, love, and violence, opened the night with an evening wear collection– a departure from their usual streetwear. Creative Director and Founder Markie explored his first womenswear collection, experimenting with body-contouring drapery and historical underpinnings in a warm neutral palette.
One model was clad in a form fitting black dress with a cage crinoline made from blonde braided hair, while others wore structured bustiers– playing into the theme of framework.
WILD3
“ICE Out” pins, zipper vests, and fringed capris were all on full display in Wild3’s Spring/Summer 2026 line. VCU fashion student and Wild3 designer Nat Webb sources all collection materials from thrift stores to transform pre-loved pieces into something new.
Crochet halter tops and a repurposed glove bra top were notable pieces, as was the consistent use of scarves as accessories, complementing each outfit.
NUNA
Lace detailing and molded leather emulating vines and flowers harmonize with a dark color palette consisting of black, teal, and deep plum in Nuna’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection. A moto-inspired set was shown, featuring a cropped cowl neck top and skinny low-rise pants. Stacked pleating on skirts, high slits, cut-outs, and thigh-high stockings were made from fashion-forward textures and materials such as leather, lace, and mesh.
Credits
RVAFW Press Team: Kristina Wise, Leslie Angel-Lopez, Jolene Lopez