6 POC designers who deserve more recognition
Written by Jordan Murray
As discussions of racial diversity and equal opportunity came to the forefront in 2020 and 2021, they became prominent topics in the world of fashion.
There was a push for POC designers to gain recognition, and fashion media outlets began to cover and promote more POC designers. This was in an effort to encourage not only social diversity, but economic diversity in who you were purchasing from.
POC designers often connect their culture to the clothes and accessories they create, and it is important that we give them a platform to share their voices. Here are six POC designers to look out for:
Telfar Clemens is the Liberian-American fashion designer behind the clothing and accessories brand named after him, TELFAR. TELFAR is a unisex line that began in 2005 in New York City.
The brand is most known for its very popular “Shopping Bag” handbag that has blown up on social media. The bags sell out almost immediately after each new release or restock. Although they can be hard to track down, TELFAR is most definitely on an ongoing upward trend.
2. Sandy Liang
Parsons School of Design grad and native New Yorker Sandy Liang is the designer of clothing line and label “Sandy Liang.”
Liang’s clothes take inspiration from her Chinese grandmother. Her rise in the fashion community landed her on the 2018 Forbes 30 under 30 list. It was also recently announced that Liang will be bringing her designs to a collection for Target.
Brandon Blackwood is a Jamaican and Chinese New York designer. He launched his namesake handbag and accessory brand in 2015. Blackwood’s most popular bag, released in summer 2020, gained popularity on social media and read “End Systemic Racism.”
4. Carol Min
Carol Min is the Korean-American creator and designer of MAUBY. She started the clothing brand in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic.
MAUBY is a perfect brand for those who want comfort with sophistication. Their mission statement includes goals of giving back to communities and creating a wide range in sizing.
Bárbara Sánchez-Kane is a Mexican designer that uses her fashion to confront and challenge the traditional beliefs associated with mexicanidad.
Through her clothing brand, SÁNCHEZ-KANE, she examines and tackles mexicanidad’s connection to society's definitions of masculine and feminine. Her designs bring discussions of sexuality and gender expression into this arena.
6. Meera Albaba
Meera Albaba is the founder of Meera Adnan, a unisex Palestinian clothing brand based in Gaza City.
Meera Adnan creates a contrast between the violence in “the city under siege” and contemporary and classic garments.
The goal of Meera Adnan is to give Palestian expression and artistry a platform and a voice. The brand uses cultural influences from Gaza to create an amorous and reminiscent visual soliloquy.
Header photo by (Fernanda Garcia/Unsplash)
