Flint's Fashion Queen Does It Again

Adriana Lanice has kicked off year 3 of her acclaimed fashion shows

Adriana Lanice, Curator of 810 Fashion Shows

FLINT - The 810 has long been known as a city with its own flavor. If you've been around Flint, then you know it has the most connected Black culture in the state. From its most popular musical artists, Rio Da Yung OG and YN Jay, to its most popular festivals, "Beats x Beers" and "Back 2 The Bricks," and even its most popular political figures, like the late, great Eric Mays, Flint's Black culture dominates the city. What other city can say that its most prominent figures and events are spearheaded in that way?

Well, it doesn't stop with music, festivals, and politics. Flint's fashion scene is also one of the richest in the state. Brands like Distvnt and Bedrock call the 810 home. However, the brands alone can't make a fashion "scene." Nope, for that you need activity. You need shows, you need a consistent presence, and you need people to champion the scene.

Enter Adriana Lanice, fashion queen of the 810. She's the owner of La BelleWerk Modeling and Booking Agency, and is embarking on year three of what she calls "810 Fashion Shows," an annual series of showcases of local brands firing up runways with their latest designs. The fashion show series has four yearly installations: the 810 Spring Fashion Show, followed by the Summer, Fall, and Winter. Year in and year out, they're extremely popular events and the go-to experience for seeing the flavor of fashion in the Flint region.

Adriana and her team are coming off the execution of the Spring show that saw the Flint Institute of Music convert into a beautifully decorated runway ballroom. With help from her "first and only" sponsor, The What’s Up Downtown Flint Project, she was able to take a space that wouldn't normally host fashion and transform it into an elevated fashion environment, something only attained in Flint by attending one of her shows.

The interior design of the runway catered to the Spring theme, and the pink-themed color palette ushered in a feeling of elevated culture—perfect for a fashion show. Adriana has now created a consistent vision that comes to life in every show. And although the hardworking former runway model may not toot her own horn, the city does it for her. In fact, those from outside Flint rave about Adriana.

Kaviko Chisolm, a runway model from Lansing, MI, who was a model at the 2024 Spring Fashion Show, had this to say about Adriana and the show experience: "She's really about her business, and I love the way she organized her fashion show... She showed so much love to the models, and her team was great as well. There was someone there to help at every turn! This was my first fashion show in Flint, and I can't wait to walk for her again. This was the best show I've been a part of in my four years modeling!"

That's what I call a rave review.

So how does the Queen of Flint fashion consistently show up for her city? "I've been a part of the Flint fashion industry for 12 years," she stated when I asked her that exact question. "Not many people were willing to help others or give resources or really push everyone else in the industry with them towards higher success," hinting at the disparity of support the fashion scene in Flint had at one point.

Someone doesn't wake up one day and decide to champion a cause, like Adriana has with Flint fashion. If you know her or her work, then you would see why she cares so deeply about ensuring Flint fashion has a voice and a lane. Just look at her career arc:

• Began as a runway model

• Runway coach

• Traveling backstage producer

• Independent show producer

This progression outlines a woman who started from the bottom; now she's here.

Adriana Lanice; 810 Fashion Show Producer

However, for all the success she has experienced, Adriana is not lost on the mission that she began this journey with. "I’ve learned so much, and I will stop at nothing to make sure all of my people have the same knowledge and drive to turn this into something big for our city!" she stated when reflecting on what originally pushed her.

When Adriana wins, the entire fashion scene wins in Flint. Multiple models expressed their happiness and satisfaction with the show. Kaviko, the model from Lansing, publicly spoke out about the opportunities the show created for him. A search on social media would show you just how many brands are appreciative of the fashion shows and the awareness that they create for them.

The next show will take place in the Summer for 810 Day, Flints yearly celebration of all things Flint. However, you certainly can catch Adriana on the scene with her La BelleWerk models, hosting, doing brand work, and enjoying the culture of 810.

Flint is a city made for and by its people. The music, the food, the activities. These days, you cannot forget about the fashion. Adriana Lanice & Co. won't let you. A simple statement from her will tell you all you need to know about how seriously she takes it:

"I decided that I wanted to be that person for the future of Flint fashion."

Have to put some respect on the Queen.

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Images provided by Adriana on behalf of MASPHOTO, SMT productions, and Will Holden Productions