Black people have definitely influenced fashion and culture in today's time & age, but sometimes credit is given to the wrong people, or it is just very long overdue. It's time to give credit where credit is due. So many Black fashion designers have undoubtedly made their mark in the fashion industry. Today, I hope to bring more recognition and acknowledgment to these amazing designers and their unique & one of a kind pieces.
Aurora James
Aurora James has made her mark in the fashion industry with her luxury, high-end shoe brand, Brother Vellies. Brother Vellies is certainly on the very pricey side, but her intricate and beautiful designs are one of a kind. The goal of Brother Vellies is to preserve shoemaking craft in Africa while also providing jobs for artisans in her workshop. James has worked with several shoemakers and artisans all over Africa in order to further develop her collections and create unique shoe designs. James’ dedication, diligence, and devotion to her brand, collaborators, and workers have made her one of the most respected fashion designers in the industry, especially in the shoewear industry.
Laquan Smith
LaQuan Smith’s womenswear clothing brand is all about women’s empowerment, and it literally screams, sorry for my language, “bad bitch”. Smith’s audience is directed towards women who aren’t afraid to show a little skin, even if there are people out there who are totally against that idea. To the girls who have been recently heartbroken but are ready to embrace that they don’t need a man to make themselves feel confident, this clothing brand is perfect for you. Smith’s alluring designs range from skintight mini leather dresses to metallic pieces to velvet outwear. LaQuan Smith’s passion and ambition towards designing and creating collections for unapologetic, strong women have definitely earned my respect, attention, and love along with others in the fashion industry.
Kerby Jean-Raymond
It’s not a common everyday occurrence to see the message behind a clothing brand bring people to tears, and that is exactly what Kerby Jean-Raymond’s brand, Pyer Moss, does. Pyer Moss symbolizes and calls upon black heritage, culture, and activism. Jean-Raymond’s work highlights the struggles Black people in America have continuously faced for years. Some of those struggles include police brutality and exclusion & unrecognized contributions in popular culture. Pyer Moss lets Black people know that they are heard and seen, and they can no longer be silenced and ignored anymore. I am utterly in love with Kerby Jean-Raymond and Pyer Moss because he is always so consistent time and time again in portraying his message through his style and collections, and it’s not very common to see that in many fashion designers.
Carly Cushnie
Ever since launching her clothing brand, Cushnie, in 2008, Carly Cushnie has dressed and outfitted famous icons like Michelle Obama, Ashley Graham, Jennifer Lopez, and Beyoncé. Cushnie’s dresses and designs are elegant, simple, and sophisticated. The Cushnie aesthetic is designed to empower women, emphasize minimalism & femininity, and attain the perfect fit for the female figure. Cushnie took home the Ecco Domani Award (2009), was a finalist for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund (2011), and a nominee for the CFDA Swarovski Award (2012). I admire Carly Cushnie’s work and her label, Cushnie, because she conveys sexiness and yet elegancy through her simple & beautiful collections and designs.
Catherine Mahugu
Catherine Mahugu, Gwendolyn Floyd, and Ella Peinovich founded Soko which is a women-led ethical jewelry brand and manufacturing platform. Soko jewelry possesses a modern aesthetic look from rich African culture. The jewelry brand is all about sustainability, locally-sourced, and eco-friendly pieces and designs. The trio also uses technology in order to bring awareness and empowerment to human capital and artisan entrepreneurship. Mahugu, Floyd, and Peinovich emphasize the greatness and benefits of economic sovereignty, and their artisans also earn 5x more than at an average workshop. Like Pyer Moss, Soko has a great message behind it, and although the jewelry is pricey, I strongly urge you to support these powerful, intelligent, and hard-working women.
Maxwell Osborne
In 2008, Maxwell Osborne & Dao-Yi Chao launched their label, Public School, and since then it has taken the men’s and womenswear world by storm. Both of the founders originated and grew up in New York, and the clothes are also produced and designed in New York too. Retailers, the press & media, and basically the whole entire nation absolutely love and rave about the duo and their brand. In 2013, Osborne and Chao received the Swarovski Menswear Award and won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. The duo’s work, designs, and clothing greatly represent the crazy energy and jubilance of New York. I mean, what better people are there to represent that New York vibe and style?
Malaika Carr
Architect Malaika Carr’s jewelry brand, Chalk Jewelry, goes above and beyond in jewelry design and structure. Carr’s jewelry consists of architectural factors, common everyday objects, and striking, vivid, and eye-catching patterns. Carr crafts the handmade jewelry pieces herself in her London-based design studio. In her interview with Folklore, Carr stated that “The design process for each collection is the same but the outcome is always very different due to the nature of the buildings.” Carr continued on saying “I tend to stay away from fashion trends, as I would prefer my pieces to be seen as versatile and timeless. So historical references about old jewelry, as well as bold, cultural fabrics, graphic prints, motifs, and molding play an influencing role in my design process.” I adore Carr’s unique designs and style with her handcrafted jewelry, and I admire how much effort she puts into each and every one of her pieces of work.
Please support these fashion designers in any way you can! These amazing fashion designers deserve more recognition and acknowledgment for the beautiful pieces they have made and the phenomenal labels they have founded. The hard work and dedication each and every one of these fashion designers put into their work & collections is astonishing. Check out our other posts, "How To Be A Better Ally For the Black Community & Support Black Lives Matter" & "Black-Owned Businesses You NEED To Check Out". Our posts this week are dedicated to helping the Black community and amplifying their voice. Join us & use your platform in order to show your support.
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