Suiting Up for a Cause: The 9th Annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show Paints NYFW in Purpose

Fashion isn’t just about making a statement—it’s about making an impact. The 9th Annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show, held on February 4, 2025, at LAVAN in New York City, once again proved that style and social responsibility go hand in hand. Timed to coincide with World Cancer Day, the show was more than a runway spectacle—it was a movement, raising vital funds and awareness for ZERO Prostate Cancer, the nation’s leading prostate cancer advocacy and support foundation.

From science icons to Broadway stars, the runway was ablaze with influential figures donning meticulously curated blue jackets from top designers. Bill Nye commanded the catwalk in a striking Thom Browne ensemble, while Mario Cantone exuded confidence in a custom Gustavo Moscoso look. Other notable participants included J. Harrison Ghee, who paid tribute to his late father—a prostate cancer victim—by wearing his father’s blazer, as well as Don Lemon, Jeezy, Nigel Barker, Wilson Cruz, and Tamron Hall, all of whom lent their presence to this meaningful cause.

Each Blue Jacket Fashion Show features an elite roster of designers whose creations bring depth and dimension to the event’s powerful message. This year’s lineup included:

• Stephen F – Alex Lundqvist

• Carlos Campos (FGI Rising Star Winner) – Andy Hilfiger, Don Lemon

• Thom Browne – Bill Nye

• Rubin and Chapell – MAINO

• The Privélege – Dominic Fumusa, Michael Pugh

• BY. Bonnie Young – Frank DiLella, John Dias

• Alexander McQueen (Styled by James Aguiar) – James Aguiar

• Aaronn Potts – Eve Gammill

• Teddy von Ranson (Through FGI) – Kalen Allen, Omar Hernandez

• Arjona Collection – Eric West, Nigel Barker

• LANDROS NEW YORK – Phillip Bloch

• Tommy Hilfiger – Ty Hunter

• EPPERSON (Through FGI) – Souleymane Sy Savane

Each piece, worn with purpose and pride, emphasized the event’s mission to encourage early detection and life-saving screenings.

Prostate cancer remains the second most common cancer among American men, disproportionately affecting communities of color. The statistics are sobering:

• Black men face a 70% higher incidence rate than white men.

• Latino men see over 13,000 new diagnoses annually.

• AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander) individuals are often diagnosed in later stages due to fewer screenings.

• Transgender individuals experience nearly double the mortality rate due to disparities in healthcare access.

Understanding these disparities, the Blue Jacket Fashion Show took a proactive approach, offering free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests in partnership with Mount Sinai Hospital. These screenings were available throughout the day at Carver Bank and the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, ensuring that at-risk communities received the preventive care they need.

The event’s mission was bolstered by key partnerships, with Johnson & Johnson serving as the presenting sponsor and additional sponsorship support from LISC. Fashion Group International (FGI) amplified the message, streaming the event live on FGI.org and hosting viewing parties across major U.S. cities, including Chicago, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Washington D.C., Saint Louis, and Kansas City.

Founded by Frederick Anderson in 2016, the Blue Jacket Fashion Show has become a beacon of advocacy within the fashion world, seamlessly blending high fashion with life-saving awareness. The event’s proceeds directly support ZERO Prostate Cancer, providing early detection programs, treatment funding, and community outreach to those in need.

For those looking to support the cause beyond the runway, donations can be made to the FGI Rising Stars and Blue Jacket Fashion Show ZERO Cancer Fund here.

This year’s Blue Jacket Fashion Show wasn’t just a celebration of style—it was a testament to the power of fashion as a vehicle for advocacy and change. From the carefully curated looks to the deeply personal stories of those affected by prostate cancer, the evening served as a reminder that fashion, at its best, doesn’t just reflect the world—it reshapes it for the better.