This season’s New York Fashion Week debuted Fall 2016 collections from some of the best designers in the fashion industry, but what makes this year’s whirlwind of looks from all across the nation a lot different, is that there were more designers of color to recognize.
This couldn’t be a much better time to showcase a diverse array of influencers during NYFW because it’s also a celebration of Black History Month! More frequently we are all seeing the fashion dynamic change, as there are more Black models prevalent on the runways. Not only that, more Black designers are taking the stage to give their unique approach of fashion looks that address political messages and and ethnic appeal.
There is still room for high-fashion Black designers to emerge on the grounds of NYFW, but for now these are the Fall Fashion Labels and Designers who made a statement within their designs only giving a boost of hope for more designers of color to come forward with originality. These five Black fashion designers from Fall 2016 menswear to womenswear killed it, and it was an unforgettable experience that shouldn’t go unnoticed!
Starting with: 1.) Kanye West Yeezy Season 3 collection that took place on Feb. 11, at Madison Square Garden, NY. It was streamed live via Tidal and Yeezy also played his unreleased “T.L.O.P” (The Life Of Pablo) album to start the show. It was an anticipated show as Ye kept his Twitter followers on board with what’s to come. A-list celebrities came through, from designers to rappers and even Editor And Chief Of Vogue, Anna Wintour was in the building, a long with the Kardashian Klan. Ye had strict rules for his models, as some may detect part of his inspiration came from refugee camps. Models had to stand still from all angles of the main stage. To top it off, high-fashion model Naomi Campbell was front row in center with the models dressed in Fall color palette looks, cropped jackets, skin-tone body suits and pointed toe women booties, along with the new Yeezy 750 and 350 Boosts with some displaying soft abstract prints.
2.) Rihanna teaming up with Puma last year, was the start of a fresh new journey for the Barbados singer, and it seems as though her work with the sporty label won’t diminish anytime soon. As creative director of Puma, Rihanna launched her collaboration collection called Fenty x Puma for Fall 2016 womenswear, and it spoke of nothing but goth, grunge and chic throughout the collection. It was brilliant for her persona, as the collection carried a sporty approach, it still was filled with sexy, body hugging looks and oversized furs. The models makeup made a statement too, as Rih had their hair slicked back with a top coat of white dye combed through, and black lipstick to make the look even more seductive and goth-like.
3.) Designer Kerby Jean-Raymond of fashion label, Pyer Moss had no care in the world to what people may think, as his models for his Fall 2016 menswear collection dictated issues surrounding depression in the Black community. The show took place at Milk Studios and Indie-soul artist, Erykah Badu, played a part as a stylist for the entire collection. The 28-year-old designer’s line was full of emotion on what millennials during the social media era go through in their day to day lives when it comes to indulging on drugs, activities and the feeling of being accepted. Pins ironically displayed on cop-style hats featured drug slang like, “Lean” and “Molly,” with also the jackets, sweatshirts and picket signs reading “My Demons Won Today” or “You Don’t Have Any Friends in L.A!” Overall the looks were amazingly structured from top to bottom, with a layering appeal and endless furs, leathers and stripes were recognized.
4.) Maxwell Osborne and his partner in crime Dao-Yi Chow, are basically two designers from two separate backgrounds colliding together. Osborne as the head designer for Public School, released their Fall 2016 line with inspiration from old movies giving off a “Wild Wild West” 70’s Bronx New Yorker ego. Deviantly dressed, the models are sporting messy hair, beanie caps, and layered and distressed clothing with a smokey eye look to top it all off! The collection also embodied a lot of hardware only to attract an androgynous, yet grungy appeal showing a lot of attitude that most New Yorkers give off almost intentionally!
5.) Last but not least, Shayne Oliver of designer line, Hood By Air Fall 2016 collection was also an approach to the bad-ass New Yorker! After traveling to other countries before returning home, Oliver used what he saw in other iconic areas to proceed with his “contradictory” designs, almost feeling as though you’re apart of the matrix! It’s cutting edge (no-pun intended), as some of the looks are a bit oversized, yet form a sharp-edged structured style. It’s very raw, and caters to only dark colors like red and black with only some hues of white involved too. Oliver gives the designs such a relaxed layering fit to some of the looks that it looks as though the clothes are nearly dragging on the floor. For the collections headwear, the models are wearing tight fitted caps as the women’s models rock their natural big hair. There’s is also a lot of leather and bondage-like imagery being captured as well.
TSR Intern: Charise W.
Instagram: @planet_reese
http://video.vogue.com/watch/hood-by-air-fall-2016-ready-to-wear-runway-backstage
http://video.vogue.com/watch/public-school-fall-2016-ready-to-wear-runway-backstage
http://video.vogue.com/watch/fenty-puma-rihanna-fall-2016-ready-to-wear-runway-backstage
Pyer Moss Fall Menswear 2016 Show: https://youtu.be/y9i0-IkUrOw
http://video.vogue.com/watch/yeezy-season-3-kanye-west-kim-kardashian-west-new-york-fashion-week
