Queer Purgatory

A multidisciplinary fashion presentation and part of The Liberty Hotel’s Fashionably Late series, Queer Purgatory celebrated the return of renowned designer Charles Harbison while centering the next generation of queer and trans designers of color.

The show’s title draws from the powerful history of its venue, The Liberty Hotel—once a prison where Malcolm X was incarcerated—now transformed into a world-renowned five-star hotel. This evolution embodies the idea of transcending systems of confinement and colonization, reminding us that if a space once defined by restriction can be reclaimed and reimagined, then so can our identities and futures. Queer Purgatory invites us to imagine endless possibilities beyond imposed origins and limitations.

At its heart lies a provocative question: What if the things that have ruled our lives don’t exist? What endless possibilities remain undiscovered within you? This inquiry drives the show’s exploration of sustainability, identity, and cultural affirmation—positioning fashion as a medium for personal and collective reclamation, especially within queer and trans communities who continue to reclaim visibility and space.

Designed as a fully immersive experience, Queer Purgatory incorporated multisensory elements, including a custom soundscape crafted in collaboration with queer and trans poets, vocalists, and multidisciplinary artists. Commissioned works responded to specific thematic movements, each guiding a segment of the show and aligning with the featured designers’ collections. The presentation unfolded in five movements:

• Movement 1: Trials & Tribulations

• Movement 2: Going Thru The Flame

• Movement 3: Baptism & Water

• Movement 4: Gateways & Portals

• Movement 5: Rebirth & Undefined Spaces

Each movement featured original works from poets, vocalists, and multidisciplinary artists including Joseph Valenté, Alexandria Danielle King, Tatiana Isabel Gil, Dez’mon Omega Fair, Shelia Pegues, Micah Rose & Quill, Letta S. Neely, Eyedekay, and Harold Steward. Together, these voices shaped the emotional rhythm of the show, underscoring themes of transformation, reclamation, and possibility.

The presentation featured collections from Cisco Sews, Nicolo Zizi, and Maya Bialek, each bringing a distinct and future-focused approach to sustainable design. Cisco Sews works with found and reclaimed materials, creating garments that merge craft with environmental consciousness. Nicolo Zizi reimagines denim and vegan textiles, centering ethical production and contemporary form. Maya Bialek blends her Chinese heritage with modern silhouettes, crafting designs that honor tradition while embracing innovation. Together, these designers—each at a different stage of their career—contribute to a collective narrative where craftsmanship and cultural storytelling hold equal weight.

Anchored by Harbison’s visionary return—and his history of dressing icons like Beyoncé, Michelle Obama, Kelly Rowland, and Mindy Kaling—Queer Purgatory affirmed the power of fashion as a space for reclamation, visibility, and sustainability.