I want to say "Thank you" #BoFVoices for having this panel and while I love Tim Blanks (I've been a fan since Fashion File) - I have to say that as an alumni of FIT ('98) and a African-American woman I was a bit disappointed by this "talk". I think this panel could have benefited from a more diverse range of voices or a change in the topic's title. I rarely even bother to comment on any social media posts and I have been out of the industry for quite some time but this one hits pretty close to home for me. "Street fashion" and "basics", while both play significant roles in "American Fashion", they are far from the only contributions that African Americans have made (and are still making) to it. I appreciate not wanting to be labelled solely a "black designer" just as Black fashion is not the only aspect of "American Fashion", but I was surprised that there was no mention of Lawrence Steele, Tracy Reese, Gordon Henderson, Preston Heron, Carly Cushnie, Victor Glemaud, Telfar, Maxwell Osborne from Public School or even Shayne Oliver. And while I love Bethann Hardison, with all my heart, I'm really tired of ONLY talking about the Battle of Versailles and Steven Burrows. Yes, these were pivotal moments in fashion, but that's almost like only talking about Jackie Robinson or Althea Gibson and never mentioning Michael Jordon or Serena Williams. Why have we stopped talking about Jeffrey Banks, Fabrice, Byron Lars, Patrick Kelly, Willi Smith and Ann Lowe? It's difficult to have a conversation about our future without any real understanding of our past. I would have loved to have heard from other members of the industry like Michael Roberts, Robin Givhan, Constance CR White, Shiona Turini or Bonnie Morrison. I know scheduling guests for panels can be challenging but I hope the BOF can continue to include panels like this in the future. It would also be nice to see a panel about Asian Designers or even Britain's own "black" fashion history/scene. One almost never hears anything about Oswald Boateng (post Givenchy) or Duro Olowu or Wales Bonner and what ever happen to their predecessors? The only name I can even recall is Bruce Oldfield.
Thank YOU for this history lesson, and for including the names of designers of color I have not heard of before. You gave me delightful homework!! Blessings..
I love this so much! I used to hate in architecture school when an African American organization tried to "define" black architecture. They called it "blackitecture" and used pyramids as examples. It made me sooo angry. 😡 Therefore I was not considered to be a woke black architect in the 90s. I'm so glad to see this conversation taking place in fashion. We need more conversations like this.
Kerby is deserving of a round of applause for the way he spoke to the industry’s inclusion of black and non black people of color for profit. As capitalism always has. In an industry founded on acceptance, it’s easy to misconstrue inclusion with equality.
After the Elle Germany magazine cover I just felt the need to come back to this video and say that Kerby called it and people were acting like he was mad. They fully treated black people as a trend.
I am SO honored, happy and proud to hear this discussion with the Goddess, Bethan Hardison, who turned out Versailles in 1973, and the brilliant young designers who have "created their own lane" in this business of fashion! Stay in that lane my dears, it looks SO GOOD!! This is from 2018??? Thank you SO MUCH for posting!!
I want to say "Thank you" #BoFVoices for having this panel and while I love Tim Blanks (I've been a fan since Fashion File) - I have to say that as an alumni of FIT ('98) and a African-American woman I was a bit disappointed by this "talk". I think this panel could have benefited from a more diverse range of voices or a change in the topic's title.
I rarely even bother to comment on any social media posts and I have been out of the industry for quite some time but this one hits pretty close to home for me.
"Street fashion" and "basics", while both play significant roles in "American Fashion", they are far from the only contributions that African Americans have made (and are still making) to it.
I appreciate not wanting to be labelled solely a "black designer" just as Black fashion is not the only aspect of "American Fashion", but I was surprised that there was no mention of Lawrence Steele, Tracy Reese, Gordon Henderson, Preston Heron, Carly Cushnie, Victor Glemaud, Telfar, Maxwell Osborne from Public School or even Shayne Oliver.
And while I love Bethann Hardison, with all my heart, I'm really tired of ONLY talking about the Battle of Versailles and Steven Burrows. Yes, these were pivotal moments in fashion, but that's almost like only talking about Jackie Robinson or Althea Gibson and never mentioning Michael Jordon or Serena Williams.
Why have we stopped talking about Jeffrey Banks, Fabrice, Byron Lars, Patrick Kelly, Willi Smith and Ann Lowe? It's difficult to have a conversation about our future without any real understanding of our past.
I would have loved to have heard from other members of the industry like Michael Roberts, Robin Givhan, Constance CR White, Shiona Turini or Bonnie Morrison.
I know scheduling guests for panels can be challenging but I hope the BOF can continue to include panels like this in the future.
It would also be nice to see a panel about Asian Designers or even Britain's own "black" fashion history/scene. One almost never hears anything about Oswald Boateng (post Givenchy) or Duro Olowu or Wales Bonner and what ever happen to their predecessors? The only name I can even recall is Bruce Oldfield.
Thank YOU for this history lesson, and for including the names of designers of color I have not heard of before. You gave me delightful homework!! Blessings..
@@1sdubois Glad to share. If we don't tell our own stories who will?
Thank you for this comment! I appreciate you so much for this!
Thank you very much 🙌
I love this so much! I used to hate in architecture school when an African American organization tried to "define" black architecture. They called it "blackitecture" and used pyramids as examples. It made me sooo angry. 😡 Therefore I was not considered to be a woke black architect in the 90s. I'm so glad to see this conversation taking place in fashion. We need more conversations like this.
Kerby is deserving of a round of applause for the way he spoke to the industry’s inclusion of black and non black people of color for profit. As capitalism always has. In an industry founded on acceptance, it’s easy to misconstrue inclusion with equality.
Bethan Hardison is a legend!
After the Elle Germany magazine cover I just felt the need to come back to this video and say that Kerby called it and people were acting like he was mad.
They fully treated black people as a trend.
Thanks for this
Bethann presents herself with high class, love everything she said.
Thank you for this TALK. This is time for US.
I just loved this talk. Loved it.
#mizizi they are making all young fashion conscious black Americans find their roots and origins
YES!!!🙌🏿 I'm out of Dallas & I've seen it from the start, it's beautiful.
I am SO honored, happy and proud to hear this discussion with the Goddess, Bethan Hardison, who turned out Versailles in 1973, and the brilliant young designers who have "created their own lane" in this business of fashion! Stay in that lane my dears, it looks SO GOOD!! This is from 2018??? Thank you SO MUCH for posting!!
TALK TO EM KIRBY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love you 4ever,
U looking good,my old SoulCHA.
Much love to u ,love you.p.S. Axel from Vienna maass
And now I’m 2023 ALL THESE DESIGNERS ARE ALL GONE and FUCKED UP THE BAG ( dramatic cough Kirby)
Tim Blanks a certified weirdo