Every morning people wake up and choose something to wear. It is the first creative choice that happens in the day. Whether we choose sweatpants and a tank top or a long, flowy dress or a suit–the choice we make is revealed every day to the public. Everyone makes creative choices whether they admit it or not. People are generally even less likely to admit that they are fashionable. Denisha “Dlang” Ferguson recognizes this and says she wants to inspire people to embrace their own fashion. She is the CEO of Indiana Fashion Week (INDFW) and her goal is to fuse the broad range of creative fields with fashion. We talked with Ferguson about what she’s most looking forward to at this years INDFW, some of her favorite designers, and INDFW’s involvement with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).
Cover Design by Carrie Kelb
Cover Photography by Cecil Mella
Photography by Mikaela Helane
Makeup by India Hall
All outfits designed and made by Denisha “Dlang” Ferguson
Polina Osherov: Have you always been like this?
Denisha “Dlang” Ferguson: Like what? [Laughs] I have a few different layers to me.
PO: This tenacious go-getter who never never quits and has this completely crazy, optimistic, altruistic, support-the-community attitude.
DF: If you ask my mama she would tell you yes, definitely. I’ve been fired up every day to help people make their dreams become reality for as long as I can remember.
PO: Do you ever sleep?
DF: Oh yeah, for sure! I definitely had to learn some hard lessons about resting between all the hectic moments.
PO: Let’s go back to junior high. Who was your favorite designer?
DF: Where I grew up, it was all about FUBU. That’s how “Dlang” came about. I love FUBU; I love that it stands for “For us by us.” Dlang was gonna stand for something too: be different, live life, take action, and never give up. I also loved Ralph Lauren, because he started with neckties and so I was determined to have one staple item. I also was intrigued by Dapper Dan, but you’d catch me in a lot of FUBU [Laughs].
PO: What about now? Which designers do you admire?
DF: As I started developing more as a designer, Vera Wang and Tracy Reese. They are still my favorite designers. However, I’m loving Fe Noel and Pyer Moss.
PO: Your most favorite and least favorite class in high school?
DF: Least favorite… anything where I had to dissect. I didn’t really have a favorite. I did well in school, but I was determined to be an entrepreneur. My thing was “let me hurry up and get out of school, so I can get home and produce a fashion show.” In junior high I was in cosmetology school, which allowed me to travel to Chicago and go to hair shows. I was always trying to get my homework done so I could get to sewing outfits to take with me when I went to Chicago so I could have something to wear while I went to these events.
PO: Why is fashion so misunderstood?
DF: Fashion is misunderstood because most people think of it as just the clothes they put on their body, and how well they think they are at that. I see fashion from a different angle. I like pretty clothes, but I’ve always been fascinated by fashion as a function of self-expression. I meet so many people who as soon as they find out what I do tell me, “Oh, I’m not a fashionable person.” I get that so often, but my thing is—actually you are! You get dressed every morning and make fashion choices 365 days a year. You are participating in the fashion industry even if you’re not “fashionable.” I think that’s one of the most misunderstood things—that you don’t have to be a fashionable person, but fashion still is a part of your life whether you want it to be or not. I actually don’t even lead with fashion. I lead with style and how the style of a person or even a community can be a resource.
PO: Which event of Indiana Fashion Week are you most looking forward to?
DF: Oh, that’s hard! All of them are so fun. If I had to choose one, it would be the two day youth design challenge. During the challenge, the kids get thirty dollars to shop at Salvation Army to find pieces they want to repurpose. Then the next day, they work to create a new outfit from the pieces they bought. The kids don’t necessarily have a lot of fashion experience, but they do have an interest in clothing and the industry. But the true purpose of the program is to go beyond fashion. It’s me showing the participants how to take the resources that they have right now, and then transform their ideas into reality. Then the completed pieces are shown at the finale fashion show.
PO: Why should people support Indiana Fashion Week?
DF: If you ever think, “Man, I want more opportunities in the creative industries here in Indiana”, then supporting the fashion industry and helping it grow is really important. Indiana Fashion Week is a platform for retaining and attracting talent. We help creatives and professionals looking for opportunities to expand their talents whether that’s fashion design, styling, writing, graphic design, modeling, project management, etc. to do that here in Indiana without having to leave. Now, I’m not trying to keep people here, but do my part to help Indiana be a great place to live, work and create.
PO: What’s one thing people might not know about Indiana Fashion Week?
DF: That we’re based in Indiana, but connecting globally. It has been a focus to support and connect with other networks, entrepreneurs and fashion week organizers all over the country. It was an honor to bring Fern Mallis to the inaugural Indiana Fashion Week in 2019. One avenue has been CFDA Connects, which created an opportunity for us to build relationships with CFDA President CaSandra Diggs & CEO Steven Kolb.
PO: How can people support Indiana Fashion Week?
DF: First and foremost, by attending any or all the events during the fashion week. Buy a ticket and bring a friend! This is how we are able to host events like this in Indiana. Secondly, the week is a huge production and takes an army of volunteers and community supporters to make sure everything runs smoothly, so if you’re not able to buy a ticket, participate by volunteering or partnering! And thirdly, don’t be afraid to dress up and show your personality through fashion every day!
PO: When you’re not directing fashion shows and designing, what else are you up to?
DF: When I’m not working on Indiana Fashion Week, I consult with organizations and entrepreneurs on their product launches and programs. I walk them through the process of building community, confidence and also pathways to capital, which has been instrumental in building Indiana Fashion Week. I absolutely love taking business ideas vetting the market and then putting a plan and supports in place for maximum growth and impact – which communicates who I am – while helping others design the life they dream of.
PO: Tell me more about the outfit that you’re wearing on the cover.
DF: The voluminous Dlang design. It’s a wrap and a dress. Whether you want to be out on the beach enjoying a cocktail and you want to walk in it with a luxury feel, or if you want to turn it into a dress and have more of a soft and elegant look–it gives you both options.
