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black designers February 17, 2022
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In The BLK gives us 3 emerging designers for NYFW

This past weekend’s inaugural IN THE BLK show powered by #ChangeFashion celebrated the AW22 collections of three emerging Black designers.

Some fashion shows care all about the glitz and glam but others truly embark on showcasing audiences with total works of art and look to truly #ChangeFashion.

House of Aama, Khiry, and Third Crown all debuted their works to guests such as Chanel Iman, Richie Shazam, Raquel Willis, Rashad Robinson, and Mayor Eric Adams.

mayor adams nyfw
Mayor Eric Adams photographed by Justin Hunte
in the blk
Guests at the In the BLK Runway NYFW show photographed by Justin Hunte
in the blk
Guests at the In the BLK Runway NYFW show photographed by Justin Hunte

The event was sponsored by UPS and Color of Change, a leading racial justice organization and the initiative looks to be the first of many more events in store for creators of color in the fashion industry.

Each brand weaved together their own narrative but all shared the same thread of pushing the boundaries of their previously shown pieces and allowing their inspirations to further blossom on the stage.

Overall the atmosphere in the crowd and runway felt more akin to an opera or three-act play with the models’ movements in complete synchronization with the music.

In The BLK presents Third Crown

Third Crown, led by husband and wife co-designers Kofi and Kristen Essel, kicked off the first act with their Edelsteen collection.

The brand found inspiration in Edelsteen which is derived from the South African language meaning “gemstone.”

The fashion house used the crystallized mineral as the vehicle for highlighting the majestic beauty found in nature, particularly through pieces that have historically been known for their healing properties.

In The BLK presents House of Aama and Khiry

The second act began with House of Aama, founded in 2015 by mother and daughter designer duo Rebecca Henry and Akua Shabaka.

Their collection entitled Heritage Bloodroot Collection – Into the Archives drew inspiration from the rare bloodroot herb with their timeless garments that evoke nostalgia from Southern Creole and African identities.  

Khiry, an Afrofuturist brand founded by Jameel Mohammed, concluded the show with last season’s debut pieces from his Fights Reveal Futilities collection.

The demi-fine jewelry brand evoked themes throughout the African Diaspora but reimagined with over 20 custom-made clean, sharp, and futuristic designs.

changefashion khiry
Khiry Runway photographed by Justin Hunte
emerging designers
Khiry Runway photographed by Justin Hunte

Just when you thought the show was over, Jameel and his models returned to the runway for a live staged music performance with Jameel providing the vocals that helped solidified an event for the ages.

One hell of a way to close out NYFW…

Needless to say, the entire vibe kept crescendoing higher and higher to a suspenseful end that left everyone on the edge of their seats.

We want to congratulate IMG, UPS, and Color of Change’s commitment to empowering and elevating Black fashion talent.

Let these moments from the In The BLK showcase serve as key examples of the necessity to empower black designers and we look forward to documenting future shows for the history books.

10K80 December 8, 2021
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What if Kyle Rittenhouse was a Black kid? A rare NFT collection keeps us woke

There is a rare NFT collection of black and white photographs now available on Voice.com entitled What if Kyle Rittenhouse Was A Black Kid?

The collections explore the contemporary black body as property of the state and how American superstructures are routinely given license to seek and destroy all forms of black militia ideology.  

The constitution was not written for us therefore how can we expect justice to occur on time. The founding fathers cemented law while 99.9% of us were only valued as livestock, properties of the state, or simply three-fifths of a person.

The images highlighted in the, What if Kyle Rittenhouse Was A Black Kid? rare NFT collection, seek to confront the reality that most of society, particularly the youth, are more accepting of guns in virtual reality despite fully grasping the reality of the physical consequences inherent in gun violence.

What if Kyle Rittenhouse Was A Black Kid? | Edition No. 1: $5000 USD (1-of-1)

rare nft collection
Photo Courtesy: @justdasuede

Click here to purchase

The subject is draped with the American flag as a gesture of Olympian heroism but the reality of a Black gun owner is far different than the glorification conveyed in these images.

Shawn Pridgen and I came together to collaborate on this uber-sensitive topic of gun control and violence because we felt a social responsibility as documentary artists to react to the blood spilling on the streets that had become reduced to live entertainment.

What if Kyle Rittenhouse Was A Black Kid? | Edition No. 2: $250 USD (10-of-10)

kyle rittenhouse black
Photo Courtesy: @justdasuede

Click here to purchase

We simply could not consume the typical news cycle that failed to genuinely address the generational pain that comes with state-sanctioned violence against Black people throughout the course of American history. 

With all that said, we drew inspiration from all forms of our life for the What if Kyle Rittenhouse Was A Black Kid? rare NFT collection.

Keep in mind, I had no experience even holding a gun before in my entire life. Gaming, television shows, and film have all taught me what it looks (and even to some degree feels) like to yield this weapon while Shawn’s father was once a weapons specialist.

What if Kyle Rittenhouse Was A Black Kid? | Edition No. 3: $5000 USD (1-of-1)

kyle rittenhouse black
Photo Courtesy: @justdasuede

Click here to purchase

So homie had no qualms about attacking the subject matter head-on and with full force.

Yet it all really came together organically when we spotted our gun specialist on-site rocking Black Panther drip so we had to put our money where our mouth and mint these incredible photographs so we can put a call to action for our audience and future supporters.

What if Kyle Rittenhouse Was A Black Kid? | Edition No. 4: $3,750 USD (2-of-2)

Photo Courtesy: @justdasuede

Click here to purchase

The charity component became a no-brainer for us as we knew that art and our Black community needed to intertwine together during these groundbreaking moments in American history.

We will pledge 30 percent of proceeds from the What if Kyle Rittenhouse Was A Black Kid? NFT collection to the following charities – Youth Over Guns and The Gathering For Justice.

What if Kyle Rittenhouse Was A Black Kid? | Edition No. 5: $500 USD (10-of-10)

rare nft collection
Photo Courtesy: @justdasuede

Click here to purchase

We have one goal in mind — raising awareness around gun violence, reigniting the black social conscious in the face of state-sanction violence, and securing the bag to protect our future generations with rich cultural wealth.

What if Kyle Rittenhouse Was A Black Kid? | Edition No. 6: $500 USD (66-of-66)

rare nft collection
Photo Courtesy: @justdasuede

Click here to purchase