Denver Fashion Week wrapped up yesterday with its eighth and final show of the Spring 2025 season. The week ended with the light-hearted Youth show, accompanied for the first time by Mommy & Me collections.
To set the tone for the newest DFW theme, the show’s host, Alicia from Date Night Denver, brought three of her five children onto the runway with her. Together, they introduced the show dressed by Skye Barker Maa of Factory Fashion.
The foursome also announced the winners of two Denver Fashion Week awards. Youth Female Model of the year was given to Tatum Moody, and Youth Male Model of the Year was awarded to Jaden Chang.
Before the collections began, Cherry Creek Dance took center stage with a lively fast-paced performance. Their routine was the perfect mix of energizing and fun-loving, setting the mood for a joyful display of youth fashion and maternal beauty.
After Cherry Creek Dance’s performance, the show began, featuring collections from VIIWard, Dragonwing, Factory Fashion, Foxlilie Studio and Champlain Couture.
VIIWard
VIIWard’s Youth collection was a celebration of girlhood in every form: the girl boss, the skater, the tomboy, the gamer, the wrestling champ, the cowgirl. But through all of these archetypes, one common thread stood out: each girl was unapologetically unique, celebrating self expression and showcasing the idea that girlhood, when it comes down to it, is defined by the girl herself.
From a (tiny) well-tailored suit to playful accessories like gaming controllers, frilly knee-high socks and a skateboard that read “NEED MONEY FOR BIRKIN,” designer Brooke Bazanac’s collection was equal parts playful and highly curated. Despite being inspired by age-old archetypes, each look felt like a fresh take: denim was painted and upcylced, color palettes were cohesive and eye-catching and each model’s look had a winking and carefree energy.
Dragonwing
Dragonwing is a Denver Fashion Week staple when it comes to Youth fashion, promising high energy and colorful looks — and this season was no exception. The collection started with a model in ballet shoes, delicately dancing down the runway. After this moment of touching beauty, the pace quickened and the energy intensified, bringing feminine and confident vibes to the runway.
This year’s collection featured Dragonwing’s trademark lycra pieces in a wide variety of cuts and iridescent colors. Intricate headdresses, bold lips and ancient Greek-inspired sandals accompanied these staples this season, turning each model into young goddesses on the runway.
Factory Fashion
When designer Skye Barker Maa is backstage, the audience knows they’re going to get more than a traditional runway collection: they’re going to get a story, a performance and an unforgettable experience.
For her third collection of the week, Barker Maa showcased the beauty of family units, sending groups of models down the runway together. Each unit was dressed in looks that were both individually stunning and altogether cohesive, brought together with complementary jewel tones, varying floral accessories and draping silhouettes. The collection concluded with a young mother-daughter pair in flowing white gowns, an image of purity and familial love to end a collection dedicated to the beauty of connection.
Foxlilie Studio
Foxlilie brought wholesome and earthy looks to her Mommy & Me collection, featuring muted colors, earth tones, releaxed silhouettes and natural make-up. The natural energy was amplified by the range of models she included: mothers and children of all different ages, wearing complementary outfits and matching smiles. The fabrics and textures that made up the collection seemed soft and naturally-derived, making for a sunny and overall peaceful collection.
Champlain Couture
Champlain Couture ended the show with an explosion of color and tulle. Her collection featured both individual youth models and Mommy & Me partnerships, each dressed in meticulously made couture gowns, featuring full skirts and playful flower details in an unapologetic display of vibrant colors. While the mothers and daughters were dressed in gowns, the sons in the collection wore silk loungewear, remaining cohesive to bright shades of the collection as a whole.
As a long-time member of the Denver Fashion community, designer Missy Champlain’s first DFW collection didn’t disappoint: instead it was a florescent celebration of the joy behind creation in all it’s brilliant glory.
All Good Things Must End…For Now
While Denver Fashion Week Spring 2025 may have come to a close, the DFW community works year round to deliver high-quality runway performances bi-annually. This summer, they’re hosting a Model Workshop on June 22nd, where attendees can learn the fundamentals of runway modeling with DFW’s producer Nikki Strickler.
All photography by Weston Mosburg.