3 Black Fashion Designers You Need to Know
By Ayanna Williams
Have you been on the support Black businesses train lately? Yeah? Me too. If you're into bold pieces that are colorful, staples that showcase a sexy silhouette, or luxurious footwear that you can dress up or down? If so, let me put you on!
First up, we have Andrea Dumebi Iyamah. She’s a Nigerian fashion designer who started a clothing line called Andrea Iyamah in 2011. She was only 17 years old and balancing college life when she started the A.I. brand. Iyamah wanted to keep her brand authentic and reflect her African roots. Her designs are inspired by travel and nature, bold colors, modern femininity, retro classic silhouettes, and a contemporary edge that appeals to the A.I. woman who is an adventurer in spirit, mind, and style. Her latest collection is called ‘Resort 22’ and it includes dresses, tops, skirts, pants, jumpsuits, and bikinis that are perfect for your spring break vacation on a resort. She has been featured in Vogue, Forbes, InStyle, Huff Post, and more. Shop the ‘Resort 22’ collection at andreaiyamah.com to choose from pieces that are less than $400.
Next, we have Sergio Hudson from South Carolina. Hudson has been around since 2014, but last year he created a buzz on 2021 Inauguration Day. For those who missed it, he designed the infamous outfit that former First Lady, Michelle Obama wore. He always had a passion for Rock and Roll fashion, and he looked up to icons such as Gianni Versace and Grace Jones. He pursued his love for fashion by attending design school and becoming a participant in Bravo’s TV show called “Styled to Rock.” He gained the opportunity to work with celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Kelly Osbourne, and Pharrell Williams. Hudson’s brand consists of ready-to-wear collections that are tailored to perfection to showcase silhouette. When you put on his pieces you can expect to feel both elegant and classy. Check out his latest collection called ‘Collection 7’ at sergiohudson.com.
Last, but not least we have Aurora James from Toronto. Not only is she a woman of fashion, but she also has a background in journalism, photography, art, and music. She combined those interests and launched her fashion brand ‘Brother Vellies’ in 2013 to create one-of-a-kind pieces. Brother Vellies creates traditional African designs to keep those techniques alive. My favorite item is the ‘2020 Boot.’ The boot’s simplistic, yet powerful design of a yin yang symbol is such a good reflection of the year 2020 considering the unpredictable times of the pandemic. Her storefront is located on 71 Franklin Street in Brooklyn, NY and you can shop online at brothervellies.com.