Prabal Gurung is the Fashion Designer We Need During These Times
Today, influential people are held to a higher standard of how to respond to crises. The money and power they possess are crucial in turning the tide in fighting for justice. Some called to action include fashion designers, who now have to adjust not only to the ongoing pandemic, but to recent racist incidents shedding light on the fashion industry. A designer contributing to the cause is Prabal Gurung, who for years has actively included diversity and pushed for more Asian representation in fashion.
Recently on Instagram, Gurung detailed how his brand “posted, donated, signed petitions, marched in protests, spoken on panels, and shared important resources.” In light of George Floyd’s murder and the uprising of the Black Lives Matter, it was announced June 3 that the brand’s former collection, “Stronger in Colour,” will be getting a revival. With options including a t-shirt for $95 and a hoodie for $175, it was revealed that 100% of the proceeds from the collection would be given to The Bail Project, a non-profit dedicated to fighting the disproportional rates of Black people being mass incarcerated. In addition, Gurung contributed to the “Define American’s Black + Gold Forum” that focused on the relationship between the Black and Asian community. Sometime during the pandemic, he and The COVID Foundation donated 2,000 N95 respirator masks to the health industry. Gurung took into account that the masks were delivered to the Brooklyn Hospital, Elmhurst Hospital, and Metropolitan Hospital Center, as they were in areas of marginalized communities affected the most. Continuing his efforts, Gurung has also given to the new collective, All Americans, designed to help out underserved communities affected by the Coronavirus.
Singapore-born and Nepalese-raised, Gurung has admitted that he was not as educated to the ongoing racism experienced by the Black community. It wasn’t until he moved to America that he was exposed to a racist system that negatively impacted people of color. In response his brand, conceived in 2009, has and continues to fight for equal representation into the fashion industry. Gurung’s runway shows gained attention over the years due in part to the casting, as it’s considered one of the most diverse ranges to ever appear on a runway. He received further praise when he employed an all-Asian cast for a “Stronger in Colour” campaign. Pivotal in breaking down Asian stereotypes, he also drew inspiration from key female figures of Asian history. These included the Gulabi Gang, Indian female vigilantes against violence, and even the very own Nepalese women during his upbringing.
As more brands adjust to a more sustainable and activist platform, Gurung believes now is a time in which everyone should look into their ethics and see what is not working. A crucial part to New York City, he is actively figuring out how to evolve the fashion industry into a more conscious, social-driven cause.
Photo Credit: Town and Country Magazine, The Zoe Report, Fashionista.
Report: Charlene Piccio
At the rise of Covid-19 many of us first questioned the timeline of fashion week and would we see the regular calendar continue - the question weighed over many of us for months! It was refreshing to see design houses and designers across the globe take advantage of the uncertainty and plow into production mode - thus my interest in Jerri Reid New York - The Black Designer based in Brooklyn New York wow’d instagram with his latest collection paying homage to the Black Is King film which debuted earlier this year in July. I was taken aback at quick of a turn round the young designer produced and released his well crafted designs reflecting some of the films most memorable moments.