When The Chi While it touches on a variety of important topics related to breaking social norms and stereotypes for people of color, one notable way the Showtime series does this is through fashion, especially streetwear. Lena Waithe, creator of the show, said The Chi Meet up-and-coming fashion designers.
Rather than featuring lavish, big-name brands in character wardrobes, Waithe is on a mission to give others the chance to shine while working with wardrobe stylist Mercedes Cooke (pictured above). . In doing so, the show’s fashion serves a much larger conversation: not only does it look cool and fresh, but it’s a subtle way to amplify her POC, especially Black creatives, in our community through talent. is also important. hype bay Three designers and entrepreneurs, André Jones, Zhair Nixon, and Willien Capehart, talk about their experiences with design and brand featured in Season 5 of the show, and why this type of expression is so important in fashion and media. talked.
Jones, who founded Rabbit 3, a brand with a visually futuristic aesthetic, has elaborated on the important role black creatives play in society, which isn’t always properly appreciated. “It’s about doing the right thing,” he says. “Black culture is the epicenter of pop culture, but the Black community rarely gets the recognition it deserves.”
Most importantly, the focus on real talent rather than big shots leaves room for stimulation. “Seeing Lena selflessly reach out her hand to increase our visibility is hopeful,” Jones adds. “I hope you can achieve your ‘big break’. I hope that even if you end up in Hollywood, your people will come back for you. And that there are still good people in the world.” I hope that
Meanwhile, BLVCK SHEEP founder Nixon uses his designs to tell stories. “As an artist his slash his designer, I pride myself on being creative and original,” he said, adding, “I like incorporating meaningful messages and cultural knowledge into my clothes. it is,” he added. For example, one of his designs featured on the show is his Rise puffer coat, which he calls “The Sun Will Rise,” which provides warmth in multiple ways. “Be grateful that you wake up every day. We all go through different obstacles and experiences in life,” he explains. So we must cherish every moment, make memories with each other, stay healthy, and do what makes us happy.”
Phase CEO Cape Hart serves as an example of what fashion is often lacking. She is a streetwear woman, especially a black female designer. As her woman, she brings a unique approach to her own designs. “I tend to look at clothing from a gender-neutral perspective because I know it’s losing its importance in both streetwear and luxurywear,” she says. We’ve seen brands wear skirts on male models, and we’ve seen artists like Teyana Taylor often take a more masculine approach to her sense of style. As a black female designer, someone who expresses masculinity and designs clothes in that style, an opportunity like this is extremely rare.
Capehart reiterated the initiatives Waithe is taking and how they can pave the way for others. “It has allowed me and a few other black designers to step in the door,” she says. There are things you don’t always have, getting a lot of attention for your brand is one of the most difficult things to achieve as a new brand and this opportunity has been very helpful. Not only was it featured in the episode, but the brand was also tagged on several different occasions. and brown designer shows.
Check out Jones, Nixon, and Capehart designs in Season 5 of The Chicurrently streaming on Showtime, as well as in the Instagram post below.
These interviews have been condensed and edited for clarity.
