In the heart of Cincinnati, Reclaimed Runways is reshaping the city’s creative landscape by transforming ordinary venues into vibrant spaces where designers, models, stylists and artists of every genre come together to break boundaries and celebrate self-expression. With each show, the team behind Reclaimed Runways sets a new standard for community and collaboration, proving that fashion can be a powerful force for connection and creative freedom.

Creators, Kat Coleman and Molly Evans, shared a common question: how could fashion become more accessible in Cincinnati? “The fashion scene in Cincinnati is absolutely amazing, but there’s not necessarily a ton of consistent spaces for it,” Molly Evans, the event and creative director, says. “We wanted [Reclaimed Runways] to be a place where people could just come in and express themselves as freely as possible, and that kind of came from taking the pretentiousness out of fashion and bringing it to an accessible place.”

Located at Flora & Flair, a bar on 1101 St Gregory St, Reclaimed Runways has done exactly what they have set out to do. “We always go back to our missions, which is giving a space for any person based in fashion to have a space to express themselves freely,” Evans says.

“Whether it be drag, stylists, designers, models, photographers, videographers. We have had live painters and contortionists.” Their multimedia spectacle has created a unique hub for creativity. “It’s a chaotic, beautiful mess,” Evans says. The show transforms the bar, “a shotgun venue” according to Evans, into a

dynamic runway where creativity knows no bounds. “It’s a perfect place for a runway,” Evans describes.

The venue’s narrow and elongated shape is an intentional canvas that the team is always trying “to take advantage of the space as much as possible,” Evans says. “We want to push the boundaries on what we can do with our spaces.”

They make sure to use all the space they are given by using the HI-FI basement, a bar located near Flora & Flair, as the green room, allowing for seamless backstage organization. As Evans explains, “we’re fortunate enough for it to be super close together.” These places are no longer just venues, but a community that gets reimagined with every performance.

Their setup offers a perfect way for creative communities to connect with one another, according to Lyrxc Akil, a crochet designer who has displayed her work on the runway. “I feel like oftentimes people try to put a limit on how much you can do,” Akil says. “Reclaimed has created such a beautiful space for local creativities to be able to branch out and truly be themselves, free of judgment, and be able to open a conversation about what does different look like in a positive way.”

Evans has received feedback on how the show is making an impact by conducting street interviews at one of their past shows, with people getting back to her about the space the Reclaimed has created in the city. “It’s all because of them,” Evans says, speaking about thepeople. “We create the space for them, but they’re the ones that are doing all of that connection, the work, and being inspired at the show. It just highlights how beautiful this community is that they can go to something like this and feel inspired by it.”

By creating these connections, Reclaimed has opened up a world of networking to its participants. “One of the unique things that we do, that I don’t think is typical of a show, is we pair models with designers,” Evans says. “That is really based in the fact that we want it to be like a networking event for these creatives that are participating. Over the years that we have been doing this, so many people have become friends and collaborators or have gone on to do other things together, and it’s just a really beautiful thing to see.”

Having these shows set up in this way has led to people branching out and doing incredible things, such as having some of their models walk in New York Fashion Week, or, as Akil describes, how her boyfriend has seen the positive impacts of performing at Reclaimed.

“He's gained some notice around the city, allowing him to perform in different local events, and even being able to meet others around the city who do music and collaborate with them.” Participants don’t need to be experts to showcase their work at the show. Akil is fairly new to the design world, but through her experiences at Reclaimed, she's been able to improve at her craft. “I’ve met a couple of other crochet designers, through their shows and bouncing ideas off of them, seeing the things that they’ve made and I’ve made, seeing the type of cohesion they have, and even just asking for tips and tricks,” Akil says. “Being in a space where there’s no judgement, and they're free to share without feeling like there’s this competitive air and everything is so transactional.”The community Reclaimed has created is integral to what they do. Cariéla Caterino, first assistant director at Reclaimed, says that “Reclaimed is not only an outlet, but also an inspiration, seeing other outlandish performances and designs that only makes you want to go out of your

own comfort zone,” Caterino says. “It makes you want to do what you thought was impossible or too challenging or too hard.” As for future plans for Reclaimed Runways, they are striving to improve every show. “I want to push the show as far as we can,” Evans says. “I’m all about organic growth and loving

every step, but also trying to create more. Right now, we’re really just focused on the next show

and the next show, and pushing it a little bit every time, until we get to the point where we can’t

anymore.”

No matter where they head, Reclaimed is determined to stay true to their roots. The organizers remain focused on the foundation that brought this project to life, elevating the voices of Cincinnati’s creative community. “This show is for the people, by the people,” Evans says.“We would not be anywhere without the creatives that we work with. I just feel so grateful to be able to be a part of it and amplify voices; they are the moment.”