Fashion designer Kerby Jean-Raymond never ceases to amaze us.
At this year's New York Fashion Week, the Pyer Moss show broke new ground by representing a wide variety of black people and paying tribute to black history simultaneously.
Elle Magazine reports the show was held in the historic Brooklyn black neighborhood of Weeksville. In 1838, a prominent black community leader, James Weeks, established one of the first free communities for black people in the nation.
Jean-Raymond has always made a statement with his fashion. In years prior, the designer has commented on police brutality, systematic injustice and black mental health. This year, he designed an "Every N***a Is A Star" belt for Insecure star Issa Rae, that she wore proudly during her historic hosting gig at the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Awards.
His 2019 collection was inspired by the Green Book, which gave black drivers safe destinations, during the Jim Crow era.
"It got me starting to imagine what the African-American experience would look like without the constant threat of racism," he said.
He has partnered up with New York artist Derrick Adams to commission 10 paintings that hammer home his message. Models decked out with FUBU logos, protest slogans calling out white folks that call police on black people and other messages were also seen on some of the designs.
Watch this important piece of black fashion history! The closing walk of @pyermoss’ #NYFW show!
A black choir sings from a porch “I can feel his spirt” while the parade of black (only) models walk by! ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/gSqvgpbyli
— Shelby Ivey Christie (@bronze_bombSHEL) September 9, 2018
Jean-Raymond lived near the historic neighborhood and was inspired by its significance. So, this was a dream come true, he told the Hollywood Reporter.
"I grew up about 5 minutes away from here, and it was always my dream to bring it back, but I never felt like I was big enough and had the pull."
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