“If I try to be to different, it just makes me the same as you.” - GANZY

the word

BEHIND THE SEAMS

BEHIND THE SEAMS

Behind the Seams is an editorial series that takes audiences beyond the runway during New York Fashion Week to explore the people, process, emotion, craftsmanship, and labor behind brands. While traditional Fashion Week coverage often centers on the final product – the runway, presentation, clothes, and imagery – Behind the Seams tells the story of what it takes to get there.

Each feature steps inside a designer’s world, giving visibility to the people whose work is essential to bringing a creative vision to life, from studio and production teams to stylists, casting directors, makeup artists, hairstylists, and coordinators. By connecting the clothes audiences ultimately see with the people, decisions, skills, and stories behind them, Behind the Seams creates a more human understanding of each brand and a deeper connection to the designers and their work.

IMAGES CAPTURED BY MELQUAN GANZY.

IN MY BAG

IN MY BAG

In My Bag is a CFDA.com editorial series examining designer bags through the people who use them. Featuring Brandon Blackwood, Luar by Raul Lopez, and Coach under Stuart Vevers, the series includes voices from Sierra Rena, Alexis Wilkerson, Zoi Lerma, Joel Hilario, Rayvin Huger, Armiel Chandler, Jenee Naylor, Nimay Ndolo, and Kalyn Rodriguez. Each story connects style to real life, work, ambition, movement, and meaning.

IN MY BAG: COACH featuring Sierra Rena, Alexis Wilkerson, and Zoi Lerma

At the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), I serve as a contributing writer and content producer, creating editorial stories that explore fashion’s relationship to identity, storytelling, and cultural impact. My work focuses on amplifying underrepresented voices while examining how branding and creative direction shape public narratives.

I’ve profiled CFDA members including Mike Amiri, Willy Chavarria, Adam and Ryan Goldstone, and Michael Saiger, highlighting their approach to branding and the deeper cultural lineages behind their work.

Some of my key editorial series include:

  • Your Story Told Your Way – featuring independent designers like Ev Bravado, Kingsley Gbadegesin, and Shanel Campbell, told through the lens of personal identity and legacy.

  • Behind the Scenes – spotlighting creative forces like Gayle Dizon and Anthony Brooks who drive the industry from behind the curtain.

  • Fashion Week Coverage – documenting pivotal shows from Phillip Lim, KidSuper, and CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists with a focus on creative process and impact.

  • Cultural and Social Advocacy – writing about Black Dandyism, disability justice in fashion, and how spirituality informs the style of Black women.

  • Digital Influence, Music, and Retail – covering voices like Taylor Hawkins and Candace Marie, DJs shaping legacy through fashion, and retail pioneers like Jeffrey Kalinsky.

  • Sustainability Reporting – contributing to CFDA’s “Good Talks” series with insights on circularity and textile innovation.

Alongside the writing, I’ve worked with a range of photographers across New York City to develop original visuals that bring each story to life. Through all of this work, I aim to bring care, context, and cultural critique to the fashion stories we tell, and to expand who gets seen, heard, and celebrated in this industry.

Every image above comes directly from the stories I’ve written and produced.