KNOW WHAT TO SAY WHEN THEY ASK "SO, WHO'S YOUR FAVORITE (BLACK) DESIGNER??": A BLACK LUXURY DIRECTORY HAS BEEN UPDATED

CURATED BY SHARRA GREENE

As promised, I’ve updated my black luxury directory after an inspiring time at New York Fashion week, witnessing the raw talent that’s evident in the black luxury marketplace. Read more to see who’s been added!

I know I’m not the only one who’s ever witnessed a cringey convo where someone is talking all this and that about how much they looove fashion but when asked who their favorite designer is, they get to stuttering, scratching their heads and avoiding the question. I don’t want this to be you!

As a black woman stylist, I think it’s so important that when having conversations about fashion and culture, we know just as much about today’s hidden gems within the black luxury marketplace as we do about the mainstream luxury fashion houses that have been around for centuries. Respectfully, there’s more to designer than Gucci and Michael Kors… I’ve curated a list of some of my favorite working black designers of today, some you may already know and some you may not. Read up and enjoy!

ANDREA IYAMAH

I originally learned of Nigerian designer Andrea Iyamah back in 2016, and have since fallen in love with her brand’s eclectic and vibrant aesthetic. Originally known for making amazing swimwear, the Andrea Iyamah brand now covers even more ground in the resort wear space, creating gorgeous collections full of effortlessly sultry silhouettes, luxe fabrics, and stand out prints that often pay homage to African culture, all ideal for the ultimate stylista’s vaycay. Shop andreaiyamah.com. | @andreaiyamah

ROMEO HUNTE

Image source: @romeohunte

When you think Romeo Hunte, think minimalist streetwear, turned up a notch… or two. The Brooklyn born and raised designer specializes in taking the most practical articles of clothing and making them more refined, more sophisticated, and then adding in some edge. Perhaps most known for his unique take on outerwear, the designer’s luxurious fur jackets, tailored blazers, and voluminous coats can be spotted on the likes of Zendaya, James Harden, Queen Bey, and so many more. Shop romeohunte.com | @romeohunte

SERGIO HUDSON

And now for my current ABSOLUTE FAVORITE designer in the industry right now, the iconic Sergio Hudson. You may have just gotten hip to Sergio’s work when our former and forever reigning first lady Michelle Obama shut down the inaugural in a head to toe burgundy Sergio Hudson ensemble. I truly believe that prior to that major moment, Sergio Hudson had been one of the most slept on designers of our time, but IYKYK.

Sergio’s ability to cater to the female form while creating cohesive collections that are timeless and distinctive, yet reminiscent of some of our culture’s most memorable style icons ,reminds me that glamour and femininity within today’s fashion scene are still very much alive and well. In fact, his latest SS22 collection, a “Return to Glamour” has inspired many influential fashion figures to start celebrating life by getting dressed again, after a long life of leisure wear due to the worldwide quarantine. Shop sergiohudson.com | @sergiohudson

LAQUAN SMITH

And of course, I couldn’t leave out another one of my top 3 in black luxury designers. I’ve been following LaQuan Smith since way back… before many major media outlets refused to acknowledge his genius and I had to look high and low on the internet just for a simple collection review. Now one of the brands of choice for celebs and tastemakers alike, you can catch your fav public figures like Cardi B and Lizzo stepping out in a sexy bodysuit, motor pants, or a sexy sheer gown by the beloved LaQuan.

His avid eye for statement making details and just knowing how the modern woman likes to showcase her curves has brought him to the forefront of fashion. He’s another one of the few luxury designers responsible for keeping glamour and feminine sensuality alive through style. Laquan Smith’s latest SS22 offering at NYFW revealed a new partnership with sportswear brand Puma, shifting the looks to a more simplified approach that’s still sexy with a hint of streetwear influence. Shop laquansmith.com | @laquan_smith

MAH - JING WONG

Image source: @mahjingwong

As I mentioned in my Fashion Week recap, Mah-Jing is one of my favorite Project Runway veterans. I had the pleasure of viewing his latest collection in person at the Fashion Bomb Daily show a few weeks back, and through witnessing his precision of cuts and his use of quality fabrics, I had to add him to this list. MJW mixes the colorful, cheery playfulness of the Japanese fashion scene with sexy, bold silhouettes, resulting in a well-balanced, modern and luxurious look for the bold and confident woman. Shop mahjingwong.com | @mahjingwong

& SO MANY MORE…

Scroll through the rest of the images below to discover more of today’s black designer labels.

Let me know in the comments which designers you plan on supporting this season!

More posts making their way to you very soon! Make sure you’re subscribed here so you’ll never miss one!

Sharra,

“The definition of walking art.”

