30 Fashion Designers Of Color To Know - By T Hunter
Why is The Black Dollar so Important?
The year of 2020 has impacted everyone’s lives in a way that we could have not predicted. We had to wait for a global pandemic in order to bring racial equality and police brutality to the light for those who chose not to see. This is divine intervention. Now it’s time to protect our dollar!
Imagine if we were to come together to dismantle a system designed to devalue us by simply keeping our money within our communities. Issa Rae said it best at the Emmy’s red carpet in 2017 “I’m rooting for everybody black” and unapologetically she meant it.
There are designer’s like Kerby Jean-Raymond who brought police brutality to the runway during New York’s Fashion week 2015 for his women’s wear collection. Along with Maxwell Osbourne and Dao-Yi Chow men’s wear collection the same year
It’s important to take care of ourselves during these revolutionary times. I’m writing this article just days before June 19th or Juneteenth and Father’s Day. Both important days within this month that should be acknowledged and often overlooked. Juneteenth is currently in the process of being a National Holiday thanks to Opal Lee’s petition on Change.org. This day is symbolic for the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans in the Confederacy.
As for Father’s Day, the one who carries half of our genetic makeup and often plays an important role alongside his wife raising children. The father often doesn’t receive the credit he deserves. We look to our father’s mostly for financial support and guidance when it comes to the value of the dollar. One of my favorite chapter’s in the memoir “Made in Harlem” by Dapper Dan was the mention of his father and how he convinced him out of spending money on a suit that he couldn’t afford. If we’re not taught how to spend our money frugally, then we’ll never have anything left over
The History of the black dollar can’t get any more real than the book written by Angel Rich. This book touches on significant moments in history that helped shaped this very country that we live in, the United States of America. Subjects like slavery, sharecropping, convict leasing, Little Rock Nine, Black Wall Street, Civil Rights Movement, and The Great Recession. All of these events that took place have brought me to this very moment of why I wanted to create a list of 30 designers of color in both luxurious clothing and local brands that consumers can educate themselves on and broaden their perspectives when shopping. I wanted to use my knowledge of the Fashion Industry and highlight important figures within that industry who look like me and are great representations for the younger generation of designers.
He designs clothes that makes the women feel mighty, heroic, and capable of anything. His fall 2020 collection was a mixture between old Hollywood and Space aged suits according to Refinery29. At 26 years old he’s the winner of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and has 3 collections under his belt, along with bragging rights of dressing Michelle Obama.
Telfar is locally nicknamed as the Bushwick Birkin handbag to have and affordably priced. Telfar’s clothes were often marketed for consumers who enjoyed crossing gender lines a decade before Gucci, Balenciaga and Tom Ford.
Not long after Fenty Beauty and Fenty Savage, there was a full luxury brand released. Rihanna is best known for her fearlessness, confidence, and inclusivity through out all of her brands. The Fashion house was founded in 2017 and launched in May 2019.
Hanifa’s Pink Label Congo collection showed strength, power and hope within the Congolese community. It was the first time that the media saw invisible models that wore 3D rendered garments in a virtual fashion show. The brand started in 2012 and it’s mission was to cater to non-sample sized body figures making curvier woman feel sexy and sophisticated.
Cushnie was designed for the ready to wear consumer with signature looks of modern cut out dresses and sculpted knitwear. The Fashion House started in 2008 right after Carly Cushnie graduated from Parsons School of Design. You can currently find limited edition slip dresses in Target.
A pioneer in the American Fashion Industry with four labels under her belt that include ready to wear, accessories and home fashions. Tracy Reese, Plenty, Frock and Black Label are known to many. In addition she is a board member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). The launch of her line started in 1998 and has always led conversations on diversity and inclusivity. Her business is on a global scale and produced 10 collections a year.
This is the perfect representation of a lifestyle brand for the woman who loves to travel in style. She has the bragging rights of dressing Michelle Obama as well. Started as a small boutique in Brooklyn and self-taught designer with entrepreneurship in her blood line.
The best handcrafted shoes and handbags from South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Morocco. The brand started in 2013 with the goal of keeping sustainability and design techniques true to the African cultures.
One of the most influential and innovative brands that touches on personal and political issues on and off the runway. You can expect to see the latest collection for September 2020 on film with a drive-in movie theater setting. The film will show the appreciation for fashion as an art form and the behind the scenes in preparation for the collection
This brand is best known for it’s evening wear and dressing some of the most iconic females in the entertainment industry like Beyonce and Rihanna. The brand started in 2013 and continues to expand its clientele from New York to Lagos to London.
He has many titles the Fashion Designer and Creative Consultant, but best known as the Style Monk. Born and raised in the Bronx and owned a boutique 9J with his prior collection 5:31 Jerome. The luxury streetwear focused on sustainability, culture and spirituality. His most recent partnerships include Beyoncé x Adidas that was released January 18, 2020.
The perfect brand that embodies feminine and masculine traits with a modern twist. Romeo Hunte is based in Brooklyn, New York and started independently in 2014. He has a long list of clients that include Zendaya, Beyonce, Laverne Cox, Keke Palmer and Victor Cruz. This brand has always been one to watch and was nominated in 2017 as a finalist for Womenswear Fashion Group, International Rising Star Award. Currently the latest collaboration will be with the lifestyle brand Coogi embracing the culture from the 1920’s.
