Dapper Dan Partnership, New Board Members, Studio Membership, and more

Incubator | Program/Services| Support SoHarlem

New SoHarlem Pilot: Dapper Dan's Dream-Connection for Young Entrepreneurs

SoHarlem is excited to announce a new partnership with renowned American fashion designer and Harlem haberdasher, Dapper Dan.

Participants in Dapper Dan's "The Dream Connection For Young Entrepreneurs" will benefit from regular visits and learning sessions at his new atelier. Located on what Dapper Dan calls "Our Fifth Avenue," between 115th and 116th Streets in East Harlem, this atelier will serve as a vital hub for the initiative.

His vision is to empower young designers by providing a foundational understanding of the industry and garment construction, thereby enhancing their long-term success in the creative industries.

This groundbreaking pilot program is an integral addition to SoHarlem’s workforce development arm, the Creative Economy Training Institute.

To learn more click here.

Dapper Dan seen engaging with young entrepreneurs, imparting unparalleled advice and invaluable words of wisdom.

SoHarlem Welcomes New Board Members: Frederick O. Quenzer and Tanya Meléndez-Escalante

Tanya Meléndez-Escalante, Senior Curator of Education and Public Programs at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology.

She is specialist in Latin American fashion in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, with extensive management experience in the visual and performing arts.

To learn more about her click here.

We share the cover of Tanya most recent publication on Latin American design today to learn more click here.

Frederick Quenzer is Assistant General Counsel International Swaps and Derivatives Association, for the Americas

He is a seasoned legal professional, technologist and innovator.

To learn more about Frederick Quenzer click here.

Introducing SoHarlem's Designer's Hub Membership ProgramFor more information click here.

Summer Comfort Window

This season, our window display celebrates the comfort and beauty of home decor. We're featuring pillows designed for resting heads, soothing backs, or propping feet. Two of SoHarlem's creative entrepreneurs, Olivia Smashum,Founder of Blue Olive (known for timeless designs) and Tenidade Morenike Fann, Founder Naija Fly Fabrics (a fashion and textile lifestyle brand specializing in ethical fair-trade West African fabrics), teamed up to create these one-of-a-kind pillows. Some even incorporate textiles donated by local quilt makers, the late Susan Stauber and the late Valerie Deas, an original member of the SoHarlem Collective. Each pillow, expertly constructed by Margarita Ayala, includes a cushion thoughtfully filled with remnants from our Studio and is housed within a removable, decorative quilted sleeve for effortless washing.

Restoring Amsterdam Greenstreet: A Collaborative Success

We extend our sincere thanks to New York City Parks Commissioner Susan Donoghue and Manhattan Borough Commissioner Tricia Shimamura for their support in the restoration of the Amsterdam Greenstreet.

Recently completed, this project revitalized West 126th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. It involved replacing fencing and adding new flora and fauna, a collaborative effort started in 2019 between Templo Biblico, Thrive Collective, and SoHarlem.

The initiative was generously funded by former Borough President Gale A. Brewer.

Support SoHarlem: Shop or Donate Today!

Donate Today to SoHarlem