Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah Bring the 'Joy' of African Fashion to NYFW Runway: ‘Made with Love’

'We want to be able to bring Africa here,” Studio 189 co-founder Erwiah said after their show

Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah are giving you a front row seat to view the designs at Studio 189.

The sustainable fashion brand features African artisans, and is co-founded and run by Dawson and Erwiah. During New York Fashion Week, the trailblazers held a celebratory runway to showcase what Studio 189 has in store for the Spring/Summer 2024 collection. But the show was so much more than just sending clothes down a runway — it featured music, dancing, poetry and the joys of African culture, as the co-founders shared with reporters after the show.

When speaking to a group of media, which included PEOPLE, about the show, the Ahsoka actress said it was “really powerful” to start off with poet V (formerly known as Eve Ensler).

“She's like, "No, I want a billion, and I want us to dance. I want us to show what we are missing when we are always in pain. When we're ignoring pain, and we're not addressing pain. But we can turn that pain into power. And look at the joy that we have in us,” Dawson said of V wanting everyone in the room to “rise” and dance during Studio 189’s show.

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The Haunted Mansion talent added that they looked at footage from the Congo when considering what they wanted to represent on the stage.

“And something that's really important is we want to be able to bring Africa here,” Erwiah added.

Dawson added that each piece from Studio 189 is always "made with love."

The co-founder told PEOPLE that their company always finds a way to celebrate the culture.

“When you walk into our factory, there's a lot of dancing. No matter what the people are going through,” Erwiah continued. The same rang true at the show as models danced down the runway at Gallery at Spring Studios in New York.

“We want the spirit of joy, of dancing, of love to come across,” Erwiah said while explaining all of the “big energy and big movements and all of that in the hands.”

Dawson agreed with her Studio 189 business partner, adding, “It's incredible what we can do with our hands. And so we just wanted to celebrate that, with that creativity, what that power is. The power that we literally have in our hands.”

The NYFW event saw familiar faces in the crowd.

Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel were spotted at the show wearing matching purple Studio 189 designs. The newly engaged couple smiled as they held hands during the show. The Property Brothers star and (500) Days of Summer actress congratulated Dawson afterward as they posed for pictures.

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Vivica A. Fox was also present to support Dawson and Erwiah.

The theme of the show was Evolution, and this collection is the evidence of a decade in purpose, power and persistence, the show notes stated. Studio 189 got its start as an intimate capsule launch in 2013, and has since evolved into a full apparel and accessories brand.

Their bold patterns convey meaning.

“The most recurring motif, ‘The Crossroads Print,’ is a repeating diamond that signifies ‘safe’ spaces in the fight against domestic violence. Our popular ‘Zebra Print’ from previous collections makes a return — with renewed hues including electric pink, orange, mint green and more,” the notes continued.

“We said fashion can be a social change,” Erwiah stated. “I can see the impact of what we have done.”

Studio 189, which is crafted in Africa, recently won the prestigious CFDA Lexus Fashion Initiative for Sustainability. The brand has also partnered with organizations such as the United Nations ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative, NYU Stern School of Business and has collaborated with brands including EDUN (LVMH) and Yoox Net-a-Porter to create jobs while supporting education and skill training.

They have stores in New York and in Accra, Ghana, as well as online.

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