In Bloom: ROSES, the fashion event of the summer, set for August 26
by Grace Wood
On August 26, the very best of Tulsa’s underground creative community will come together for a night of fashion, art, and music.
The second-annual ROSES fashion experience — organized by Sharpside Barbershop, The Underground Collective, and Fansub — will feature a fashion show with garments made by talented Tulsa designers like Jay, Dear Lover, Chey, Becs, Audrey Byrd, Miles Rogish, Tyler James and Angel Okolie, as well as a musical performance by NONAME.
The goal of ROSES is to highlight local artists and provide them a stage to show off their work, said Trent Martin, event producer and owner of Sharpside Barbershop.
“For me, the biggest purpose of ROSES is getting everyone into one space and giving everybody a platform to be appreciated for their creativity,” Martin said.
The inaugural ROSES took place in May 2022. Martin said he and his team noticed a lack of fashion-related opportunities across the region, which inspired them to create their own.
“I didn’t know of any other major fashion shows in the Midwest or South,” Martin said. “I wanted to present a show that made people in the community look up and go, ‘Whoa — the barber shop guy is doing something this high-end?’ We wanted to engage and inspire the fashion community not just in Tulsa, but in the Midwest, too.”
The title, ‘ROSES,’ signifies a need for the work of artists and creatives in Tulsa to be recognized and appreciated now, Martin said.
“With the direction we’re progressing in as a city, down the line, people will look back at the creatives in our community and say, ‘Those were the people who laid the groundwork for the future,’” Martin said. “The concept of ROSES means, ‘Let’s give these creatives their roses and appreciate them now, not later.’”
Last May’s ROSES was a huge success, with over 500 people in attendance, Martin said. This year, Martin said he and other organizers hope to create an even more immersive experience. The purchase of a ROSES ticket earns attendees not only access to the fashion show, but to art installations, an open bar, dancing, and shopping.
“We want to over-deliver, and we want people to come in, observe, and take the night in as an experience,” Martin said. “As an event curator, the venue is kind of like the canvas — it’s an environment where people can feel comfortable and really take in everything at ROSES.”
ROSES will take place at Chimera Cafe, 212 N. Main St., starting at 6 p.m. Presale tickets for the event are available at eventbrite.com/e/roses-tickets-669139342787
For a short period, you can get a special deal from the Sharpside team with their ROSES/ROOTS promotion. Instead of using Eventbrite to pay, you can buy tickets using Cashapp or Venmo and send $60 to "Sharpside918". After that, send a receipt to the Sharpside account via DM, and you'll get free access to their ROOTS event during Tulsa's August First Friday.