SHARRA'S NEW YORK FASHION WEEK SEPTEMBER 2021 RECAP: WITNESSING THE INNOVATIVE SHOWCASING OF MINORITY VOICES WITHIN FASHION

WRITTEN BY SHARRA GREENE

September is the January in fashion. It brings new trends, new concepts, and most importantly, change on every level.

Whenever I attend New York Fashion week, particularly in September, I’m always looking to see what new change is being represented on the runway, cutting through the noise and helping to transform what we wear and how we live. With Fashion Bomb Daily’s first official runway show on the September Fashion Week calendar, this change was not hard to find.

Fashion Bomb Daily has been my favorite fashion site since I was 12 years old. I remember abandoning my homework to scroll through endless content on my laptop, and always being inspired by how trailblazer and FBD founder & CEO Claire Sulmers created a hub specifically for the minority voices in fashion. When they announced their first annual #NYFW show, I had to be there because I knew I’d be witnessing a new platform being born that would catapult the black and minority voices to the forefront of the conversation, right where we belong. I was not at all disappointed.

WHAT I WORE

The show’s dress code was “Bet on Black”, so naturally I wanted my outfit to focus on black brands. My top is from House of Chic LA, my skirt is by Broken Land, and my bag is a Brandon Blackwood. (My shoes are from Public Desire). My soft glam makeup look is by @carmensartistry. Hit her up if you’re in the Manhattan area!

After getting some shots of my look with my photographer Monica Krystel Rose, I headed down the block to the The Sixth Floor Loft on Broadway in NYC for the show.

THE SHOW

The event brought out countless fashion figures & celebs from Rome Flynn to Sevyn Streeter, Jayda Cheaves, Dreamdoll, Ty Hunter, and so many more to witness a runway show that primarily highlighted the work of Black and Asian designer brands, an underrepresented group that often starts the trends that trickle up into the world of high fashion, and then gets excluded from the topic as if their influence never existed.

This is why I had to be apart of this. I always say, the more adversity, the more hungry and creative you tend to be. Just as I thought, I witnessed unique looks that explored innovative design techniques from 3D printing, to genius draping and mixing of textures, high level couture work, and so much more.

Image source: @taylar.chanell

After an amazing introduction by the lovely Bevy Smith, the show opened with Oyemwen giving us structured, tulle adorned pieces that were juxtaposed with blazer dresses and sharp cutouts, in their “back to business” collection that celebrated the return to getting dressed after a long pandemic of sweats.

Designer London Couture followed up with showstopping luxury gowns, adorned in feathers and luxurious fabrics, and designer Bree Billiter gave us an oceanic, ethereal showcase. (Check out my recap reel here for videos of my fave looks)

Image Source: Fashion Bomb Daily

Following the first show, Claire gave us a #convoswithclaire moment, featuring mini interviews with model & RHWOA star Cynthia Bailey, designer Shane Justin, & more.

I passed time in between shows by talking and taking selfies with the queen herself, Claire Sulmers, chopping it up with new friends, (I met a bomb style posse from ATL that I hung out with for the majority of the show, and making connections with showroom owners and other professionals.

My new boo, brand owner and Sheen Magazine contributor Taylar Chanell. Follow her @taylar.chanell!

Image source: Fashion Bomb Daily

The shows picked back up with designer Khang Le serving us the most eye catching 3D printed patterns and rich textures on luxe gowns and suit sets. I was OBSESSED. He was probably my fave show of the day.

Image source: Fashion Bomb Daily

Shane Justin gave us a true couture moment with his new line of sultry, sheer and embellished handcrafted gowns that he completed in 3 days! I was definitely impressed.

Image source: Fashion Bomb Daily

Mah Jing Wong, one of my fave Project Runway veterans, closed the show with an epic 80’s inspired moment. Co designer & influencer Stacie Wo gave us a commanding runway moment in a matching MJW set & bomber jacket, that garnered praise from the entire audience!

The show ended with a performance from music group JNA. I left the show feeling inspired, and most importantly, seen and acknowledged as a fellow black creative in fashion. Claire and her Fashion Bomb Daily team are curating a movement that is so necessary and needed in order to cement our legacy as black professionals in fashion.

If you know me, you know how much I love Eunice Walker Johnson, the founder and curator of Ebony Fashion Fair, a trailblazing annual exhibition that took place for decades, highlighting black designers, models, and behind the scenes pros alike. While I wasn’t born when Ebony Fashion Fair was around, watching Claire navigate her first fashion week event, reminded me of that very same legacy and mission that Eunice Walker Johnson carried out, one of unapologetic repping for the creative genius that she saw in her people, and that she was determined to bring to the forefront.

