Birmingham, AL- Alabama native and Birmingham-based fashion designer, celebrity stylist, and author Perry Varner has spent more than two decades in the fashion industry, from Alabama to New York City. The founder of The Style Experience and creator of BirminGLAM—a fashion gala for the HIV Prevention Network—he has produced over 100 major events, including the UAB Black Student Awareness Fashion Show and Style Experience Birmingham.
Previously, Varner also served as a fashion specialist in NYC, teaching design fundamentals at the famed Harlem Children’s Zone under the leadership of Geoffrey Canada before returning to Birmingham in 2015. He has since been featured in over 40 regional media publications and interviews, including the Montgomery Advertiser, WSFA, WAKA, CBS 42, the Clanton Advertiser, RSVP Magazine, Upgraded Magazine, IPush Magazine, Urbanham.com, What’s Happening Birmingham, Grown & Greek, The Birmingham News, BMetro Magazine, and most recently, AL.com and The Birmingham Times regarding Birmingham Black Dandy Style in September 2025.
His latest contribution to the Magic City: BirmingHIM Men’s Fashion Week (BMFW). This week-long community engagement celebrates designers of color and male empowerment, focusing on wellness through awareness of men’s health issues and includes prostate and testicular cancer, mental wellness, and suicide prevention.
BMFW’s unique position also showcases emerging Black male designers, local small businesses, elected officials, and other high-profile individuals at the city’s chicest venues, with events planned at The Summit, WorkPlay Studios, Negro Southern League Museum, The Hardwick Lounge at LaPeer Steak & Seafood, Hemings and Michael’s Restaurant at Regions Field.
The week of events is underwritten by the support of Title Sponsors like the Alabama Department of Public Health, MiaBella Wellness Center and the Tailored Smoke brand. Community Partners, including Birmingham City Councilor (District 5) Darrell O’Quinn and Phillip Ensler for Lieutenant Governor. For the Culture—a popular Black culture-themed trivia and charades-style party app developed by Ark Creative Company—will host a pre-show activation designed for friends and family.
Perkins Law Firm will present the 2026 Man of the Year Award, while MiaBella Wellness, Central Alabama Alliance and Advocacy Resource Center, Avondale & Associates Psychological Services, Brothers Let’s Talk and Elite Touch Massage Therapy will host the Wellness Expo presented by Urbanham.com. The event will feature eight Birmingham-based designers who have been mentored through the BirmingHIM Men’s Fashion Week (BMFW) program. The main event will be hosted by CBS soap opera star Sean Freeman (who portrays Andre Richardson on Beyond the Gates). Guest male models ranging from ages 13 to 60 will include social media and reality television personalities, such as Will Conner from the OWN Network’s Love & Marriage: Huntsville, alongside students from Birmingham City Schools and more.
The BirmingHIM Men’s Fashion Week Show will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at WorkPlay Studios 6PM. With scheduled appearances by Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway, former NFL player Darrell Williams, Members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and members of the 100 Black Men of America Birmingham Chapter. SPECIAL THANKS to these Community Partners at The Summit + Negro Southern League Museum + Brothers Let’s Talk + Aware Cosmetics + Lisa Brown Spa + Brown Barber & Beauty School + Michael’s Restaurant + The Penny Foundation + First Impressions Marketing + Twelve 21 Public Relations + Transitions Technical College + Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and Bayer Property Management.
For more information visit www.himfashionweek.com/
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