What Fashion Means to Me

After Watching the 2026 Met Gala

I’ve been thinking a lot about fashion lately—not just what I create, but what it truly means to me. Watching the 2026 Met Gala and reading what people had to say stirred something deeper than I expected. Growing up, I always knew I wanted to do two things: become a lawyer or become a designer. I chose fashion, and it was never a light decision—it was something that felt natural, something that felt like it was always meant for me. I wake up thinking about fashion, and I go to sleep thinking about it. It lives in my mind constantly. It’s how I express myself, how I process life, and how I connect with others. Fashion, for me, has never been just about clothes—it’s who I am.

The Met Gala has always been one of those nights I look forward to every year. Not just for the looks, but for what it represents. It’s supposed to be this elevated space where fashion, art, and storytelling meet.

A place where designers can push boundaries and create moments that live beyond that night. For years, I’ve watched it and thought, one day I will design for someone walking those steps. One day my work will be part of that conversation. The Met has always felt like a sacred fantasy space for designers like myself—a place of inspiration and possibility.

But this year felt different. Watching it, and learning who was being centered around the event, left me feeling uncomfortable. When I heard about Bezos being placed in that kind of position around something that is supposed to celebrate art and culture, I was honestly disgusted and disappointed. Not because I don’t understand wealth or success, but because of what it represents. It made me feel like now anyone can buy their way into spaces that once felt earned, respected, and protected. It made me question whether the integrity of that space is shifting.

There is something hard to ignore when you see someone who has the ability to pay workers more, choose not to, yet still be able to drop millions into the arts—possibly without even truly believing in what that space stands for. It makes you wonder, would Anna Wintour have even invited him if he wasn’t a significant donor? These are real questions that sit with me as a designer. And when I see A-list celebrities continue to attend and participate, I can’t help but wonder—do you not have any morals? Can you not stand for something that is right? Or has access become more important than accountability?

At the same time, as a person of color, I will always appreciate seeing representation on that level. Seeing people who look like me in meaningful spaces will always matter. But for me, that representation has to feel aligned. It has to feel like it stands for something deeper than just being seen. And in this case, it didn’t feel that way.

Even with all of that, my dream hasn’t changed. I still want to see my designs at the Met one day. I still want to be part of that level of fashion. But I also know that when that moment comes, I want it to be a year where the people involved truly reflect something meaningful.

A year where the space feels like it honors fashion, creativity, and the people who dedicate their lives to it. Fashion, to me, is not just about beauty—it’s about intention, integrity, and purpose. And no matter how the industry shifts, that is something I will always hold onto.

Because at the end of the day, fashion is not just what I do. It’s who I am.