RAISEfashion, the nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing equity in fashion, has a new and innovative format to advance its cause.

On Tuesday, a one-day immersive experience called “RAISEfashion: The Gallery | NYFW Showcase” opens at Posh VIP, located at 40 Crosby Street, and will spotlight 16 emerging designers who are Black, Indigenous and people of color. Officials told WWD the format “blends storytelling, shopping and industry connection and reimagines the traditional fashion week format, placing community, commerce and culture at its center.”

Collections being shown span luxury, streetwear, jewelry and resort and include Busayo, Harbison, L’Enchanteur, Vontelle Eyewear, House of Aama, Gwen Beloti Jewelry, Advisry, Diarra Blu, Bach Mai, Esenshel, Danzy, Nalebe, Onalaja, Cotte D’Armes, Aisling Camps and Yesaet.

The collections can be shopped by visitors and a cocktail gathering will close the night.

“So much of New York Fashion Week is about forecasting future trends and what’s next in fashion, but for the designers we work with, the focus is on right now — reaching consumers, driving sales and sustaining their businesses,” said Felita Harris, executive director and cofounder of RAISEfashion. With NYFW beginning on Thursday, “This is the perfect moment to spotlight these designers and invite the public and our partners to support them in real time.”

Harris characterized the experience as “a true 360-degree platform for visibility and sales,” adding, “We’re featuring 16 designers this year compared to 20 last year. Several are returning, and we’re also spotlighting new talent such as Bach Mai, L’Enchanteur, Yesaet and Diarra Blu. While the group is smaller, we were intentional in curating brands that are fully prepared with inventory, the ability to take preorders, and the readiness to drive sales. This marks an important shift from last year, when most designers participated with samples only for business-to-business opportunities, and reflects their growth and capacity to meet consumer demand directly.”

RAISEfashion has partnered with Fluency, the only AI-powered SMS platform for creators and commerce, to spotlight the showcase in Times Square with a billboard appearing Monday and Tuesday at 1500 Broadway.

“At Fluency, we believe technology should be used to lift voices, not drown them out,” Jalem Getz, chief executive officer of Fluency, said in a statement. “Partnering with RAISEfashion to bring the Gallery to Times Square is our way of saying these designers deserve to be seen — boldly, publicly and on their own terms. This initiative reflects Fluency’s commitment to celebrating emerging voices in fashion, connecting them to global audiences, and elevating their stories during one of the industry’s most pivotal weeks of the year.” Fluency is also powering the digital checkout at the Gallery.

Citing reports from McKinsey & Co., RAISEfashion indicated that only 1.3 percent of investments in fashion go to Black founders. Tuesday’s program is made possible through the support of Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Make Up Forever, Ohho, Maison Perrier and Ten to One Rum.

“This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to our values and meaningful collaboration. We’re proud to help create spaces where emerging creative talent is lifted up and celebrated,” Carey Collins Krug, chief marketing officer at Abercrombie & Fitch Co., said in a statement.

RAISEfashion is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advisory network of fashion industry leaders providing pro-bono business consulting to Black, Indigenous and people of color-owned brands, including mentorship, resources, access and student internships. The organization’s volunteer-run network consists of more than 300 industry experts in branding, marketing and communications, digital strategy, merchandising, sales and business development. Advisers have backgrounds ranging from high luxury to contemporary and mass markets, across men’s and women’s apparel, accessories and leather goods, jewelry and home goods.

“Last November, we launched our advisory platform, a structured resource that organizes expertise into 75 business categories, spanning areas such as legal, finance, production, and marketing,” Harris said. “The platform was designed to make mentorship more accessible and targeted by allowing designers to connect directly with advisers whose skills align with their specific business challenges. It also provides RAISEfashion with a formal mechanism to engage with advisers, strengthen relationships and continue expanding the network in meaningful ways.”