5 Black Designers Doing It For The Culture

Nareasha Willis of Avenue N &The Black Vogue Movement

Nareasha Willis describes herself as a fashion activist. She is best known for her Black Vogue Movement. With the photo of her design, "Ghetto Until Proven Fashionable" during Paris Fashion Week going viral, she started a much needed conversation about cultural appropriation in the fashion world.

Nareasha created Avenue N in 2013 to showcase her street chic style. She also wanted to spotlight Black designers in the New Jersey area. Avenue N birthed the Black Vogue Movement, which is a social justice movement that seeks equity in the fashion industry. She said, "It inspired me to continue AVNU as a full fashion line that uses fashion as a tool to make political statements and spark controversial conversations that are long overdue."

We had a chance to chat with the up and coming designer and she is excited for what's to come in the new year. The New Jersey native told us, "I look forward to applying Dr. Amos Wilson's philosophy that 'we as a people cannot consume our way into equality, yet we must produce ourselves into equality'. I look forward to watching my people as well as myself continue to build more tables for us to sit at. As creatives, we have to produce more positive content of Black people to erase the stereotypes society has placed on us."

She went on to say, "My supporters should be excited for my work to come because I am elevating, not only [by] producing new items [but also] better content that celebrates our culture. My main goal is to convert commerce into conversations that lead to revolutions and solutions."

Kerby Jean-Raymond of Pyer Moss (pronounced Pierre)

The creative behind the heavyweight fashion house and luxury streetwear brand Pyer Moss is Kerby Jean-Raymond. The Brooklyn native attended The High School of Fashion Industries in Manhattan and during his time there, he acquired an apprenticeship under Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig at Marchesa. He also freelanced for Theory and Marc Jacobs.

This year, he especially brought the culture to the runway during the Spring/Summer 2019 show in September. I am sure you've seen the "Stop Calling 911 On The Culture" clothing. He created a set reminiscent of a backyard cookout with a gospel choir singing and politically conscious logos. We know that Kerby will continue to convey the Black experience to the world through fashion.

Nandi Madida

This South African beauty is a fashion designer, media personality, actress, and singer. At the tender age of four, Nandi Madida realized she was made for the spotlight as she was cast as the lead ballerina in a ballet. Nandi made her New York Fashion Week debut in February of 2018 with her "Colour" clothing line.

Composed of bold colors, patterns, and underlying theme of female power, Nandi brought feminine layers and fiery hues to this internationally known event. She managed to do it for the culture in a space that doesn't always welcome the African aesthetic. 2018 was her caterpillar year, so we can't wait to see this butterfly in 2019.

Romeo Hunte

Romeo Hunte is the master of details. He has always found delight in the creative ways to be fashionable as he grew up surrounded by such magical women. That desire led him to create designs for goddesses like Beyoncé and Zendaya. Even when he received athletic scholarships for college, he turned them down because he knew that his passion for fashion would be life-changing.

Romeo went from being a personal shopper to having his first collection noticed by Saks Fifth Avenue, among others. You can depend on Romeo for an aesthetic perfectly masculine and feminine. Romeo Hunte is elevated streetwear. He is definitely better than the hype and gives me so much life!

Kyemah McEntyre of Mind of Kye

Kyemah McEntyre is a firm believer that "You are the Universe. You are allowed to evolve into something that people weren't expecting."

She broke the internet in 2015 and became a sensation when her dashiki prom dress design was liked by thousands. Her fame led to her showing at Harlem Fashion Week and dressing THE Janet Jackson. Kye currently attends Parsons New School of Design in hopes of transforming her cultural history sensitivity into a place in the fashion society.

Kye told us, "This year, I'm looking forward to graduating from Parsons New School with my bachelors in Fashion Design and sharing my school thesis with my followers online. My work is always in transition, as it reflects the phases I go through on a personal level. I have to say this year, my work will go beyond just fashion and art. It will involve written works and an overall intertwine of multiple disciplines, to get the conversation started. I look forward to starting a podcast with my friend from Atlanta (who just graduated from the New School for Musical Theory), which will be a discourse around the condition of millennials. My work is a mix between politics and art and I'm really excited to share it with the world."