Cushnie's Goodbye

The effects of a nationwide quarantine have devastated the fashion label Cushnie to the point at which its closure was made official in late October. The tragic end to one of the rare high-fashion brands in America helmed by a black woman brings into question the industry's promises to employ more racially diverse talent.

Even eponymous owner Carly Cushnie herself began as a co-founder alongside Michelle Ochs before the latter’s departure in 2018. As her solo career flourished, she remained vocal about how influential positions in the fashion industry are almost entirely occupied by white men. Devoted to her morals to the very end, Cushnie vowed to continue fighting for racial equity in the next stage of her profession.

The dissolution of Cushnie begs the question of when the next black female designer will rise to such eminence, if at all. Major fashion labels have implemented programs that will provide more opportunities for creators of color, and the efficacy of these changes will be determined in part by the success of future black female designers.

Photo Credits: Vogue

Report: Nia Hunt