Telfar Clemens’s designs are conceptual. His approach to fashion is one of art imitating life – as in his life.

He’s the rave party you anxiously wait hours in line for to experience. His Telfar fashion shows –  models, mayhem, and standing room only – awe with excitement and revelry!

The LeFrak City, Queens native has no interest in conformity or in defining his vision. What you see is what you get: fluid, anatomized, and non-binary, all intentionally so. The self-taught designer and 2017 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner has over a decade in the business under his belt, and though he is well-known to New York’s downtown scene, he’s kept himself largely under the radar until recently.

Clemens reminds us all what it means to be open to life’s endless possibilities – without judgment, progressive, and, just like his fashion, moving forward.

Editor’s Note: In honor of Black History Month, we highlight some of the most influential forces in fashion, in no specific order. Their impact on the culture is undeniable – and we use this time to tip our hats off to their Black excellence.