by Fashion Talks: an upcoming language in Cleveland
By: Taegan Evans
When thinking about the fashion industry, Cleveland is not the first city that comes to mind. However Aimon Ali is bringing Cleveland into the conversation through Fashion Talks as she weaves a new fabric stitched with diversity, inclusion and opportunity.
This new fashion landscape is being created as Fashion talks brings fashion shows and a fashion magazine to the city. Fashion Talks is a boutique fashion service and events agency that was started in Cleveland but expands to places like New York City, by organizing events and services that foster networking and provide opportunities for diverse entrepreneurs.
In the center of this organization is Aimon Ali, who grew up in Toronto, Canada, and developed a love for fashion during her childhood because of her mother.
“My mom was really into fashion and design, and just dressing up,” Ali said. “And I don’t know if she realized that she kind of instilled that in me, but that’s kind of where it started.”
Throughout her childhood, Ali always dressed up and continues to dress up. It wasn’t until she moved to Cleveland that she realized people don’t always dress up when leaving the house. However, dressing the way she wants is because of her passion and creativity within fashion that she says comes from her mom.
Despite Ali’s connection and love for fashion, she pursued a different path studying psychology and becoming a behavioral therapist post college. Eight years ago Ali moved to Cleveland to be with her husband and knew there was something missing in her new home.
Ali’s curiosity about fashion in Cleveland began to take over her thoughts, wondering if there was a possibility to create something in the city.
“We’re not at that level just yet, but I saw a lot of potential and in the beginning I didn’t really do much about it,” Ali said.
Even with fashion being in the back of her mind, she continued to live her daily life. Being in a new city, knowing nobody other than her husband, assumptions being made because of the way she looks and sound, lead her to leave this role.
A couple weeks later, the nation went into lockdown due to COVID-19. Knowing she wanted to be an entrepreneur, Ali decided to embrace her entrepreneurial side by starting an accounting and bookkeeping business. She continued brainstorming during the pandemic and decided to just go for it in the fashion industry.
“That’s when I was like, you know what, I’m going to start fresh. I’m going to try it. If it works, great. If it doesn’t, I’m going to hate my life and work in a hospital,” Ali said. “But you know what? We have options.”
Even though Ali did not see a fashion industry in the city just yet, she was meeting many talented individuals that she would take back to Toronto to give them opportunities within that fashion industry. As her relationships continued to grow, she realized that Cleveland had untapped potential and that there was a possibility that she could create something here.
“Eventually I was like, you know what, I think I can do it here,” Ali said. “I think I know enough people and I see enough potential that it could work.”
Ali said she saw all of the little hidden things in Cleveland that a lot of people don’t see. When moving to Cleveland Ali visited the Cleveland Museum of Art, a hidden gem in the city. She said she never knew Cleveland has one of the best art museums in America.
“The first thing I remember saying was, ‘Wow, imagine if I did a show here,’ and I did do a show there,” Ali said.
As Ali began Fashion Talks in Cleveland, she really wanted to hone in on the importance of diversity. Ali said she never wants anyone to feel excluded in what she does.
Fashion Talks is not just meant to enhance the fashion scene in Cleveland but also make diversity and inclusion vital pillars in the organization. Ali’s personal experiences of feeling left out and treated differently fuels her commitment to creating events where all feel welcome.
“I like the diversity aspect and the inclusion aspect has always been such a huge pillar of who I am and I think my businesses are kind of part of me,” Ali said. “Whether it’s Fashion talks, the Foundation, which is a nonprofit or the magazine, diversity, and just that is a huge huge thing for me.”
Making people feel included became an important value in Ali’s life when moving to Cleveland because of the way she felt being in this new city. Ali felt like she was the only person that looked the way she did, she said she lost her confidence being in Cleveland.
“So I got to a point where I stopped going to events and I would have to actually team people and be like, I don’t see much diversity on your page, if I come, will I be welcome, like, will people try to talk to me,” Ali said. “ I don’t want someone to feel that way at an event that I produced and luckily I think we’ve definitely achieved that.”
Ali continued to host events throughout Cleveland and began planning a runway. While planning this she decided to host a vision board workshop event, her first ever event.
Ali invited a friend she recently made in Cleveland. She said her friend was very hesitant when deciding if she was going to attend the event because she was a person of color and she spoke very little english. Ali assured her and told her nobody would judge her for her English at the event and she should be proud that she speaks other languages.
“She did end up coming after that. She told me she was like, ‘This is the first time after living in Cleveland for so many years, I felt welcome at an event,’” Ali said. “I was like, ‘that means so much to me and the fact that you were comfortable enough to share that with me.’”
Today, Fashion Talks continues to be a platform for more than just fashion shows. With the organization, foundation and magazine, Fashion Talks is growing and proving that fashion isn’t just about style, it’s about belonging.
Maria McGinnis is the editor of the Fashion Talks magazine and she defines Fashion Talks as “powerful.” When McGinnis found Fashion Talks she was just freelancing in her home, doing solo work.
“So when I found Fashion Talks, it was just the best of both worlds,” McGinnis said. “ I was able to work on something that felt like it was meaningful and it was doing stuff for people.”
The importance of diversity within the organization runs strong, as it continues through the magazine as well. McGinnis makes sure her writers go deeper with their stories to uncover something more than just an interesting outfit.
“Look at it, how nice. Or, this really pretty photo shoot, look at it, how nice,” McGinnis said. “Like I want people to open the magazine and be like, wow, that was a really good story.”
Not only does McGinnis have her writers go deeper, she also has them keep their focus on Cleveland and to be community driven.
“If we’re going to write about a business, it’s a Cleveland business, preferably owned by a woman, double preferably owned by a woman of color,” McGinnis said. “Because that’s the whole Fashion Talks mission, trying to bring everything full circle.
Within the magazine is the “Ladies of Influence.” Each year four to five women in Cleveland that have a true influence are chosen, featured in the magazine and also included in the runway..
“This is something I thought of in year one because I had met so many amazing women that were just part of the industry in Cleveland,” Ali said. “You are here and nobody knows about you, so I started the Ladies of Influence.”
Along with this magazine and the fashion show is the Fashion Talks Foundation
“Fashion Talks Foundation is a nonprofit that is helping creatives and aspiring creatives in the industry to elevate their business through different programing that we do,” Ali said.
Along with this, the foundation supports students through their fashion journey through internships to get them the real life hands on experience.
The difference between the organization and foundation is currently being blended together. With the fashion show within the organization and the internships through the foundation, Ali is currently in a transitional period, blending the two together for the future.
As the summer approaches, Ali and her team are preparing for the next Fashion Talks runway taking place in June. Preparations are underway, which includes finalizing the magazine and casting models for the show.
When it comes to keeping the fashion show diverse Ali said, “We try our best to organically reach out to as many different types of organizations and people as we can to let them know that our casting is inclusive and open to all.”
Ali also uses social media to reach potential models and makes sure it is known that no modeling experience is required and they encourage people to try.
“We accept all body sizes, all backgrounds and everything whether you have tattoos or you are pregnant,” Ali said. “We have had every type of model of every age and range on the runway, and we love that.”
As the runway continues and more people experience it, the inclusivity shines through to the audience. 
Ali has built her idea of a diverse and inclusive fashion organization from the ground up and continues to put in the work to make it everything she has dreamed of.
With the expansion of the foundation and the powerful messages spread through the Fashion Talks magazine, and leaders like Aimon Ali at the helm, the future of fashion in Cleveland looks more vibrant and more inclusive than ever before.
