Negris LeBrum Good Trouble Travis Hamilton, the Houston based creative director of the fashion collection Negris LeBrum took to the virtual runway to debut his effort for Spring 2021. The collection, begun over 6 months ago, was inspired by a phrase made iconic by the now passed social activist, Representative John Lewis, who made constant mention of the civil unrest as being “good trouble.” Little did Travis know that not only would the Civil Rights legend pass during his creative process, but the entire country would erupt in racial unrest as a result of several police brutality incidents. However, lest you think that Negris LeBrum is looking to capitalize on the situation that stole the headlines over the last 5 months, actually unseating the pandemic at the top of the news feeds, think again… When Travis founded the label Negris LeBrum some 11 years ago, he began with a series of t-shirts that made the statement of “Noir est Joli” (translated as ‘Black is Beautiful’) in the language of his Creole heritage. The conversations that have gripped our nation of late have been a part of his brand DNA since the company’s founding. “In so many ways, the news cycle came to Negris LeBrum this year, not the other way around,” says Travis Hamilton, Creative Director of Negris LeBrum. “Little did I know that my inspiration would find its way into the national news in such a major way! I set out to create a beautiful collection & pay homage to an iconic hero of mine & instead Negris LeBrum became a fashionable version of the national headlines!”
Negris LeBrum was indeed a real person. She was a fair skinned Creole woman who was considered lucky to be able to ‘pass’ as a white woman. When she fell in love & chose to marry a dark-skinned Black man, she found herself shunned by both the Black & White communities. Travis met Ms. LeBrum & was so inspired by her story that he asked her to allow him to name is collection as a tribute to her courage, ensuring her name would live on beyond her years. This dichotomy of injustice can be seen throughout the Negris LeBrum Spring 2021 collection. Track suits sitting alongside dressy career options & cocktail dresses walking along side feather light chiffon printed sundresses speak to the contrasts that exist on the streets of every town in the country. Wholly modern silhouettes are balanced with some throwback pieces that look to be pulled from the glory days of New York sportswear, the 80’s & 90’s & Tomato Red & Electric Blue are tamed with fashionable Black (remember… “Noir est joli”!) & an almost neutral Leopard pattern with the overall result being a mirror of society as a whole. We are a nation & world of contrasts & whether by intention or happenstance, what Travis Hamilton created for Spring 2021 is fashion’s answer… something for everybody, regardless of age, size, race, taste, or social class. Effortless options for an era where effort should be put elsewhere other than one’s closet.
KA WA KEY ‘There’s no place like home’ is the name of KA WA KEY SS21 collection, which is inspired by the designers' memories of their homes, homes in Hong Kong, Finland and London. Delicious food and sunset hitting the skyscrapers of Hong Kong, Nightless midsummer nights and old forests of Finland, the wonky houses and diverse streets of Dalston London. COVID-19 pandemic reformed what home means; the word home has so many “new” meanings. KA WA KEY NYMD & NYFW digital presentation short film is a collaborative project created by Filmmaker Fabrizio Eramo for KA WA KEY. KA WA KEY also created a small capsule collection in collaboration with Japanese fabric manufacturer TORAY using their sustainable fabrics. Finnish outdoors and natureinspired the capsule, it was created respecting simplistic and practical design language. KA WA KEY is a London-based gender-fluid label by design duo KEY CHOW and JARNO LEPPANEN. The designer duo reimagines traditional textile crafts using sustainable materials to rework everyday casualwear
Key graduated from the Royal College of Art in London with a Master’s degree in Fashion Menswear. He was nominated as one of the finalists at the H&M Design Award for his graduate collection, which was showcased in “DOUBLE JE” contemporary art exhibition in Palais de Tokyo in Paris. Finnish born Jarno has a cross-artistic background in theatre, performing arts and dance. He holds a Master’s degree in Arts. Jarno translates design duos unique design language into poetical visuals, films, performance and various projects. KA WA KEY are H&M Design Award Finalist, International Woolmark Prize 2018 semifinalist and Center of Fashion Enterprise Fashion Pioneer Program graduate and Royal College of Art’s Creative Brand accelerator programme.
RED HOT Photographer Anthony Josey (@ geniusworldmedia) Model: Sikira alexander (@sikiraalexa)
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COCKTAIL
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Model: Joslynn Bell @bruhitsjoslynn Photographer: Kelvin Phan @phan.foto MUA: Sally Alvarez @arkbeauty214 Wardrobe: Lassos and Lace @lassolace
RED BOOTS Model; Leah James Photographer; Anthony Josey Creative direction; Sterling Williams Lighting; Kyle Whint Equipment manager; Terrell Josey
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RED
PHOTOS BY CHRIS BAILEY MODEL LAKEISHA MOORE
WINE
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PEPPER PHOTOS BY BAILEY.IV MODEL COLLEEN CARERI MUA RAVEN
White jersey gold vinyl top with maroon offend Bellbottom pants by BAILEY.IV
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RED FOX MODEL ESSENCE PHOTOS BY BAILEY.IV The ideal of this photo shoot is to marry beauty photography with pop art. When I was a student in art school I was inspired by an artist named Roy Lichtenstein. Roy fox Liechtenstein was an American pop artist who came to fame in the 60s. His artwork popped off the pages due to its Funny pages way which was an homage to the comics. In the way I wanted to pay tribute to him my putting on a photo shoot and working with both of my talents. That is art and photography
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RED DREAMS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROMAN VAIL MODEL TAYLORD JAE
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Mua and Photographer:
Gabrielle Godino @godinomakeup Model: Emily Opper @emilyo2004
Dress: Studio L , Necklace: Artist’s own
Dress: Betsey Johnson Necklace: Banana Republic
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RED WOLF Photography by Chris Bailey Model Michelle Tautie
Red top and white embroidered Bellbottom pants by Bailey.IV
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RED FLAME The Element project is Collaborative project funded by photographer Damany Campbell and focuses on the oneness of human life and its connection to the planet where we live. Each element is represented visually and complimented by fashions that speak to those natures. Earth is the grounding element. It represents growth, nature, stability and strength. The water element represents compassion and flexibility, as well as the human tendency to adapt and change to the environment. Water can be strong and smooth even sharp stones. The element of air is represented by sky. In us and around us, it is often taken for granted. We can not see it—we can only feel it. It is the element of freedom. The final element is the element of fire. It is the warm of an embrace, it is the passion for creativity or simply just heat. As human beings we are connected to the earth in ways that are both obvious and intangible, and through that connection every aspect of its healing is our responsibility.
Photography by Damany Campbell Stylist Danielle Lozada Hair & makeup team Joel Montes Kendra Dennis Models Gabriella Saturria Zo Forde Taylor Stewart Chiki Uno
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