#MeToo founder Tarana Burke sat in the front row at Prabal Gurung's Fall 2018 runway show during New York Fashion Week on Sunday night. Gurung is known for expressing powerful statements — his collection in February 2017 included slogan T-shirts reading, "The Future is Female" and "This is What a Feminist Looks Like" — so Burke was an obvious choice for the designer to invite to his show, which once again celebrated strong women.
Backstage, the models were surrounded by signs that read, "You the present / You are the future / You rule the world / Walk with intention." For the show's finale, they walked out on the runway carrying white roses in a statement of female solidarity.
In an interview with WWD, Burke said she has no plans on attending any other fashion shows, but that it was important to show support for Gurung because "he's shown a real interest and desire to amplify the voices of women and women's issues. He has a real connection to what's happening in the world around women."
Gurung, who was raised by a single mother in Nepal, said his collection was inspired by the matriarchal Mosuo tribe of China and India's women-led Gulabi Gang, who are known for their pink saris and defending other women.
"Where I am from," he said in an interview with The New York Times, "color can be a show of strength, as well."
Huma Abedin and transgender rights activist Janet Mock were also seated in the front row next to Burke. Other celebs in attendance included Olivia Palermo and Cardi B.
Burke's last big event was attending the Golden Globes with Michelle Williams in January, when she was invited with other women's rights activists and wore a black dress to stand with the #MeToo movement.
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