Recognizing Newark as one of the 10 most vibrant arts communities in the nation. The city announced the city’s inaugural “Newark Fashion Forward” exhibition and fashion showcase. The city hosted its first fashion week, a 3-day event spotlighting a new wave of Newark-based fashion designers, in August 2018.

Stephen Burrows- Iconic African-American fashion designer and trailblazer- was awarded the received a key to the city of Newark, his hometown, during a news conference

Newark Mayor, Ras Baraka presented the key to Burrows, supported by Pat Cleveland, one of the first African-American fashion models to achieve prominence on the runway and in print work.