The fashion industry’s efforts to improve its diversity has become more and more visible in recent decades. From Naomi Campbell’s meteoric rise in the Nineties, to Edward Enninful becoming the first black person to serve as editor-in-chief at British Vogue – to Virgil Abloh becoming Louis Vuitton’s first black creative director in 2018. It is no question that black creatives have been integral in shaping the fashion industry, yet quite rightly, many feel that there’s still a way to go before true equality is achieved.
In honour of Black History Month, we hear from designers Rainy Womack and Emile Vidal Carr, alongside fashion lecturer, Stefan Efobi, about the progress, legacy and provocations black creatives still face within the industry today. The legacy of black fashion “The history of black fashion is deeply intertwined with African heritage, cultural resilience, and the navigation of systemic barriers,” says Efobi, Lecturer in Fashion Design at Nottingham Trent University. “Historically, many black designers have used textiles as a medium for storytelling and its ability to tell new stories.
“In contemporary knitwear, designers like Grace Wales Bonner are infusing Black cultural narratives into knitted garments, merging craft with identity.” Bonner’s work often transports us back to historic cultural moments, such as her BA graduate collection that evoked 1970s Lagos. “The blend of historical references and luxurious materials reflects how black d.