By Alexia Hill – Photos by Roxanna Carrasco
Despite the brand’s name, Hott Pink Matter showcased a beautifully neutral-toned yet sexy collection at Day Six of Denver Fashion Week (DFW) on Nov. 17 – all thanks to designer Audra Stachnik.
DFW, which showcased from Nov. 12-20, included eight diverse shows of emerging designers, national brands and local boutiques. When it comes to Hott Pink Matter, Stachnik is an inspiring woman and a force to be reckoned with in the fashion industry.
Originally from Michigan, Stachnik moved to Denver in 2020. The move was initially for the electronic dance music scene, but she was pulled in by the creatives of the fashion industry and has loved it ever since.
“I love that I’m in Denver so much because I feel like it’s such a fast growing industry,” Stachnik said. “And like even seeing all the new faces, it’s awesome. So many people want to pursue art here and can, and even all the sustainable designers that are here alone, like it’s awesome. So I just love it. And it’s fun to see a lot of women running stuff here to be real.”
Stachnik learned to sew amidst the collective boredom of the pandemic and hasn’t looked back since. From thrifting fabrics and promoting the pieces on social media, to being the finale at DFW, Hott Pink Matter has grown considerably.
“Honestly, it didn’t pick up until [Denver] Fashion Week, Spring season. After I showed at Fashion Week, I got photoshoots and I met models, photographers and stylists. Networking is like my favorite thing, like meeting all the people,” Stachnik said.
The name Hott Pink Matter originates from Frank Ocean’s album “Pink Matter,” further showing the designers love for music. Stachnik has been perfecting her craft for only about a year, debuting her pieces at the DFW Spring 2022 show. Just a few months later, she was able to organize and host her own fashion show, “Hott Pink Planet,” and most recently was the closing act for night six of DFW with her new collection, “Women in Power Part One.”
“I had a photoshoot with Roxy [Roxanna Carrasco] and she was like ‘I’ve never seen you make black clothes’ and I was just thinking about it like ‘you’re right I haven’t’,” Stachnik said. “This is only Part One because honestly, I think it’s a collection I want to keep doing and growing. I haven’t been in the industry long, but I just love to see it and to help empower women.”
“Women in Power” was indeed all things powerful. The collection included lacy prints, fur accents, leather, chains, and intricate layering details. As the beat of the song was building up, the first model walked out as Ocean began singing “Pyramids.” That model was wearing an asymmetrical floral, lace sheer dress with one solid black long sleeve. Paired with an all-black fur hat and gold jewelry, this model’s walk exuded confidence and set the stage for the proceeding eighteen looks.
Photo by Roxanna Carrasco (@roxieeeee_ on Instagram)
In this collection, each model’s walk was unique and dominating. Model Lakeshia Diaz walked for Hott Pink Matter, flaunting a black mesh halter top with matching black velvet pants, complemented by chains and side hip cut-outs. Before Diaz made her way back down the runway after posing, she gave a member of the crowd a full up-and-down look with a smirk.
Photo by Roxanna Carrasco (@roxieeeee_ on Instagram)
“I’m so chic and versatile and that’s what her collection was, and definitely with the black because that’s my favorite color to wear, top tier,” Diaz said. “We were supposed to be walking sexy like we’re the baddest girls on the planet, and that’s exactly what we did. So we killed it out there. I loved it, it felt amazing to be on the runway.”
Later on in the collection, model Ayak Ater sashayed her way across the runway, dressed in a gold bodycon dress with gold metal hoop details on the straps and matching gold statement necklace.
Photo by Roxanna Carrasco (@roxieeeee_ on Instagram)
“She[Stachnik] said that she wanted Versace vibes and I think that’s what my dress was giving,” Ater said. “Everything she does is just amazing. This is my third time modeling for her and it’s always so nice.”
A personal favorite from Stachnik’s collection was another monochromatic gold outfit. The last look down the runway for “Women in Power” was a gold halter top with corset-like stitch detailing, matched up with a gold micro-mini skirt with a side cut-out and lace-up detailing. The look was accessorized with gold statement earrings, smoky black and gold eye makeup, and gold platform heels.
Ready-To-Wear included brands such as: Ironpulse, Rabbit Jax Clothing, Hoohah, Irari Ford and Shinesty, and Hott Pink Matter – which was the perfect seasoned collection to end the show. Despite minor setbacks during the show such as technical difficulties, makeup issues and back stage stress, the set appeared seamless. The designs truly spoke for themselves and overall, the audience was left in high spirits.
“I always say the people I work with are who make it good. Like, you know, I just try to adjust them to make them feel good and literally even if there’s a mess backstage or on stage, they kill it and will pick up the slack themselves,” Stachnik said. “I can’t say it[thank you] enough literally for the people who helped me out and model the clothes.”
Hott Pink Matter creates clothing like no other brand I’ve seen before. It is a sustainable brand with a Fashion-Nova-Baddie-meets-Y2K aesthetic fused with intention and power. The designer works hard to ensure the pieces look this way, but also to make sure the model or wearer feels this way too.
“I just want them [the audience] to see women that feel good about themselves. Although the girls I picked, I feel like they’re so different but that’s who I imagine in power, younger women, specifically younger women of color. If I can, I want to give them a platform to get out there more hopefully. Every time I do a runway, I just want the models to feel good and strong,” Stachnik said.
