Share

Merely a week after the Met Gala’s parade of opulence, an annual coastal Southern event, the Gullah Gala, is set to take over Charleston’s International African American Museum (IAAM) with something deeper— fashion rooted in culture, community, and purpose.

Created by founder Dev Smalls of Highest in the Room and in partnership with IAAM, this Gala presents itself as “a premier cultural fashion and music experience celebrating the rich heritage of the Gullah Geechee culture and the African Diaspora.”

With the overwhelming success and community support from last year, the Gala will be expanding into a four-day festival at the museum, featuring a series of events such as panel discussions, music performances, fashion shows, and after-parties. The main event, the fashion show, will take place at IAAM on May 17th, where patrons and attendees will be required to wear their dandiest, most 1920s-appropriate attire.

An Event Approaches—And a Vision Expands

As Charleston prepares for Gullah Gala 2025, one organization at the heart of the city’s creative momentum is Highest in the Room (HITR)—a mission-driven cultural platform dedicated to empowering youth and amplifying local talent across music, design, athletics, photography, and more.

Founded by Dev Smalls, the organization aims to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit of the next generation through immersive, community-focused experiences. As Smalls explains, the upcoming event is about more than fashion, it’s about connection and cultural preservation.

“While the Gala centers on fashion, my broader goal is to create a space where older and younger generations come together, educate each other about the Gullah culture, understand where it all began, and acknowledge how far we’ve come. I’m excited to announce that The Gullah Gala is officially becoming a nonprofit organization. Our mission is to empower and unite generations through Gullah culture, foster creative expression, and provide resources that preserve African-American heritage. This will allow us to expand our efforts and ensure the culture we honor today continues to inspire.”

The IAAM’s continued support of HITR’s Gullah Gala will not only garner more necessary national attention towards this newly formed nonprofit, but will hopefully increase more funding it will receive to sponsor future community programs and events. In addition, it hopes to bring awareness and appreciation to the Gullah Geechee communities of the Lowcountry.

Local Designers and Creatives Take Center Stage

The main event—a fashion show on May 17—will feature designers from across the Southeast, including Atlanta and Charleston, with some even traveling from New York to present their latest collections. Also in attendance will be a dynamic mix of Black influencers, content creators, and entrepreneurs. The event will highlight Black-owned businesses across fashion, beauty, art, and lifestyle, offering guests a vibrant showcase of creativity, culture, and community-driven enterprise.

Making the fashion show the centerpiece is more than a choice of style—it’s a conscious act meant to weave history into every thread and open space for reflection and dialogue. As Smalls explained, “The connection between fashion and heritage is deeply rooted in our way of life. Historically, braids were not just a hairstyle; they were part of an escape map for enslaved people, guiding them to freedom. While we no longer use our hairstyles the same way, the historical significance remains. Even though our heritage was stripped when we were brought to the U.S., we kept our culture alive through our style, through garments, fabrics, and accessories. Fashion has always been a way for us to express who we are and where we came from, even when everything else was taken from us.”

Amongst the weekend’s standout figures is creator and designer Quentin Thrash, founder of Thrash Bespoke. Known for his bold, tailored aesthetic and modern take on classic menswear, Thrash brings a fresh perspective to contemporary Black fashion. On May 18, he will host a panel discussion in partnership with HITR, exploring modern-day dandyism—its cultural roots, evolving identity, and influence on today’s style narratives.

Thrash shared his excitement, sharing, “I’m excited to be back in Charleston and especially for such a prestigious event. [I] can’t wait to get dressed up back where it all began and see how the city shows up.”

Looking to the Future: A Legacy in the Making

As the Gullah Gala continues to evolve, its expanding influence speaks to a growing movement blending fashion with culture, creativity with heritage. With each step on the runway, each panel discussion, and every note of music played, the event is not just a celebration of the past, but a commitment to preserving and amplifying the Gullah Geechee culture for future generations.

And as Dev Smalls, HITR, and IAAM lead the charge, the Gullah Gala is poised to become more than an annual event—it is shaping up to be a powerful force in the preservation of African-American heritage and a cornerstone of Charleston’s cultural identity. As Smalls put it, “We are striving to be the ‘Highest in the Room,’ and with the support of our community, we’re just getting started.”

Tickets for Saturday’s Gullah Gala start at $80 and can be purchased HERE

 

Written By: Ryan Biddix

Photo Credit: Gullah Gatsby