Bar V 2.0 was transformed into a vibrant intersection of fashion, music, and visual storytelling on Saturday night as artists and designers gathered for the Fashion, Music & Visual Arts Collaboration, an immersive experience centered on creativity, community, and collective elevation among Black women.
The event featured Aja Maria as the musical guest, Tamara Payne as the featured visual artist and curator, and designers Abisola Oladeinde (Yelé LLC), Lailah Eloise-Munford (EloiseMunford), and Amber J. Cuff Bond (The Cuff Life), whose work brought the runway to life through movement, texture, and cultural expression.
Throughout the evening, live music, fashion presentations, and visual installations flowed seamlessly through Bar V 2.0’s modern lounge space, creating an atmosphere that felt both intimate and electric. Guests moved between performances and displays, engaging directly with the art and the artists behind it.
At the center of the experience was Tamara Payne’s visual work, rooted in her ongoing social justice practice, I Am My Sister’s Keeper. Her installations—created with embroidered narratives, textiles, and mixed media—served as both backdrop and foundation for the evening’s message.
“All of the visual art is mine. And there were the three designers. ‘This was a merger of Black women using their super powers to elevate one another.’ This is the goal of my work as a Social Justice Visual Artist and Community Activist. I am my sister’s keeper! I curated the idea.”
The featured designers each brought a distinct voice to the collaboration. Abisola Oladeinde’s Afrofuturistic designs under Yelé LLC honored African heritage while pushing bold, contemporary silhouettes. Lailah Eloise-Munford showcased expressive crochet and knitwear that merged movement, nostalgia, and body-inspired design. Amber J. Cuff Bond’s upcycled, one-of-a-kind pieces blended sustainability with a playful, culturally grounded aesthetic.
Musical guest Aja Maria provided a sonic throughline for the evening, grounding the visual and fashion elements with soulful, genre-blending performances that echoed the event’s themes of reflection, resilience, and self-expression.
Held at Bar V 2.0, the DMV’s newest premium cocktail lounge, the event also highlighted the venue’s elevated atmosphere. Formerly Bar Vegan, Bar V 2.0 offers vegan-friendly dishes inspired by Asian, Latin, Mediterranean, and Northern American cuisines alongside a curated menu of signature cocktails. With marble-top dining tables, plush green lounge seating, a spacious 15-seat bar, and a private dining room, the space provided an ideal setting for an interdisciplinary cultural experience.
Organizers confirmed that this collaboration marks the beginning of an ongoing creative series. The next installment, The Beautiful Room, is set to usher in the new year at Bar V 2.0, continuing the vision of curated spaces where art, fashion, music, and community converge.
Together, the Fashion, Music & Visual Arts Collaboration stood as a powerful reminder of what happens when Black women lead with intention—creating not just an event, but a shared moment of visibility, affirmation, and collective joy.
