On Saturday, December 14, 2024, fashion designers Eryn Boggs (@iconiclicense), Abisola Oladeinde (@Yelé), and Dr. Marilyn Walker (@Marie Francis Designs) showcased their stunning creations in a one-of-a-kind runway show in the Walters Sculpture Court. The winners were selected by an audience vote at Project Artscape, a three-day event organized by the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts (BOPA) that occurred during Artscape 2024. Alongside the winners, event attendees will also hear from Travis Winkey and Caprece Jackson, two of Baltimore’s fashion icons, about style, their inspiration, and more.
About the Designers
Eryn Boggs finds inspiration in fashion history, architecture, global travels, and pop culture for her bold and progressive creations. Her regal yet sharp aesthetic has made waves at New York Fashion Week, DC Fashion Week, and Miami Swim Week and has been featured in top fashion publications and international film.
Abisola Oladeinde, the creative force behind Yelé LLC, seamlessly blends African heritage with modern design in luxury fashion. With roots in Lagos, Nigeria, and now thriving in Baltimore, Yelé crafts precise and artfully unique pieces using traditional Batik Adire techniques. Her creations tell stories of empowerment and heritage, earning her recognition in Visa’s “She’s Next in Fashion” program.
Dr. Marilyn Walker, the owner of MFD Fashion Boutique and Marie Francis Designs, creates fashion for free-spirited individuals of all backgrounds. Inspired by global cultures, her designs blend influences from Africa, India, Asia, London, Europe, and the Caribbean. With a passion for self-expression through fashion, Marilyn believes in the transformative power of personal style. She values fit, personality, confidence, and attitude in fashion, aiming to create a unique and empowering experience for each client. Marilyn’s ultimate joy is seeing individuals embrace their style with confidence, creating their own fashion story.
About the Hosts
Caprese Jackson, a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology and Ohio University, is a veteran of Baltimore’s fashion industry with a career spanning over 45 years. In the 1980s, she worked as a Paris-based journalist covering European fashion collections, contributed to the launch of ELLE magazine’s U.S. edition, and has served as press secretary for the Baltimore City Council.
As a passionate advocate for Baltimore fashion, Jackson has curated dynamic programming, including fashion shows, installations, workshops, and performance art, providing local designers, models, stylists, photographers, and makeup artists with career-launching opportunities. Her notable projects include the Fashion Block Marketplace at Artscape, Fashion Comes To Light, and Wear It Out Baltimore. She is also the first Brand Ambassador for Sustainable Fashion Week US and serves as the inaugural Fashion Programming Coordinator for BOPA.
Travis Winkey, known as the “Godfather of Baltimore Fashion,” has been a transformative figure in Baltimore’s fashion and modeling scene for over five decades. He established Travis Winkey Modeling Studios in 1973 and has trained hundreds of models from over 70 countries and has also helped emerging designers showcase their collections in boutiques and stores across the U.S. A skilled director, producer, consultant, and choreographer, Winkey is recognized internationally and has worked with the Miss USA pageant, Miss Model International, the Congressional Black Caucus Fashion Show, and the MLK Annual Fashion Fundraiser, where he collaborated with Coretta Scott King for 14 years.
His impact and humanitarian efforts have led to proclamations of “Travis Winkey Day” by Baltimore mayors Kurt Schmoke and William Donald Schaefer, and he’s received support from figures like Oprah and Muhammad Ali, who called him “The Prince of Fashion,” and has worked with iconic designers such as Willie Smith, Patrick Kelly, and Paco Rabanne. Beyond fashion, Winkey has earned numerous awards for mentoring youth in Baltimore, inspiring confidence and ambition through workshops. His legacy as a trailblazer and advocate for inclusivity cements his place as a beloved icon in Baltimore.
