There aren’t many things to make the industry slow down and come together during New York Fashion Week.  With a shortened schedule, everyone seemed to crisscross between shows, events, parties, and seasonal reunions at rapid-fire speed.

Over at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater, however, that pace eased up and fashion’s totems joined in ceremony to celebrate the life and work of the legendary Oribe Canales, which requires such tribute.  Held on Tuesday, September 10 on a bright and warm afternoon, friends, family, colleagues, and admirers gathered to remember the icon simply known as Oribe.

Born on September 13, 1956 in Jaruco, Cuba, Oribe’s family moved to North Carolina in 1962. In 1976, he relocated to New York City, and began his career working for renowned hairstylist Garren’s salon at The Plaza in the late 1970s. This was followed by his ascension at Parachute Salon, and his own salon at Elizabeth Arden opening in 1991.  Oribe’s personal and professional community often overlapped, included near-lifelong kinship with Steven Meisel, Richard Avedon, Annie Leibovitz, Gianni Versace, François Nars, Jennifer Lopez, the late Peter Lindbergh, and the original supermodels as known simply by their forenames:  Christy, Cindy, Claudia, Linda, and Naomi.  Oribe passed away on December 17, 2018.

The tribute, produced by Nian Fish, was anchored by a short film directed by Natane Boudreau titled “ORIBE.”  Spliced with voiceover anecdotes narrated by seven of Oribe’s original team members –  Danilo Dixon, Jimmy Paul, Roque, Losi, Judy Erickson, Helena Occhipinti, Faccenda, and Greg Bitterman – the images and footage spanned across his great life. Guests laughed, cried, and watched intently, whispering between themselves memories they held of the master hairstylist.  Anna Sui, Edward Enninful, Grace Coddington, Mario Sorrenti, Michael Kors, Susanne Bartsch, Tonne Goodman were among those who came out to pay tribute to Oribe.

The film was accompanied by moving speeches on stage from Christy Turlington Burns, Veronica Webb, Garren, Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele, Oribe’s sister Gracie Canales Cuervo – who recalled him as endearingly nicknamed Oribito by family –  and long-time assistant and confidant Judy Erickson, who received a standing ovation before her heartfelt address. Video tributes by Naomi Campbell, Marc Jacobs, and Jennifer Lopez supplemented the ceremonial occasion.

“We see his love for women and how the gift of his artistry changed their image, their persona. He celebrated and honored a woman’s innate glamour, sexiness, beauty and power,” Boudreau said in regards to the ORIBE film direction.

The tribute’s close was marked by a speech and a capella performance of “You Are My Sunshine” by friend and singer-songwriter Miley Cyrus, followed by a champagne reception on the theater’s terrace hosted by Stephanie Seymour Brant, Christy Turlington Burns, and Veronica Webb.

Today – Oribe’s birthday – is not only a day of remembrance, but a day of thanks for the gift we received through his artistry:  beauty that is both seen and felt.