OCCIPITAL Fashion Festival
OCCIPITAL Fashion Festival returns to Rhizome DC for its third year, once again blending live music with locally designed fashion in an interactive, experimental setting. The festival features an eclectic lineup of local bands modeling clothes made by local designers, alongside workshops, photoshoots, a clothing swap, a marketplace, and a focus on sustainability. Organized by Alana McCarthy Light, the event encourages interdisciplinary creative collaboration and community building, with audience engagement at its core.
When: Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Tickets: $15, available online via a ticketing link on the event page.
Venue: Rhizome DC.
Lineup of Bands and Designers: Each band models fashions from a specific designer, creating a fusion of music and style. The pairs are: Lost Destination (alt-pop/j-pop) with Alistair Black (over-embellished gothic costumes); Girls on Toast (girl punk rock) with Grape Club (skater designs); Ny.Ny (electronic indie sleaze) with Alightenment (sustainable dyeing & printing); Whiskey [On the Rocks] (spoken word trip-hop) with Vintage Thrivals (inclusive wearable art); Spring Silver (post-hardcore) with Siggy Soriano (upcycled streetwear & leisurewear); Münster (goth grunge) with Cait Phebus (impressionism & sewing); Feed a Friend (emo hardcore punk) with Novarev (gender-fluid punk streetwear); and Niiasii (alternative pop/r&b) with Spacekitty Arts (colorful unique crochet).
Activities and Workshops: Interactive stations include blind contour drawings by Adele Marie, conscious comedy by Michael Boothby, secular tarot by Gus Nordhielm, face/body painting by Joust Field, live art by Dima Gapeev, keychain making by Art Nite, a clothing swap, and a vendor marketplace.
Food: A comforting feast of ribs, wings, rice, and plantains prepared by Doña Lizette Jiron.
Additional Details: The festival also includes photoshoots and a focus on sustainability. Those interested in volunteering or vending can sign up via a Google Form linked on the event page. Attendees are encouraged to engage with the interactive and experimental nature of the event.