Supporting Black-owned fashion brands
Seven businesses to know as you upgrade your wardrobe for summer style and substance
A look from Cushnie’s current collection.
AAKS
Growing up in Ghana gave Akosua Afriyie-Kumi a bright and energetic sensibility that she infuses into her luxury accessories. Her colour-soaked bags immediately elicit an “OMG, where is that from?” reaction. AAKS designs are handcrafted in Ghana using traditional weaving techniques and provide jobs for local artisans — sustainability at its finest.
“Being able to connect with individuals around the world due to the work I’m doing in Ghana is very inspiring,” she says.
Brother Vellies
After a life-changing trip to Morocco, Toronto’s Aurora James was so inspired by local artisans that she felt she had to share the joy of African artistry with the world. Brother Vellies, her contemporary collection of dreamy bags and shoes, is both sustainable and ethically produced, creating jobs for local creatives in Kenya and Ethiopia. In 2015, shortly after the brand’s inception, James won the coveted CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award, and since then her signature furry footwear has been worn by fellow boss ladies Eva Chen, Anna Wintour and, yes, Beyoncé Knowles.
Cushnie
If you haven’t heard about bomb brand Cushnie yet, let us introduce you. British-Jamaican designer Carly Cushnie is a woman of international sophistication. With a breadth of internships at Donna Karan, Proenza Schouler and Oscar de la Renta already under her belt, the Parsons fashion school alum started her modern womenswear label in 2008. Known for her form-fitting, bold esthetic, Cushnie’s designs boast an impressive fan base ranging from Rihanna to Michelle Obama.
Fe Noel
Brooklyn-based Grenadian designer Felisha Noel launched her label, Fe Noel, nine years ago with a goal to shift the Eurocentric narrative of beauty. With a penchant for vibrant colours, prints and diverse casting, Noel’s resort-inspired collections are influenced by travel and her Caribbean heritage. Her designs are seriously cool, so much so that she was tapped to design LeBron James’s first women’s sneaker for Nike, the HFX x LeBron 16. Talk about slammin’ dunks.
Pretty Denim
Tahnee Lloyd-Smith’s high-end denim line was inspired by her fashionable surroundings.
“I had an incredibly stylish grandmother,” shares the Torontonian. “Clothing was always considered really important in my family, but in a healthy way.” After stints as a stylist, LloydSmith founded her line in 2018 in order to fill a gap in the market for sophisticated, dressed-up denim. Her creations put emphasis on tailoring and feature unexpected details like ruffles, sequins and quilting. Even the lionhead-stamped buttons have been carefully considered.
Andrea Iyamah If you’re looking for a statement swimsuit to wow at your next seaside soirée, look no further than Andrea Iyamah. The Canadian-Nigerian swimwear line is chock-full of flattering silhouettes that never shy away from a vibrant colour situation. Launched in 2011, the brand is strongly influenced by designer Dumebi Iyamah’s African heritage. The focus is on celebrating diversity while dressing women to look their boldest. Iyamah has also designed a stunning ready-towear collection, taking you from the pool to the streets with ease.
Hanifa Anifa Mvuemba is the brilliant Congolese designer behind the contemporary Hanifa, a line dedicated to dressing women of colour. Known for her exciting use of colour, the line is also sizeinclusive, ranging from size 0-20 and worn by superstars like Cardi B and Ciara. But you may have already heard about Hanifa, considering the brand went viral after debuting its latest collection via Instagram Live on 3-D models — an innovative pivot in the wake of stayat-home orders. Or maybe you saw one of the Mvuemba’s flawless dresses make a cameo on Issa Rae’s Insecure. Either way, do yourself a favour and hit “Follow.”