Black History Month and Fashion Week are upon us, so it’s the perfect time to indulge a shopping habit by supporting black designers moving the sartorial conversation forward.
Whether it’s their bold and unfettered address of society or their refusal to align with the industry’s demands, these luminaries are making waves and creating their own lanes. Their talent is a demonstration of what happens when the discussion around fashion is as diverse as the real world. These design phenoms hail from the boroughs of New York City, across the Canadian border in Toronto, and elsewhere. The categories they represent are also varied, including menswear and eco-conscious footwear.
If you haven’t been supporting these stars, Black History Month is the perfect time to start. Ahead you’ll find 15 black designers that should be on your radar this month and beyond.
If there’s one collection we look forward to each season, it’s Pyer Moss’s. Jean-Raymond brings reality to the runway, with collections that have spoken to mental illness and police brutality in seasons past.
Known for dressing Zendaya and Beyoncé, Hunte is all about connecting fashion’s past and present. His outerwear pieces are the kind of designs street style dreams are made of, so we’re sure the aforementioned stars will be spotted wearing pieces from the collection as long as the temperatures stay cold.
Pictured here with Selah Marley, Telfar launched a unisex line long before the biggest houses put gender-neutral designs on the runway. Since the brand’s inception, Telfar has been a proponent of speaking for the marginalized through fashion. Recently, the Queens native combined functionality with a cool sensibility: think flares, high-waisted denim, and sportswear pieces that turn the trend on its head.
The Queens-born designer has become a red carpet go-to, but who says you can’t wear his glamorous statement pieces IRL, too? This season, take a cue from your favorite celebrities and treat yourself to one of his looks, whether you shop Smith’s eponymous line or his much-anticipated collaboration with ASOS.
Toronto-native Aurora James has taken over the footwear industry. With furry confections that are a go-to for celebrities, editors, and influencers, her Brother Vellies pieces will absolutely continue to be seen. In short, feel free to purchase a pair or two.
Kyemah Mcentyre’s dashiki-print prom dress went viral a few years ago, which eventually led to her showing at New York Fashion Week. Now she’s even selling t-shirts on her site, proving she has plenty of range as a designer.
From her groundbreaking cosmetics collection to her coveted lingerie line, Rihanna is making unprecedented strides in beauty and fashion. She’s advocating for representation in the most powerful way: With Fenty Beauty, she’s turning the cosmetics market on its head with a 40-shade foundation range catering to neglected deeper and paler tones; through Savage X Fenty, she’s giving lingerie brands a run for their money by serving — and casting — people of various sizes, heights, and shapes. The Rihanna reign just won’t let up.
Parsons graduate Carly Cushnie is the genius behind one of our favorite fashion lines. After rebranding earlier this year, the wunderkind designer again took femininity to the next level with even more vibrant fabrics and colors in her spring 2019 collection. We can’t wait to see what she does next.
A favorite of celebrities like, say, Beyoncé, Demestik is definitely a brand to watch. Designer Reuben Reuel’s mash-up of bold prints in modern, architectural silhouettes makes each piece memorable. Whether you’re on the hunt for a sophisticated sheath dress or a head-turning bell-sleeved blouse, Demestik has something you’re bound to fall in love with.
ROMMEL DEMANO/BFA.COM
10/15
Anifa Mvuemba of Hanifa
Teen Vogue “Generation Next” alum Anifa Mvuemba is the creative mind behind Hanifa. While she thanks social media for the growth of her brand, it was only a matter of time before the eye-catching designs landed in the right spaces. Mvuemba launched Hanifa in 2012 and has been releasing ever since. Whether it’s a suit or just a dress, you know a Hanifa piece when you see it. Anifa prides herself in designing for Black women.
JAMIE MCCARTHY
11/15
Christopher John Rogers
From his vibrant colors to his bold silhouettes, Christopher John Rogers designs clothes for the person who demands attention when they walk in a room. The Baton Rouge–born, Brooklyn-based designer won the CFDA’s Fashion Fund Award in 2019 joining the list of other black owned brands like Telfar and Pyer Moss. He’s loved by celebrities like Lizzo, Lil Nas X, Michelle Obama, and more. One of the most fascinating things about Rogers’ journey is that he still works right out of his Brooklyn living room space. It’s only up from here!
ILYA S. SAVENOK
12/15
Tia Adeola of Slashed by Tia
Nigerian-born Teni “Tia” Adeola is another Teen Vogue “Generation Next” alum who loves art history and incorporates it into her clothing. Tia’s collections include an array of organza ruffles inspired by the Renaissance. Her ethereal designs can be easily identified by their unique sheer material and flirty frills.
BENNETT RAGLIN
13/15
Fe Noel
“Eat well, travel well, and dress to impress” — insert Fe Noel, the resort wear brand designed by Grenadian designer, Fe. If you’re a jetsetter, you’re missing out if you don’t have any of her feminine fabrics packed in your suitcase. Her clothing interlocks her culture and love of womenswear in the most elegant way.
BENNETT RAGLIN
14/15
Dumebi Iyamah of Andrea Iyamah
Influenced by the colors and patterns of her home country, Nigeria, Dumebi Iyamah designs statement-making ready-to-wear and swimwear clothing with a unique feminine flair. The vibrant colors details on each piece complements melanin in the most graceful way, further supporting her mission of the Andrea Iyamah woman being a part of a “cultural story.”
NEILSON BARNARD
15/15
Dapper Dan
Harlem’s very own Dapper Dan has been true to design for most of his life. In the 80’s he was a go-to designer, catering to the Hip Hop industry and creating custom pieces adorned with designer logos, but without the brand’s permission. While his boutique was shut down in the 90’s by angered brands, he made a roaring comeback in 2018 when Gucci collaborated with the Harlem native. He now has a Gucci atelier studio in Harlem designed to pay homage to his original boutique.
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