Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers

Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers

Written by Kathryn Andes


Even Though February is the start of Black History Month, we love to support these up and coming Black designers every day. The fashion industry has historically been an exclusive space especially for Black and BIPOC designers. Thankfully in the last few years, high fashion has become a more inclusive place for designers, photographers, models, and creatives. Models such as Winnie Harlow, Precious Lee, Jari Jones, Naomi Chin Wing, and Saffi Karina have represented Black women in fashion shows from major fashion houses such as Dior, Givenchy, Chanel, Miu Miu, and Calvin Klien. Additionally, Black designers such as Virgil Abloh, Olivier Rousteing, and Kimora Lee Simmons have carved a path for others to follow. 

1. Edvin Thompson of Theophilio 

Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers
Source: grazia.com


Edvin Thompson is the creative director and founder of Theophilio, a contemporary clothing brand based in Brooklyn, NY. His designs draw inspiration from his youth in Kingston, Jamaica and his new experiences in New York City. His international influences are what makes Thompson’s designs stand out from other NYC based brands. He incorporates his native Jamaican colors like bright gold and dark green in his designs, paying homage to his heritage, while mixing modern elements in, making a fresh creative crossover. 

Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers
Source: theophilio.com

2. Carly Cushnie of Cushnie

Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers

Source: popsugar.com 

Carly Cushnie is a New York based creative director and fashion designer. She is best known for her Ready-to-Wear collection CUSHNIE worn by celebrities such as Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Zendaya, Ava Duvernay, Rihanna, and Ashley Graham. Some of her classic design elements include artful tailoring and feminine drapery, making CUSHNIE a beloved brand by many influential women. Cushnie herself has received many awards such as the Forbes 30 under 30 in 2017. She was the first black female nominee for the Council of Fashion Designers of America Swarovski Award in 2013. And in 2019 Carly Cushnie was appointed to the CFDA Board of Directors.

Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers
Source: Twitter.com

3. Heron Preston 

Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers
Source: goat.com

Heron Preston is an artist, creative director, content creator, fashion designer and DJ who gained popularity among celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Hailey Bieber. Preston worked with other black designers such as Virgil Abloh. After working in the fashion industry he became an advocate for sustainability. Preston collaborated with the NYC Department of Sanitation on a collection of zero-waste clothing and accessories that sold out immediately following its launch in 2016. 

Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers
Source: Twitter.com

4. Hussein Suleiman, Jefferson Osei, and Abderrahmane Trabsini of the Daily Paper

Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers
Source: cosmopolitan.com
In 2008 childhood friends Hussein Suleiman, Jefferson Osei, and Abderrahmane Trabsini initially created Daily Paper as a blog, and in 2012 the trio ventured into fashion design, with a very successful collection of Ready-To-Wear pieces for men and women. Daily Paper offers timeless designs inspired by African culture, quickly becoming a household name in Europe. The up and coming brand has become popular among Gen Z on Instagram, with over 470K followers.
Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers
Source: dailypaperclothing.com

5. LaQuan Smith

Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers
Source: Laquansmith.com
After being denied from Parsons School of Design, Smith carved his own space in the fashion world and created his own LLC where he designed leggings. His distinctive work sparked interest among fashion moguls including Beyonce, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Kim Kardashian, all of whom were early supporters of Smith and his work. Since his brand officially launched in 2013 he made the Forbes 30 under 30 list, he became an official ambassador to Moët & Chandon, and sold out his line during the pandemic.
Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers
Source: Twitter.com

6. Christopher John Rogers 

Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers
Source: SCAD.com


Louisiana born designer, Christopher John Rogers, has made a name for himself with his designs featuring bright colors, bold prints and mixed textures. He graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2016 and launched his CJR brand. Now at just 28, he has dressed iconic women such as Michelle Obama, Cardi B, Rihanna, Tracee Ellis Ross, Gabrielle Union, Tessa Thompson, and Lizzo. 

Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers
Source: Google Images

7Tracy Reese 

Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers
Source: fastcompany.com
American fashion designer Tracy Reese specializes in women's Ready-To-Wear clothing, accessories, and home fashions such as linens. Her modern bohemian clothing brand, Hope For Flowers, features women’s dresses, tops, bottoms, jackets, and a resort line. Her namesake brand is known for its retro-inspired styles and floral patterns. Her designers have been worn by legends like Regina King and Michelle Obama.
Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers
Source: Google Images

8. Telfar Clemmens 

Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers
Source: financialtimes.com
It’s no secret that the most popular handbag among Gen Z in 2022 was the Telfar shopping tote. Pace University graduate and CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award recipient, Telfar Clemens has quickly gained recognition in the fashion community. The esteemed designer offers a variety of handbags, wallets, unisex apparel, shoes and accessories. Since gaining widespread notability, Telfar has collaborated with major name brands such as Ugg, Moose Knuckles, Converse and more.
Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers
Source: pagesix.com

9. Johnel Jamison of Johnny Nelson Jewelry 

Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers
Source: linkedin.com


Founded in 2017, the Johnny Nelson Jewelry line has made a name for itself in New York City and beyond. Jamison’s jewelry designs pay homage to historical legends like writers, activists, and singer songwriters. One of his most beloved designs is the Let Freedom Ring piece, inspired by Mt. Rushmore which features the faces of four Black idols, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey and Frederick Douglass. Johnel Jamison is one of the key designers in what is being called the Black Renaissance, and we are here to support him and his groundbreaking designs. 

Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers

Source: CNN.com

10. Brandon Blackwood

Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers
Source: thenewyorktimes.com


Brooklyn born designer, Brandon Blackwood, became a “cult favorite” thanks to his End Systemic Racism tote bag that went viral in 2020. The iconic bag is made with recycled leather, featuring brass plating that states, “End Systemic Racism”. Not only does the brand support social justice and equality for all, they are also zero waste when producing their leather products. The brand currently offers bags, outerwear, shoes, and accessories, but we can’t wait to see what else Blackwood has in store for the future.  

Celebrate Black History Month With These Up & Coming Black Designers
Source: Google Images

Celebrate Black History Month by supporting these up and coming designers and educating yourself on the Black-American history and the Black experience in America. See more Black designers that helped shape the fashion industry here. And follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. 


Sources: 

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/g33312113/black-fashion-designers/ 


https://hypebeast.com/2022/2/emerging-black-fashion-designers-theophilio-maximilian-head-of-state-info-black-history-month 


https://www.whowhatwear.com/black-designers/slide26 


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