I can’t wait for the next NYFW. While this particular time was a quick stop by, I plan on staying multiple days next time! Which looks are your fave? Let me know in the comments!

Sharra,

“Empowering her evolution through style.”

5 MAJOR WAYS THE FASHION INDUSTRY HAS SHIFTED IN THE PAST DECADE

WRITTEN BY SHARRA GREENE

The chaotic and ever-changing fashion industry has withstood some major culture shifts within the past 10 years. It’s crazy to think that ideas and trends that were once greatly frowned upon, have become the most celebrated and glamourized, & vice versa.

As an active fashion creative, sometimes, I like to just take a moment to observe the industry that I’m in from a more objective standpoint to adjust and adapt my methods accordingly. While pondering the topic recently, I realized that while change is to be expected (it’s what keeps the fashion industry going), we’ve witnessed some huge culture-shifting patterns among creators & consumers alike that may never be reversed; some for the better, and some for the worse. Here are a few of the ways the world of fashion just may be forever changed…

STYLE & CHARACTER OVER QUALITY

Gone are the days where one must be draped in luxury from head to toe in order to be looked at as a style authority. As I stated in my blog post on “The Evolution of the Handbag”, we can now find our fave celeb stylistas unapologetically flaunting a look for less from a fast-fashion retailer.

While the luxury market is still booming, it is a lot more common now to find a mix of high and low fashion within someone’s outfit choice. In fact, due to the nature of social media, & how we document what we’re wearing through frequent selfies & #OOTD posts, you’ll find that many of us care less about whether our favorite ankle booties are made from genuine or faux leather, and more about the boldness of color, print, or overall shock value.

EMBRACING LOWER QUALITY FABRICATION

“Is that polyester? No, thank you.” - said no millenial ever. This one goes hand in hand with the change above. While poly blends and synthetic fabrics were once a thing that almost every fashion lover of a certain tax bracket aimed to avoid, we can now see people being less afraid to mix it up when it comes to the materials their clothing is made of.

Don’t get me wrong, while there are some who still demand their blouse is made of pure silk or linen (some have allergies to certain materials and some simply only want genuine fabrics in their closet), the younger generation is often more concerned with how much it costs and how many ways they can layer or restyle it to increase wear value. When’s the last time you’ve caught someone complaining that their favorite shirt isn’t made of 100% cotton?

CONSUMERS HOLDING BRANDS ACCOUNTABLE FOR SHOWCASING DIVERSE TYPES OF BEAUTY

This has been the most prominent and obvious change yet. Remember when season after season, a designer could fill a runway with 50+ models, none of them being Black, Asian, Hispanic, or of any other minority group, and no one would say anything about it? Well, fortunately, that time is over. Many are speaking up, and revoking their brand loyalty when they see no change.

Consumers have longed for decades to have the ads and promotional content that are targeting them, feature people who look, well, like them.. This demand from consumers extends beyond race and includes size & gender and while many brands have unfortunately responded by offering us one “token black girl” or one plus-size model every few seasons,it has been refreshing and rewarding to watch a versatile range of looks being pushed to the forefront, even if we had to disrupt tradition to see it.

KNOCKOFFS TRICKLING UP

There was a time when if you spotted a popular design, you instantly knew which designer house conceived the item first, and what lower end brand was knocking it off. However, with today’s streetwear and couture worlds constantly intertwining, as well as consumers following a mix of well-known brands and smaller owned start ups, it’s becoming almost impossible to always know who is copying who. One thing we do know though, is that knockoffs now go both ways. Countless major fashion corporations have been called out for knocking off some of the most innovative and resourceful independent designers.

Unfortuanately, many major brands are able to get away with stealing the designs of independent designers. The main reasons for this include micro brands and startups not affording a team in their budget to take proper legal action, as well as bigger brands having the ability to produce a design and bring it to market quicker than an independent designer could, due to their ownership of factories and larger staff.

THOSE WHO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES OF FASHION BEING PUSHED TO THE FOREFRONT

When I first began to pursue styling, I enjoyed the concept of being lowkey, and working exclusively  behind the scenes to bring a vision to life. As the industry has shifted, I’ve been pushed to acknowledge that I will sometimes be the face and voice (check out my podcast here) of my own brand.

While there was once a time when our fave style icons remained a well-kept secret and we barely knew the names and faces of who dressed who, social media has opened the door and allowed us to discover, celebrate and acknowledge the accomplishments of image consultants, makeup artists, and creative directors more out in the open. Many of the public figures we look up to have no problem tagging the team who helped put them together for an event, or day to day activities. In fact, it’s almost always expected.  

Which major shift most impacts your life as it relates to fashion? Let me know in the comments!

Sharra,

“Empowering her evolution through style.”