Last year celebrity designer Telfar Clemons was featured as a designer to look out for. As a result, he is also discussed in this story about the top black designers.

We are weeks away from Black History month, and what better way to kick off some history. So it is important to talk about all the up and coming future legends of our time.

These designers are making money and history all at the same time. While they are working with some of the most influential people that we only dream about.

Kerby Jean-Raymond is a Haitian American fashion designer who is the founder of the menswear label Pyer Moss. According to Wikipedia,

In addition, Kerby Jean-Raymond first came into the spotlight for his presentation of Pyer Moss’ Spring 2016 Menswear Collection during New York Fashion Week. The show highlighted police brutality, referencing the Black Lives Matter movement through use of video, street art, and fashion.

Despite receiving backlash for his display, Jean-Raymond uses his platform promote positive social change. Jean-Raymond has made public comments about his experience as a teenage victim of driving while black

His brand, Pyer Moss, won the FGI Rising Star Award in the menswear category in 2014. Also in 2014, he was a finalist in the DHL Exported Prize presented by IMG Worldwide. He was recognized by the Forbes “30 Under 30” list in 2015. Jean-Raymond was featured on Cultured Magazine‘s fashion issue cover in April 2019.

Arturo Holmes/Mg21/Getty Images

Jason Rembert Aliette, is a New York-based stylist. His celebrity clientele includes John Boyega, Rita Ora, Issa Rae, Winnie Harlow, Michael B. Jordan and Odell Beckham JR., among others.

Jason Rembert

Aurora James, is a Canadian creative director, activist, and fashion designer. In 2013, she founded the fashion label Brother Vellies, with the goal of promoting traditional African design practices and techniques. In 2020, James founded the 15 Percent Pledge as a non-profit organization to support Black-owned businesses.

Brother Vellies

Fe Noel is a Brooklyn-based womenswear brand (and 2022 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist) that describes itself as inspired by the multifaceted woman who loves travel and embodies style. Led by Felisha Noel, the brand launched in 2011 and is often influenced by the designer’s Caribbean heritage, pride in femininity and the love of her close-knit family. 

Johnny NunezGetty Images

The Narrative Matters favorite designer Telfar Clemens, a Liberian-American fashion designer and the founder of the label Telfar. Clemens has won the 2017 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, the CFDA American Accessories 2019, and the CFDA American Accessories 2020.

Clemens won the 2017 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund along with a $400,000 prize, much of which he invested in the production of the Telfar Shopping Bag.

 Queerty named Telfar among the fifty heroes “leading the nation toward equality, acceptance, and dignity for all people”. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the first LGBTQ Pride parade. June, 2020.

In September 2020 Clemens won at CFDA again, this time the 2020 “American Accessories Designer of the Year” award.

 Alice Choi

This is the beginning of a series of stories that will lead into Black History Month.

Featured image by Vishal Banik

References:

https://www.wikipedia.org/

NYTimes