In the midst of the Kavanaugh hearings, Jeremy Scott took the finale lap at his spring 2019 show in a t-shirt that urged viewers to “Tell Your Senator NO On Kavanaugh.” For his fall 2017 show, Christian Siriano sent a model down the runway in a shirt that read “People are People” set to Depeche Mode’s song of the same name. The week Harvey Weinstein was convicted of sexual assault and rape, Dior’s runway was peppered with signs like “Women Raise the Uprising” and “Consent.” If the fashion community has proven anything, it’s that it is willing to fight against inequality and social injustice. But what about the injustices plaguing its own industry, from the lack of Black representation on the runway to the lack of visibility and opportunities afforded to Black designers?
As the world grapples with the recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Ahmaud Arbery—Black humans who were targeted and discriminated against because of their skin color—now is as good a time as ever to pour dollars into the Black designers, creatives, and businesses who are often overlooked. A re-post is not enough. A hashtag is not enough. But a purchase goes a long way. Ahead, 36 Black-owned brands to shop from today, tomorrow, and forever.