More Than A Purse: These Black Designers Are Sending A Powerful Statement
As black voices are being amplified exponentially, we are discovering more talented creatives who have made it their business to leave their mark on the world. The conversation around black lives, dreams, opportunities, jobs and so much more seems different this time. Thanks to Big Rona, the world has had no other option than to sit still and take heed. Now, I would rather not be amid a global pandemic and civil unrest at the same damn time but sometimes divine intervention is what it takes.
Without coronavirus, we wouldn't have a better sense of community, insane appreciation for essential workers, reduced carbon emissions, along with a slew of other benefits. Relatedly, I have treasured the amount of exposure of dope black folk that the stillness has ushered in.
Social media — a gift and a curse — has forced many black creatives to pivot by producing more relevant messages. In turn, consumers can support the amazing work of black artists, especially when the content is supreme. Many fashion designers have become more innovative using their platforms to convey their messages. And the fashion industry can be such a vigorous realm to maneuver because it has failed the black culture. From racial disparities to appropriation, the fashion industry doesn't always love us like they love our culture.
We had the opportunity to speak with two handbag designers who are sending real messages through their work. Ahead, find out what it means to be a black designer in this climate, their "why" and what inspired their latest creations.
Brandon Blackwood
Photo Courtesy of Brandon Blackwood
Owner/Founder of Brandon Blackwood New York
Brooklyn, New York
Jamaican-American designer Brandon Blackwood created his namesake brand in the spring of 2015. The four-piece collection of leather handbags was a passion project after completing school at Bard College. His leather handbags have been rocked by the likes of Solange, Zoe Kravitz, Keke Palmer, and Lupita Nyong'o. From Vogue to ELLE to WWD, Brandon Blackwood New York has the propensity to have the next cult-like following.
What inspired your handbag?
I was inspired by the recents events of 2020 leading up to the current protests around the world. The unjust killings of so many POC really triggered me (and pretty much every black person on this planet). I wanted to find a way to use my abilities and audience to facilitate some type of change. I figured the best thing to do was make a bag that had a strong message, almost like an act of self-defense against all of the hate. I also wanted to make an item that would provide long-standing financial aid to a charity fighting the bigger fight. I think that's why I chose The Lawyers Committee For Civil Rights Under Law. Pro-bono legal aid/council to fight civil rights cases and issues aligned perfectly with the climate and immediate needs of the people.
Photo Courtesy of Brandon Blackwood
How does it feel to be black designer right now?
It's a blessing and a curse. I think the majority of black-owned businesses have definitely seen a spike in overall sales. We're finally being sought after, after years of being on the back burner and not getting deserved recognition. Though it's been great building a new audience, it does feel a bit strange.
I don't want attention from people or companies to fulfill some performative fantasy. I want to be respected for the work I put in and for the things I create.
The spotlight is finally shifting towards us, and we're getting the voice and validation we deserve. But I think it's also important that we protect our gifts, and realize that though the majority are celebrating us, some may just be filling a void.
What do you want to achieve through your work?
To be 100% honest, I don't have one specific goal. Short-term, I want to raise as much money for The Lawyers Committee as I can. I really want this specific bag to make an impact and help change lives. I want to spread the word. Long-term, I would love to see more designers take on projects like this. To be able to inspire even more change, more missions, and more people speaking up would probably be the ultimate goal.
Blake Van Putten
Photo Courtesy of Blake Van Putten
CEO & Product Developer at CISE
Los Angeles, CA
CISE, a clothing line, located in Los Angeles, seeks to spread an inspirational message to the community through their bold prints and messages. "CISE's team of experts pooled talent and resources together to create unique products which depict the struggle and showcases the hopes of the less-privileged society in and outside the country. CISE store came to life and we launched our very first initiative for the masses: 'Protect Black People'."
What inspired your handbag?
I'm inspired and driven to create. Leather goods and luxury items have always interested me because they are seen as "timeless". While I was working on Wall Street for over three years, all the executives had their staple pieces that they've kept in their wardrobe for decades and that's the impact I want to have on other people. Whenever I create anything in life, I want to invoke emotion that causes permanent and positive change. I wanted to introduce a timeless item at an affordable rate that people will NEED to keep it in their day to day closet.
