The Tea: Over the weekend, fashion model Erica L. Carrington posted a video of her walking the “runway” at a funeral.
- The video has gone viral across multiple social media platforms in the last 48 hours, garnering millions of views and was even picked up by TMZ.
I guarantee you can’t guess how this video ends 😮pic.twitter.com/Jd4d959C0v
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) November 14, 2023
The Context: But despite raised eyebrows from some on social media, there’s a touching backstory to Carrington’s funerary sashay: she was honoring her friend, Newark, NJ fashion designer and community leader Vernest C. Moore.
- Vernest C. Moore was a fashion designer and producer of Newark Fashion Forward Tour, a city-wide fashion event featuring residents from across the five wards of Newark, NJ.
- His label, Vissions by Ve’ Moore, is a “chic ready to wear line” and has been worn by music icons Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, and more.
The Funeral: On November 11, friends, family, and community members gathered at the Newark Museum of Art for the first of three memorial services. Each service had a specific dress code and was designed to honor to honor Moore in a way that celebrated his unique contributions to fashion and his community.
