Here Are 5 Black Designers Who Made Their Mark In Fashion
Black Designers to check out ASAP
The Black Lives Matter protests awakened America to the systematic racism that persists in many industries. Fashion is one of the biggest offenders, with Data USA research indicating that only 10.2% of designers are Black. In comparison, 56.4% are white and non-Hispanic, and 15.1% are Asian. Meanwhile, 86% of the workforce is female, but they get paid about $3,000 below the average yearly wage of fashion designers, and about $10,000 below the average salary of male designers.So it's clear that fashion has a diversity problem. Black designers have been ignored throughout history and it's time to put them front and center and celebrate their achievements in the industry. That being said, here are a few Black fashion designers that have made the community proud:
Telfar Clemenshttps://www.instagram.com/p/CRzZ4jblP6A/ Credit - @telfarglobal on InstagramTelfar Clemens started the Telfar brand in 2005, when he was still an undergraduate student at Pace University. He started a unisex label, taking inspiration from many of his friends whose clothing crossed gender lines. The brand’s slogan is “It’s not for you — it’s for everyone,” which describes its mass appeal. However, the brand’s signature piece came about after Clemens won the 2017 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award: the Telfar Shopping Bag, also called the “Bushwick Birkin.” This came in three sizes in more than 20 colors, and was reasonably priced. Because they sold out so quickly, Clemens had to open up pre-orders in order to anticipate the number of bags needed when he released the collections to the mass market.
William McIntoshhttps://www.instagram.com/p/CNj3UFlLZex/Credit - @william.mcintosh on InstagramWilliam McIntosh opened his first clothing store when he was 19-years-old. This mostly consisted of American urban wear and catered to teenagers. However, after being exposed to different cultures when he visited Los Angeles, New York City, and Miami, he decided to design his own line, which he describes as Caribbean street contemporary fashion. Through this revolutionary line, he aims to depict a streetwise and trendy adventurer, where McIntosh designs vibrant pieces for free-spirited individuals. His recent shirt line, Carnival Moon, pays homage to Carnival Mas, which was a big part of his childhood in Trinidad and Tobago.
Joanna Vanderpuijehttps://www.instagram.com/p/CPqApX7AC_V/ Credit - @joannavanderpuije on InstagramJoanna Vanderpuije is a London-based designer that has worked for big names like Alexander McQueen and Jonathan Saunders. She started her own brand in 2017, where she now specializes in screen-printed fashion. She draws inspiration from her Afro-Caribbean heritage, and uses handmade African batiks prints for her bags. Everything she makes is hand printed and/or hand painted in accordance with her ethos for slow fashion. She also uses eco pigments and vegetable tanned leather.
Wilson Smith IIIhttps://www.instagram.com/p/CJkSSJ5rmtx/Credit - @sneakernews on InstagramSmith is an architecture graduate, but soon found himself designing footwear instead of buildings. He was first hired as an assistant in Nike’s corporate architecture department. Later on, he followed his mentor into footwear design, where he would eventually become known for various sneaker models. This designer spotlight piece on Wilson Smith III discusses how he became involved in different aspects of design—from retail, graphics, and architecture to footwear and apparel. He co-designed the Air Jordan XVI and XVII and also developed products for big names, such as Serena Williams and Roger Federer. Smith made the Air Max Uptempo, which was advertised as having the most Nike Air cushioning the company has ever produced. In 2018, he became the first African-American to receive the Lawrence Medal, University of Oregon School of Art + Design’s highest honor.
Kimora Lee Simmonshttps://www.instagram.com/p/CCUWhJfn6e9/Credit - @babyphat on InstagramFamous model Kimora Lee Simmons was known as Chanel’s muse. But in 1999, she created Baby Phat to redefine women’s streetwear fashion. The brand’s emergence also happened around the same time as hip hop burst onto the scene. Baby Phat clothing produced tailored and fitted men’s streetwear. In addition, the brand added its own feminine dynamic to it. And although the brand disappeared in the early 2010s, Simmons relaunched it in 2019 and has opened a new beauty line as well.