Washington, DC native Jarmal Harris, and founder of The Jarmal Harris Project is an entrepreneur extraordinaire and one to watch as an emerging designer in the fashion industry.

   

From left to right, designs by: Koko Nanga, Jeri Wood and Cesar Galindo. Images courtesy of Bernadette Dare. 

Located in Washington, DC, The Jarmal Harris Project is a non-profit, comprehensive Arts group that provides learning opportunities for youth in the community. The philosophy of the group is to establish and maintain a caring, learning and performing environment wherein youth will grow into productive adults who lead fulfilling lives and enhance the conditions of life by making significant contributions to the community.

  

From left to right, designs by: Andrew Harris, Austin Paul and Andrew Harris. Images courtesy of Bernadette Dare.

Through his non-profit, he has worked tirelessly with DC area youth to provide them with opportunities in the fashion industry and beyond. His non-profit has hired over 800 students in the District of Columbia over the last eight years and this year was no exception, with 160 DC area students hired through DC’s Summer Youth Employment Program.

  

From left to right, designs by: Jarmal Harris and Koko Nanga on the far right. Images of white gown (far left) courtesy of Bernadette Dare. Image of sequin gown (middle) and African inspired gown (far right) courtesy of Brittany Oliver. 

The ultimate challenge of The Jarmal Harris Project is to satisfy the needs of its youth who have diverse abilities, interest and ambitions to provide them with the tools to meet the demands of a modern society. During the 2012-2013 season, The Jarmal Harris Project won the Showtime at the Apollo Talent Competition in Harlem, New York, as well as, appeared on the NBC syndicated show America’s Got Talent.

  

From left to right designs by: Jarmal Harris and Ty Scott. Images courtesy of Brittany Oliver. 

This year, The Jarmal Harris Project alongside TV personality Brie Bythewood presented the highly anticipated 8th annual fashion event, “Once Upon A Time,” A spectacular fashion show that featured internationally renowned designers Cesar Galindo, Ty Scott and emerging designers Andrew Harris, Jeri Wood, Koko Nanga, Austin Paul and Jarmal Harris.

   

From left to right image of Jarmal Harris and design by Ty Scott. Image on the left courtesy of  Brittany Oliver. Image on the right courtesy Bernadette Dare.

Throughout the evening, the event highlighted a highly choreographed production put on by students between set changes and during intermission. The models used for the event were all students from DC area high schools and hired by the Jarmal Harris Project for the summer. The show was bar none one of the best events in town and one that Raine Magazine is proud to have had an opportunity to be one of the sponsors of.

To learn more about The Jarmal Harris Project, please visit the website for more information.