In a 2013 interview with British Vogue, Stella Jean, a Haitian-Italian designer, activist, and a protégé to Giorgio Armani, had a message: "Fashion can be used as a cultural translator and a tool against colonization; it re-establishes the balance between symbols, stories, and different worlds through style." Years later at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests in the summer of 2020, this message gained new poignancy for fashion leaders.
For centuries, high fashion and haute couture have been shaped by Eurocentric beauty standards. But Black influence has been ever present if rarely acknowledged. From early pioneers whose work helped define the style and ethos of their time to today's trendsetters who set the standard for cool, Black artists, creators, influencers, and luminaries in the highest echelons of fashion deserve their flowers. This section of Black Ensemble: Fashion for the Culture looks back on the pioneers, models, designers, and thought leaders who form the foundation of luxury fashion today.
Read the full experience here.