Black Activism in the Fashion World
Being a black woman herself, Rihanna is all too aware of the systemic injustices that surround and impact her. Thus, using her power and influence, she has taken the initiative to aid those fighting for racial justice.
Pop culture icon and Savage X Fenty founder Rihanna wrote a heartfelt Instagram post voicing her profound sorrow at the murder of George Floyd. Rihanna also made sure to remind her audience of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, two other recent victims of racist police brutality. Being a black woman herself, Rihanna is all too aware of the systemic injustices that surround and impact her. Thus, using her power and influence, she has taken the initiative to aid those fighting for racial justice.
Soon after Rihanna poured her heart out to the public, Savage X Fenty’s Instagram announced the donation of the company's profits to Black Lives Matter Greater New York and Bail Project, the latter of which is currently focused on releasing imprisoned BLM protestors. Savage X Fenty concluded the Instagram post with the hashtag #PullUp, imploring customers to contribute and commit to the noble cause.
Savage X Fenty is the most prominent example of major fashion brands supporting the black community in such turbulent times. While skepticism of giant corporations’ commitment to combating oppression is understandable, mass awareness of racial injustice and financial backing from these companies are nonetheless imperative when black people’s lives and civil rights are in jeopardy. Kering, Banana Republic, and Gucci are donating to the NAACP and Campaign Zero, and ASAI has recreated Rihanna’s tie-dye dress, the price of which will be allocated towards Black Lives Matter, Solace Women Said, and The Voice of Domestic Workers.
Smaller fashion labels meaningfully contributed to black activism as well, with Susan Alexandra donating to black LGBTQ mental health services and ModCloth donating to Black Lives Matter while encouraging customers to do the same. Fashion businesses of all sizes are doing their part to enact social change, and it is truly inspiring to witness fellow human beings make efforts to protect one another.
Photo credit:
https://www.popsugar.com/fashion/fashion-brands-donating-black-lives-matter-47524266
Report: Nia Hunt
Brands Built off Black Culture are Really Quiet Right Now
Brands built off of black popularity and black pop culture should really have more to say than just a single post about recent events
It has been an insane week. Unforgettable and heartbreaking. We are living in the times when black people are being killed just for being black. Over the past couple of days we have seen thousands, millions around the country marching and protesting in the name of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and the countless names killed at the hands of the police. Now is when it is so important for our voices to be heard.
On social media you can’t help but see videos and photos of the last few days. You see people speaking out, sharing petitions, links to donate and where to organize for the next protest. What you also see or don’t are the brands getting behind the #BlackLivesMatter movement. It was the brands that did not speak out that got some attention, and it was because their brand has been built off of black people.
Brands like PrettyLittleThing (PLT) and Fashion Nova rely on their black followers and influencers to boost their products. You would think that they would be the first to speak up, right? PLT has been very active in the comment sections of every #VERZUZ battle on Instagram, but it was only on Saturday that they chose to share their thoughts on what has been happening. A now deleted tweet depicting a hand in hand drawing with “Stand together,” written underneath. See the deleted tweet below. Fashion Nova, has one post of George Floyd lost in the mix of all of their posts of a sale and products. I would think that a fashion brand that embedded themselves in black culture would have a bit more to say.
In a video posted from the protest in Atlanta, there were protesters looting in Gucci. The Italian fashion brand did not comment on the event, but on their instagram they shared a poem about racism. Cute, but not enough. First, it wasn’t even something with thought into it, I have seen that same photo of a poem everywhere on instagram. Second, the caption was just a mention of the poet. You can see the post down below. Lasty, Gucci is Gucci because of black people. The brand has been worn by countless black celebrities. And it can easily be said that it is because of black pop culture why Gucci is so popular. Can’t forget to mention the racist sweater Gucci tried to sell the world last year. Or how they blatantly copied Dapper Dan in 2017 and said it was “homage.” A brand whose rise to popularity in America by Black Americans needs to use their platform to speak up.
Brands with their lack of acknowledgement of the last week has taught me who and who not to buy from. There are more brands who had a lack of things to say or post, share them with us @accessreport and tell us your thoughts on this issue.
Report: Bria Ward
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.