Style July 29, 2019
Every year and or season, it can seem as if luxury brands are not only becoming more and more desirable but are caring less and less about the messages they are sending to the general public.
Labeling things as art, creator directors and designers seem to just be in signing off on anything. Reading the news I find myself saying, “You can’t be serious?” and even “Not again!” when a major luxury brand comes up in the news about it’s latest collections that are somehow linked to the Jim Crow era from blackface to nooses to cultural appropriation left and right.
As these trends seem to progress, I sit and think to myself “how did someone approve of this design, photo, etc. without seeing the problem?” Or, it almost seems as if these major luxury brands are using racist marketing to drive members of the African American community away from their products while remaining exclusive to their non-African American customers.
Whether you choose to boycott these fashion houses or not is on you. However, here are five black luxury designers you should be supporting!
Cushnie is a women’s ready to wear a brand that caters to the strong sexy sophisticated women. Cushnie’s aesthetic embodies a refined sense of cosmopolitan minimalism and femininity.
Cushnie tells iPic Life, “A customer will come up to me and say ‘oh you can tell a woman designed this’ because of the way it fit or because the lining or because you’re thinking about how she’s wearing it every day.’”
With her sleek, sexy designs, Cushnie has become a fan favorite of Michelle Obama, and has also been seen on Rihanna and Sophie Turner.
Although he started the brand back in 2005 Clemmons debuts the Telfar bags in 2014, and has been taking over The Lower East Side ever since. Telfar’s motto being, “It’s not for you, it’s for everyone.”
Clemens tells The Wallstreet Journal that, “he bases the prices on what the average type of person that buys who stuff would make in a night.” And as the new ‘It Girl’ bag, Telfar’s bags have been seen on Real Housewives of New York Sonja Morgan, and even Selena Gomez.
The recent winner of the CFDA award, Pyer Moss has been rapidly taking the industry by storm.
From having gospel choirs sing during his fashion shows to an amazing collaborates with Reebok, Jean-Raymond has been using his platform to bring up social injustice issues within the African American communities.
Jean-Raymond tells The New York Times that, when originally starting Pyer Moss that he, “didn’t want people to know [he] was black because [he] knew they would make all these assumptions.” However, now he “fully embraces” who he is.
Loved by almost all celebrities, Pyer Moss has been worn by Chris Paul, Jhene Aiko, Colin Kaepernick, Lil Nas X, Odell Beckham Jr and even Tracee Ellis Ross.
LaQuan Smith designs to make you feel sexy and embody your curves. With an unapologetically glamorous aesthetic tells Fashionista “I love a good curve — LaQuan Smith is always about accentuating the waist points and carving out the hips and just really celebrating the body.”
LaQuan Smith’s designs have quickly become a favorite of many celebrities, as seen on Kylie & Kendal Jenner, Rihanna, The Celmon Twins, J Lo, and even Beyonce!
Aurora James founded Brother Vellies with the goal of introducing the world to her favorite traditional African footwear, whilst also creating jobs for artisans within Africa. Creating boots, shoes and sandals Brother Vellies handmakes their shoes in South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya and Morocco.
James tells Videofashion at her FW16 fashion show that it’s all about, “I think it’s really about educating customers about sustainability and how you can empower other people through your purchasing.” Brother Vellies has been seen on former Teen Vogue’s EIC Elaine Welteroth, Beyonce, and even Gabrielle Union!
We hope you check out these designers and love them just as much as we do!
