Today, the first day of February, marks the launch of Black History Month. To honor this important time of the year, we begin by celebrating the great American fashion designers who have shaped our industry.
CFDA tips its hat off to Arthur McGee, Jeffrey Banks, Tracy Reese, Byron Lars, Stephen Burrows, B Michael, Kevan Hall, Patrick Robinson, Carly Cushnie, Dapper Dan, Kerby Jean-Raymond, Aziza Braithwaite Bey, Monique Péan, Sean Combs, Liya Kebede, LaQuan Smith, Virgil Abloh, Venus Williams, Edward Wilkerson, Aurora James, Shayne Oliver, Maxwell Osborne, Telfar Clemens, and all the others who have and continue to influence the way women dress.
We also remember some of the talents who are gone but not forgotten: Willi Smith, Patrick Kelly, Ann Lowe, Scott Barrie, Wesley Tann, Jon Weston, and Zelda Wynn Valdes.
Please check back in throughout the month for CFDA.com interviews with designers, stylists, editors, and more as they discuss Black History Month, what it means to be black in our industry, and how we as an industry can move towards a more inclusive future.
America is a beautifully diverse country, and our industry should champion this on runways, within companies, and in every aspect of fashion.