Black Lives Matter: listen, learn, love.
SILENCE IS NOT THE ANSWER + I UNDERSTAND THAT I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND, HOWEVER I STAND.
I am following, listening, remembering, thinking and most of all trying to educate myself. I am horrified by recent events— enough is enough. As a working mother, I’m educating myself on how to teach my children and how to raise awareness in the industry I work in to support causes and platforms that can make a difference. I started this website during the pandemic and while I’m still very new - I do want to share what I’ve been reading about and being inspired by in the fashion community. I found interesting information on black-owned fashion businesses and brilliant black designers. The fashion industry and retail industry can in fact move the needle for creative black fashion talent and black fashion entrepreneurs—there are things we can look into, challenge, and encourage. I am learning from the research on how changes can happen systemically. Below, there are just some of the many, many incredible, personally-inspiring black influencers and designers that are well worth knowing and supporting:
Brother Vellies: An accessories brand based in Brooklyn, NY - Handcrafted shoes and handbags from South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya & Morocco
Celebrating: Elaine Welteroth (Author of NYT Best-Seller More Than Enough): in Brother Vellies heels
Aurora James: Founder of Brother Vellies + 15Percent Pledge
Carly Cushnie: CEO and Creative Director at Cushnie
Cushnie: Luxury women’s ready-to-wear + accessories designed in New York City
Cushnie via Shopbop
Off-White: Streetwear fashion that got their name from the explanation of defining the grey area between black and white as Off-White™.
Virgil Abloh: While at the helm of his own company Off-White, a streetwear Italian based brand, he's also a DJ and Artistic Director for Louis Vuitton
SS20 Men's collection
Mateo: NY-Based Jeweler Affordable Luxury Jewelry Brand
Matthew Harris: Founder of Mateo
14kt Gold Malachite Ear Jacket Earrings
Stella Jean: A fashion brand that often seeks inspiration from her cultural identity and uses sustainably sourced fabrics, which are aimed at helping trade workers in developing communities.
Tiered Geometric Print Skirt
Stella Jean: she's recognized as the first Italian (and Haitian) designer and is considered to be Giorgio Armani's protégé
Soko: An ethical manufacturing platform that connects fashion brands & retailers to makers in emerging economies
Founded by Gwendolyn Floyd, Catherine Mahugu, and Ella Peinovich
Nyundo Stacking Rings
Kerby Jean-Raymond: Founder and designer for Pyer Moss
Pyer Moss was one of the fashion brands during the peak of COVID-19 that turned its showroom into a donation center.
Pyer Moss: Mens and womenswear fashion label concerned with building a narrative that speaks about heritage and activism
Fashion industry designers, bloggers, influencers and journalists are all sharing ways to help, use our voices and take actions. Aurora James, founder of Brother Vellies, asked her followers to support black owned businesses and pointed out that black people represent 15% of the population, and therefore need to be represented on 15% of major corporations’ shelf space (Target, Sephora, Whole Foods).
Large and small fashion companies are showing solidarity by donating to organizations such as Color of Change, Black Lives Matter, NAACP (legal defense and education fund), ACLU, Black Visions Collective, and Equal Justice Initiative to name a few.
Designers and fashion entrepreneurs need to go beyond casting black models for campaigns and runways to infuse black culture, creating a full sense of inclusivity. What brands should be doing: educating, hiring and making sure there are opportunities in all businesses and the creative side of fashion. Lastly, but most importantly: of course, they should be taking a stance against social injustice, not just vocally but through actionable choices.
I was particularly interested in an article written before the murder of George Floyd by Jasmine Fox-Suliaman for Who What Wear that interviewed 33 black fashion powerhouses on changes the business and creative side of the industry needs.
Nina Garcia, editor of Elle Magazine, on her Instagram shares: “75 ways you can help” including donating, calling, petition signing, self-reflecting, reading books, watching films, following advocates, and taking action. It’s a very powerful and exhaustive list. I plan to start by doing some reading as I have more time at home and less work. (Next on my reading list is Beloved by Toni Morrison)
I have watched a few really meaningful short videos and read very impactful, sometimes uncomfortable posts by smart and empowered black fashion industry influencers. In 2020, it’s okay to be uncomfortable. My top priorities are to grow and examine my feelings, awareness and most importantly, in my efforts to follow through with my beliefs. I am examining mine intensely. Influencers I recommend are Natasha Ndlovu; Chrissy Rutherford; Lee Litumbe (her photography captured such beauty and radiance— and, it was what helped my first smile of the day); Nana Agyemang and Naomi Elizee.
I have been wearing creations by black designers that are enormously influential such as Virgil Abloh and Carly Cushnie, but there is deep untapped talent out there of lesser known designers with smaller platforms that I would like to discover and help promote. For this, I’m looking forward to checking out @thesundayfive - an Instagram account that promotes progressive brands and creators weekly. I am excited to learn more and do what I can do - to the best of my ability - to support creative fashion of every color.