BLK N FSHN

Telfar skyrocketed to the status of the It bag of 2020 and continues to sell out immediately after the launch of a new collection. The bags have been seen on names as big as Solange, Gigi Hadid, Demi Lovato, ASAP Ferg, Oprah, and Beyonce - but did you know this It bag was created by a queer, Black designer based in New York City? In this episode, I’ll discuss the origins of the Telfar bag, the designer behind its creation, and how this brand is able to democratize the idea of luxury fashion through both style and accessibility.  

Justin Haynes is the founder and CEO of RTW fashion brand JUS10H. Justin launched his brand after leaving a successful career in retail and hasn't looked back since. Over the last decade, JUS10H has shown collections internationally, been featured in several major publications, and has even been adorned by some big names in entertainment.  This week, Justin and I discuss his jump from retail to fashion design, his experience building a RTW brand outside of a major fashion capital, and the importance of mentorship in a creative industry. For more information on Justin and the JUS10H brand, please visit jus10h.com or follow the brand on Instagram @theofficialjus10h.

On July 10, 2021, Pyer Moss premiered their couture collection, returning to the runway after a two-year hiatus. This collection, titled “What U Iz”, brought the creativity and innovation of Black inventors to the forefront of a society where their contributions are oftentimes more overlooked than not. Creative Director, Kerby Jean-Raymond, also made history as the first Black American designer to show during Couture week. For this episode, I'll discuss the 5 reasons why this show has proven itself unforgettable. 

This week I interviewed Nicola Watson, the founder of Le Fashion Lab, based in Atlanta, GA. Nicola created Le Fashion Lab to provide students of all ages with hands-on, technical skills and business savvy needed to launch their own careers in fashion design. During this interview, we discuss the inspiration behind Le Fashion Lab, Nicola's background in fashion design, and common misconceptions about starting a career in fashion.  **This interview was conducted pre-COVID, so no COVID updates are included in this interview. Please visit lefashionlab.com for more info.

Its been nearly one year since Beyoncé dropped the epic visual album Black is King as a companion to the 2019 soundtrack for The Lion King remake. The music, choreography, and visuals were unforgettable, but many also agree that the fashion took center stage in this production. For this week’s episode, I was able to connect with one of the talented designers whose pieces were featured in this amazing project.  Timeekah Murphy is the founder of the Alani Taylor brand and co-founder of Déviant La Vie, both of which were featured in the music videos for Bigger and Spirit and played a huge part Timeekah’s growth as both a streetwear and high fashion designer. During this interview, we’ll talk about her unique military background, how she discovered her passion for fashion design, and of course, her experience designing for Queen B herself. You can learn more about Timeekah and Alani Taylor at alanitaylor.com or follow the brand on Instagram @alanitaylorco. 

Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter was the first Black person to ever win the Oscar for Best Costume Design for her work on Ryan Coogler’s Marvel superhero film Black Panther (2018). Prior to this win, she’d previously been nominated for her work on Amistad (‘97) and Malcolm X (‘92). She’s also credited for films such as School Daze (‘88), Do the Right Thing (‘89), What’s Love Got to Do with It (‘93), B*A*P*S (‘97), Love & Basketball (‘00), and Selma (‘14) just to name a few. In December 2020, SCAD FASH (Atlanta) partnered with Carter to launch her premier exhibition, entitled 'Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design.'  For this week’s episode, I discuss the exhibition with the Director of SCAD FASH Exhibitions and Co-Curator for this exhibit, Rafael Gomes. Learn more about the exhibit and SCAD FASH at scadfash.org

You may know Elaine Welteroth as one of the co-hosts on CBS The Talk or as a New York Times Bestselling Author, but did you also know that she was the first Black Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue and only the second Black EIC in Conde Nast history? Under her leadership, she increased Teen Vogue’s coverage of politics and social justice, encouraged readers to become civically engaged, and developed the magazine’s first YouTube channel, featuring content on diverse subjects from campus-style to cultural appropriation. Check out this week’s episode of BLK N FSHN as I profile this young mogul in the making.

On April 5, 2021 Banana Republic announced a collaboration with Los Angeles-based designer, Prep Curry, in a dual-gender capsule collection. This self-taught designer is best known for his bold use of color and print, with floral being a key signature pattern. For the season premiere of BLK N FSHN, I interviewed Prep Curry where we discussed his incredible journey which led him to this collaboration with one of the world’s largest fashion retailers.

...and we're back! Here's a quick update BLK N FSHN and where I've been. 

Many brands have jumped onto the performative allyship bandwagon with posts proclaiming Black Lives Matter despite histories of discriminatory, micro-aggressive acts within their own businesses. These brands include, but are not limited to, Reformation, Anthropologie, and Ferragamo just to name a few. Luckily, many of these brands are being called out by former employees of color for their blatant hypocrisy.    This week I was able to connect with former Zimmermann intern, Desiree Celestin, as she shares her experience interning for the global, Boho fashion label. Desiree was reposted on @diet_prada when she left a damning comment under Zimmermann's #BlackLivesMatter post on IG. This week, she shares her first-hand experience as an intern for this brand, why she left the internship, and the response she received for her speaking out.   You may follow Desiree and her business on Instagram @desireejcelestin and @lpdshoppe.