I’m happy to announce that my NYFW this season was black AF. Yes, Black AF! I’ve been attending every season of New York Fashion Week for the past 5 years and I’ve never experienced this abundance of melanin magic. I mean it’s safe to say that this fashion week was very different than previous seasons. The pandemic definitely affected the number of live shows and presentations. There also seemed to be more separation between the larger and smaller brands. However, while this may be true; I can’t say that I’m not feeling this new New York Fashion Week vibe. Fashion wouldn’t be what it is today without the black or brown community. Black-owned brands deserve all the recognition we can get. We’re finally aiming for true diversity.
House Of Aama show was my favorite of all NYFW. Their runway debut theme introduced Camp Aama: a fictional resort community that celebrates Black folklore and heritage. The scenery was a fit for a story as well as the collection. As I watched the presentation I felt this feeling of Nostalgia. Now I know I didn’t live during that time but I could feel the breadth of my ancestors through each piece. I was so overwhelmed with gratitude and connection that I could feel the tears well up inside of me. It was truly something special. They brought “old fashioned” straight to today’s time.
For this spring-summer 2022 season, thirteen emerging black designers were invited to exhibit their creations during New York fashion week, last week, in a showroom in the Tribeca district. An initiative of the Black in Fashion Council (BIFC), an organization launched in June 2020.
Co-founded by fashion journalist Lindsay Peoples Wagner and communications director Sandrine Charles, two important figures in the American fashion industry, this collective aims to promote and support black people working in fashion. “As a collective, we envision a world in which blacks in the fashion and beauty industry can speak freely about their issues, and in which their rights are guaranteed, equal, and their voices celebrated”, explained Lindsay Peoples Wagner, in the platform launch press release.
The CFDA was the first institution to commit to having the Black in Fashion Council recognized by the fashion industry. We support this initiative, which is needed today to promote diversity and inclusiveness ”, says Steven Kolb, CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
There were a lot of amazing brands a part of the showcase. But, Cise, Sammy B Designs, & Parbronte Laurent stood out to me.
The brand’s message speaks for itself, ” Protect Black Women”. Black women make up a large portion of today’s consumerism. So what better way to push such an important and relevant message forward than to blatantly yet fashionably place it on a beautiful handbag made from 100% leather. I’m down for anything that allows us to bravely and boldly showcase our importance in this society.
First off the designer of the brand says a lot. They are a representation of the brand’s identity. And Sammy B reps her brand well! Based out of Brooklyn, her passion for creating vibrant, expressive, yet clean-cut pieces is obvious. Her Aura was amazing and you can sense the appreciation she has for her Jamaican roots throughout her Spring/Summer collection. I loved hearing and seeing her explain the inspiration behind the brand. It was definitely a breath of fresh air.
This brand takes everyday women’s streetwear and turns it into lux, while still keeping its origin as the foundation for the style. I feel like Parbronte Laurent is definitely a brand that needs to be added to my closet. It’s following the trends of fast fashion but uses rich and neutral tones and of course better fabric to elevate the looks.
Avnu, founded by Nareasha Willis with another bold and powerful message. She displayed two main messages ” Ghetto until proven fashionable” and “Our skin is a target but we made it fashionable”, imprinted on shirts, jackets, and purses. Both, very true messages. A brand is not a brand without a message, especially during these times. And I’m particularly fond of this one. I also admired how Nareasha curated her event for the individuals she’s uplifting. Everyone looked good and brought nothing but amazing energy. We connected, congratulated, and danced the night away.
The colors, the prints, the overall design; Tasou definitely took athleisure to another level with this season’s fashion show. I should also mention that they actually had a runway show, which I greatly missed this year. So I appreciate them for that. Tasou- The Athletic Side of Us mission is to be the lifestyle brand that accommodates “fashion with the dynamic fluidity of life, and with the evolving, athletic nature of human beings and their ever-changing humanity” and they did just that. There was a look for every occasion, casual or formal, yet the looks stayed true to their athleisure aesthetic.
Other Shows
I attended a few other shows and events that weren’t black-owned. And I could be biased, but the black-owned events were by far my favorite, hence this post. Not to compare, but the other events just didn’t have the same creativity or flavor. I was also so thrilled to be able to be a part of and witness something so special.
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