From its promo shoot in DUMBO, Brooklyn to the pre-party at The Luxe Lounge in Queens to its August 19 catwalk where the uniquest of  pieces will presented before hundreds, Fashion Fete – its title notwithstanding - is not just a “fashion show.”

It is a networking event. And, it wouldn’t be so without the entrepreneurs and business owners who are pooling their resources to make it happen.

From African beaded jewelry to dreadlock accessories, wellness body wraps to media platforms, Fashion Fete’s 3rd annual networking event presents a variety of vendors who are excited to share their passions with attendees at the M1-5 Lounge, 52 Walker Street in New York City.

“I’m excited for people to see my [jewelry] applied to bodies, so they can see how it looks on people rather than just a one dimensional picture on the internet,” said Dennis Arnold of The Lewis Butu Collection. “I’m super excited that this is a Christian event and I’m glad to get some advertising in another state, the fashion central of the United States, and see how I can collab with business owners.”

A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, Arnold made his first necklace in 2003. After browsing a beach shop with friends in Washington, DC, where he currently lives, he was prompted to make his own.

It was also in DC that Arnold met then-student, present-CEO of NEWD and Co-Coordinator of Fashion Fete NYC, Tiffani Knowles at American University.

The 32-year-old is the only jewelry maker in his family but is not the only artist. A barber, quilt maker, freehand graphic artist and fashion designer are titles pursued by his older brother, mother, late father and oldest sister respectively.

A 12-year veteran of the U.S Army, Arnold’s line aims to incorporate “foreign flavors with an American birthplace.” The name of his line was sparked by his late father’s artistic inspiration, he wanted his father’s name--his middle name, Lewis--to live on.

“Inspiration came from the desire to wear jewelry but be completely different,” said Arnold.

Sometimes, the birth of something derives from the yearning to be distinct and other times it blossoms from scarcity. For Reeda Grinnard, it was the latter.

A native of New York, Grinnard creates flexible cuffs made of aluminum wire to style her dreadlocks.

“It comes in different sizes and is adjustable for the thickness of hair,” she said. “I have locs and I couldn’t find anything besides elastic or scarfs to tie my hair. [ Flexible Cuffs for locs] allows your locs to be out; it’s decorative, comes in different colors and is unisex.”

Grinnard started her loc journey in 2004. Currently at buttocks length, she keeps her hair long to demonstrate various styles to potential customers.

“Black people have different types of hair but we’re always resisting what it is,” she said. “We want to do everything but show our hair, but it’s a personal choice.”

From Afro’s in the 60’s to jerry curls, braid outs to perms, wigs to weaves, Grinnard confesses that she’s done it all, so she knows how difficult hair management can be. However, she has never been a hair person.

“I think when people see [the flexible cuffs] they don’t really know what to do with it,” she laughed. “Until I’m at a show like this to demonstrate what you need to do with it, showing the different styles they can create.”

Grinnard has participated in vendor events prior to Fashion Fete NYC and is looking forward to being exposed and making contacts who could recommend areas where her accessories would attract interested customers.

The networking component is already at work as many of the entrepreneurs receiving spotlights on August 19 discovered Fashion Fete through church contacts, social media and long-lost colleages.

Kori Raishon of Double EE Productions, LLC is testament to the fact that networking works. He actually encouraged Grinnard to get involved in this year’s event after meeting Knowles two years ago at a dance recital where she MC’d.

“When I first saw Tiffani, I thought I knew who she was, but I didn’t,” he said. “I went and researched what NEWD was doing and realized it was something I wanted to be attached to my medium. When I attended [Fashion Fete NYC] in 2012, I was like oh man this is awesome...once I saw the event and saw what she was doing I really wanted to get on board and be part of building her company and brand.”

With a background in architecture and a problem solver by nature, Raishon observed the last event and noted what could’ve been better.

Since then, he has brought Knowles on as an affiliate of Full 5 Media Group, the internal marketing side of his business.

“This year’s event is going to blow last year’s event out the water!” said Raishon, who’s spent more time behind the scenes this year. “I can’t wait to see what the designers are going to bring this year, it’s a bigger venue so it’ll be able to fit more people.”

Along with Latesia Horton, one of his programming producers, Raishon aims to scout the work on Monday and hopefully be able to expand on new talent.

He seeks to continue building on the motto of his company which he started in 2001: to support, empower, and expose positive images of people of color via digital mediums.

Through Double EE Productions, he hopes to give businesses, organizations and artists the ability to not only test their products and services, but also fund their projects.

Under the umbrella of new talent, he can find Vanessa John of Smooth Contours. Only two months into her business, she’s already climbing the ladder of success.

She was a vendor at the NY/NJ bridal expo which offered a platform to venues, bakeries, gowns and nuts and bolts to soon-to-be brides.

It was after this exposure that she was approached by church sister Tiffani Knowles, who’s also a member of Kingdom Life Ministries, and recently decided to take advantage of the opportunity to expand her brand.

Smooth Contours is an herbal-based detox wrap that develops wellness and assists in weight loss. John tried the product herself and her results are evident, slimming her waist from a size 43 to a 37.

“You see results in the first 45 minutes,” she said. “It causes the body to detox. I didn’t change my diet too much, I just stopped eating after 6 p.m. and increased the amount of water I drink.”

Her body wraps are not only for women, but for men, too. She explains that it is available to anyone looking for an overall change in their health.

“We are very image-minded individuals, so I envisioned my company as Smooth Contours to erase the stress marks, loose the weight so you won’t have the muffin tops,” said the Brooklyn native.

John plans to wrap interested customers on the spot during the event and hopes to stimulate health awareness.

Besides new entrepreneur Vanessa John, Fashion Fete NYC will also be showcasing budding business owner Ezra Bryan of B Designs.

In December of 2012, Bryan formed B-Design Drafting Services less than a year after completing his Architectural studies.

Drawing or drafting, as it is known in the architectural profession, is an eminent part of the construction process.

B-Design Drafting Services takes the thoughts and ideas for spaces, and with the use of software, lead pencils, inks, model-making materials and paper, graphically develops the instructions, photo renderings and guidelines necessary to make them a reality.

Bryan’s philosophy is to approach a design solution first by recognizing that inspiration can be drawn from anywhere.

His motto: “Design is everywhere, design is everyone."

“I have witnessed that Fashion Fete gathers people of all professions and nuances. Networking with passion-driven people inspires and propels our team to reach new levels. Everyone with their own taste in design,” said Bryan.

Additional event sponsors are So Hai Culture Magazine,  BBF Printing and 127 | East.

Fashion Fete NYC 2013 will be held at New York City's M1-5 Lounge on August 19 from 6-10 p.m. This is a 21 and over event.

The third annual event is powered by The Vision 3 Group/ZionSociety.com and NEWDMagazine/NEWDradio.