Clockwise from top left: Designs by Deyonte Weather, Image from Belmore Sip, Paint, and Sew, Designer Chelsia Barry, design by Ruth Esther, design by Ruth Esther
Celebrating Black Culture, Fashion, and Juneteenth!
This summer, The Chayah Movement is honored to partner with Tacoma Art Museum to present Threads of Freedom: A Celebration of Black Culture, Fashion, and Juneteenth. More than just a fashion showcase, Threads of Freedom is a dynamic, multi-day cultural experience uplifting Black creatives and exploring how fashion becomes a medium for storytelling, resistance, and joy.
At the heart of Threads of Freedom is The Chayah Movement, a local nonprofit working at the intersection of sustainable fashion, creative advocacy, and community empowerment. Founded on the belief that fashion is more than just clothing—it’s art, identity, and activism—The Chayah Movement curates spaces where underrepresented voices are centered and celebrated.
Why Threads of Freedom?
Fashion has always played a powerful role in Black history. From “Sunday best’s” in the face of oppression to Afrofuturistic visions of liberation, clothing tells our stories when words fall short. Threads of Freedom honors that legacy while looking toward the future. The showcase features 10 Black fashion designers from across the Pacific Northwest, each bringing unique perspectives and practices to the runway.
This immersive celebration includes:
- A Juneteenth celebration in partnership with Tacoma Public Schools and Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant in partnership with the Community Aunties.
- A live fashion showcase spotlighting Black designers of the PNW.
- Community conversation, artist talks, fashion demos and hands-on experiences.
Centering Community and Creativity
The Chayah Movement’s commitment to equity, sustainability, and cultural celebration is what makes this showcase so powerful. Threads of Freedom invites the community to reflect on the stories we wear—and the systems we must redesign to create a just and regenerative fashion future. It is intentionally free and open to all, because celebration, education, and liberation should never have a price tag.
Whether you’re a lifelong fashion lover, a curious creative, or a community member looking for a joyful way to engage in Juneteenth, Threads of Freedom is for you.
Come witness the future of fashion—and freedom—unfold right here in Tacoma.