Dapper Dan is an icon living. He is self made, self liberated and the sharpest man you will ever meet. He pioneered high end streetwear in the 1980’s long before the partnership with Gucci. He is known globally as a Fashion Designer and now author of “Made in Harlem” a memoir. His list of clients extend from the popular celebrities to the streets of Harlem and will forever be a trailblazer to American fashion.
The self taught Italian- Haitian designer is a force to be reckoned with. She is best known for winning Vogue Italia’s “Who Is On Next” talent contest in 2011. Jean’s designs are bold, colorful and embraces her ethnicity. She uses sustainably sourced fabrics that help trade workers in poor communities. Her collections cater to both men and women after her show in 2015 at Milan Fashion Week. The brand is based in Rome, and specialty boutiques worldwide.
A Lingerie and Hosiery brand in neutral tone undergarments for all women of color in various sizes. The London based founder created the brand in 2014 and took social media by storm after posting her products online. You can currently find undergarments and shoes in four colorways: Berry, Cinnamon, Caramel and Cafe Au Lait to meet the customer’s needs.
An established international menswear and womenswear brand that specializes in tailoring. Wales launched in 2014, and has received multiple awards, Emerging Menswear Designer, LVMH Young Designer Prize and the Vogue Designer Fashion Fund. With rich heritage of British-Afro Caribbean she continues to infuse her culture and masculinity within her collections.
The perfect collection to wear on the beach as a coverup, or resort wear for a vacation. LemLem is filled with bold embroideries and voluminous silhouettes in various colors for Spring or Summer. The sustainable fashion brand caters to women, men and children and carries the history of Ethiopian weaving techniques. The mission for the brand was to expand production and jobs across Africa.
London based brand started in 2007 and is known for its extraordinary and bizarre ways of styling layers playfully to create something beautiful. The consumers for Martine Rose are more about practicality and understated street style with slightly tailored details. Her collections are a nod to subculture, masculinity, retro prints and androgney.
This brand has traditional African techniques with contemporary silhouettes. The Nigerian based fashion designer is known for her textile patterns, and indigo dyeing of the fabrics in her collections. Since the Autumn/ Winter collection in 2010 Osakwe has evolved internationally with her brand. Some of her female clients include Solange Knowles, Lupita Nyongo, and Michelle Obama.
Ghanaian fashion designer known for his classic British tailoring has blessed the industry for three decades, starting his brand in 1986. His suits were hand picked for the famous films like “Black Panther”, “The Matrix”, “Bad Boys 2” and “Sex In The City”. His recent collection for womenswear was introduced at the Apollo theatre in 2019, celebrating the 100th year of the Harlem Renaissance. He has dressed celebrities like Mick Jagger, Jimmy Paige, Will Smith and Spike Lee. He’s famous for his structure classic suits that took on the British music, fashion, and culture from the late 1980’s until now.Fun fact he was also appointed creative director of menswear at Givenchy in 2003.
Menswear and Womenswear line famous for its black and white color palettes that symbolized minimalism, practicality and monotone colors. The consumers are drawn to the utilitarian style, asymmetrical lines, tapered legs and loose knitwear paired with sneakers. Perfect for any non-traditional school uniform attire or casual outfit for the weekends.
Self entitled brand and mother of three. Her brand embodies empowerment with an energy and confidence that shines in her personal and professional life. Nguyen collection includes ivy panty, myrrh panty, henna bra, praise bra and rose bra in Nude and monotone colors.
Luxury streetwear label that launched in 2013. The brand is best known for the collaboration with A.P.C Yeezus Tour and Yeezy Season one. Fear of God is an independent and self taught label who’s roster of clients interested Justin Bieber, Kendrick Lamaar, Colin Kaepernick and Michael B. Jordan.
Austrian Nigerian designer whose signature details are handwoven checks, asoke fabric, and men’s tailoring. The designer works closely with the Nigerian weavers to preserve their craftsmanship. His latest collection Fall 2020 was inspired by West African women, like his mother who wore custom outfits made of Viennese lace on Sundays for church.
South African knitwear brand founded in 2012. This collection carries knitwear designs for both men and women, as well as home furnishings like rugs and cushions. The name is credited towards the beautiful Xhosa people in Africa.The consumers are ordinary people across different cultures from Basotho, to amaZulu.
The perfect mixture of Ivorian traditions and modern fashion. The brand launched in 2009 and continues to thrive by selling to its consumers internationally. Some of the pieces have been featured in music videos, Beyoncé “formation” and WizKid “come closer”. You can find more in showrooms and online
The jewelry brand started in 2017, hand crafted with metals and stones. Though the designer was born in England, he was raised in Brooklyn. His design ascetic and influences are naturally from the punk rock, and hip hop culture. His jewelry was most recently styled with Pyer Moss 2019 Collection.
Learn more about Sincerely Tommy by Kai Avent-deLeon
Small concept store that caters to local lifestyle brands based in Brooklyn, New York. Combined with the boutique is a day to night Café that serves vegetarian dishes
American fashion designer inspired by sustainability and technology was founded in 2016. The consumer gravitates towards the deconstructive workwear elements and innovation. The brand is mostly known for the collaborations with Carhartt , Nike, OFF- White, N.A.S.A and NYC Department of Sanitation
Learn more about T.A. New York by Telsha Anderson
A conceptual store that carries multiple brands from all of the fashion capitals. The female clientele will be able to find luxury ready to wear pieces with accessories and jewelry to complete their full head to toe look
