Fashion Week is a week away, and Ask Nyomi: Bridging the Gap is bringing on two people host Nyomi Banks calls her "fashion industry children" — Xavier Walker and Norka Vasquez, co-founders of Caribbean Fashion Collective (CFC). Nyomi has watched both of them grow from models into industry builders, and this episode is a front-row seat to that evolution.
Xavier and Norka break down what it actually took to land Caribbean Fashion Collective a spot on the CFDA New York Fashion Week calendar — for the second time — and why that matters far beyond the glitz of a runway show. They talk about being recognized by Essence, the reality of being "gatekeepers" trying to open more doors instead of just one, and their long-term vision to expand CFC beyond New York into a full Caribbean tour and eventually Europe.
The conversation gets personal fast. Norka shares the unvarnished story of how CFC actually got funded — an unexpected move-out payout from a landlord, a friend's spare room in Harlem, and a decision to bet that money on a company instead of an apartment. It's a real, no-gloss look at what founding something from nothing actually looks like, plus their advice for the next generation of Caribbean creators and models trying to build their own platforms.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- What it means to be selected for the CFDA New York Fashion Week calendar — twice
- How Caribbean Fashion Collective is creating opportunities for historically excluded Caribbean creators
- Xavier and Norka's vision for CFC's future: a Caribbean tour, European expansion, and mentorship for designers back home
- The real, unplanned financial risk behind founding CFC
- Why having "someone in your corner" matters when you're building something from scratch
- Their advice to models and creatives who want to build their own platform instead of waiting to be chosen
About Xavier Walker & Norka Vasquez Xavier Walker and Norka Vasquez are co-founders of Caribbean Fashion Collective, a platform creating visibility and opportunity for Caribbean creators in the fashion industry. Both started as models — including work with IS By Nyomi Banks — before building CFC into a CFDA-recognized New York Fashion Week presence, with recognition from Essence and a growing footprint aimed at expanding across the Caribbean and into Europe.
Connect with Caribbean Fashion Collective:
- Check their official website and socials for Fashion Week show details and season updates
Connect with Nyomi Banks / Ask Nyomi: Bridging the Gap:
- Email for love, sex & relationship advice: info@nyomi.com
- Catch Nyomi at New York Fashion Week this week supporting Caribbean Fashion Collective
- New: Nyomi's Intimate Corner on Patreon
- Upcoming: Souls (horror film, written and executive produced by Nyomi, directed by Dog Pound Mike Mike) coming to Tubi, plus Caught 2 on the way
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ASK NYOMI: BRIDGING THE GAP
Host: Nyomi Banks (Da Goddess of Self Love)
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