Photo Courtesy of Blake Van Putten
How does it feel to be black designer right now?
Being a black designer right now is like playing a never-ending game of Monopoly — you never will know if you've won or lost. I feel like I've spent so much of my energy just trying to rebalance with everything going on that it gives the mind a huge creativity block.
Every day I feel as if we are reliving and trying to be OK with the traumas that we've endured and are expected to continue working and creating.
It's hard, but these pressures are what makes diamonds.
What do you want to achieve through your work?
I want to be able to strengthen the black dollar by creating a community of creatives and designers that are passionate about their craft. Every time I sell out of my products, I have a new accomplishment, or even just celebrate, I'm happy because that means I'm one step closer to bringing my tribe with me. Currently, I'm helping 12 brands with their product development and merchandising, in hopes that they can grow and avoid the mistakes I've made.
Featured image Courtesy of Brandon Blackwood
Joce Blake is a womanist who loves fashion, Beyonce and Hot Cheetos. The sophistiratchet enthusiast is based in Brooklyn, NY but has southern belle roots as she was born and raised in Memphis, TN. Keep up with her on Instagram @joce_blake and on Twitter @SaraJessicaBee.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Why We'll Probably Never Hear Lupita Nyong'o Share Her Relationship With The World
Lupita Nyong'o is sharing a transparent look into her life after a recent breakup.
In a cover story for NET-A-PORTER, the A Quiet Place: Day One star shed light on the significant heartbreak she experienced following the end of her relationship with ex-boyfriend and TV host, Selema Masekela.
As a public figure, Nyong'o, 39, sought to divulge the news of the breakup in hopes of presenting a more authentic perspective on the pain that follows a separation.
"I was living in a lot of pain and heartbreak," she told the publication. "I looked at the environment of my social media and thought I don’t want to be a part of this illusion that everything is always coming up roses. Surely there is a lesson for me to learn in this, and I just want to be real about it."
The Black Panther star went on to explain that her choice to be transparent with her fans about her breakup came from the certainty she felt after ending the relationship. “In my mind, when I shared my relationship status with the world, it was because I felt sure about it,” she said.
While she didn’t know how the news would land with her fans, she found relief in knowing she wasn’t alone in her experience.
“I knew how it could be interpreted; I knew it would have a life of its own,” she reflects. “But then I started to see the comments and people were being so loving and supportive. The ones that moved me the most were other people sharing their pain and their heartbreak.”
Nyong'o and Masekela went Instagram official in December 2022, publicly announcing their relationship in a couple's video. In October 2023, Nyong'o took to her personal Instagram account to share the news of her breakup in her caption, writing, "At this moment, it is necessary for me to share a personal truth and publicly dissociate myself from someone I can no longer trust.”
She continued the vulnerable note, "I find myself in a season of heartbreak because of a love suddenly and devastatingly extinguished by deception. I am tempted to run into the shadows and hide, only to return to the light when I have regained my strength enough for me to say, 'Whatever, my life is better this way.' But I am reminded that the magnitude of the pain I am feeling is equal to the measure of my capacity for love."
These days, Nyong'o tells NET-A-PORTER that she is prioritizing profound self-discovery that extends beyond her career. She notes having a deliberate and unhurried approach to understanding herself.
She also alludes to keeping her relationships private moving forward after noting it was "very, very sage" of her not to talk about her private life professionally in the days before her last relationship. "I'm going back to those days by the way," Nyong'o shares of her reinstated boundaries around her personal life.
Earlier this month, Nyong'o made headlines alongside her new boyfriend actor Joshua Jackson. Nyong'o and Jackson went through public splits from their respective SOs in October 2023, with the latter splitting from his long-time partner Jodie Turner-Smith following her divorce filing from the Dawson's Creek alum.
The pair have been spotted together as early as December 2023, but nothing screamed "couple" quite as loudly as their recent getaway to Mexico for Nyong'o's 41st birthday featuring passionate displays of affection.
"Our purpose in life is to love. And so you have to get back in it," she tells the outlet, seemingly alluding to her budding new romance.
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Featured image by Taylor Hill/Getty Images