A model walks the runway at the Telfar fashon show during New York Fashion Week on Sept. 8, 2016, in New York City. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Telfar
It is fashion week in the big city! It is a time for fashionistas, and celebrities, to see and be seen—come through, front-row fashion week seats!
Advertisement
By now you've heard that the Yeezy season 4 show has come and gone (though not so well); we're rooting for you, Ye. There's always next year.
All jokes aside, being a fashion designer (one who meticulously creates a line of clothing—sometimes, even by hand) takes an immense amount of creativity, vision and discipline. So, yeah, creating a haute look—one worthy of the New York Fashion Week runway—isn't easy.
Allow us to introduce you to five black designers who made it to the mother of all fashion weeks. They are our NYFW 2016 "Fab Five": Carly Cushnie, Cushnie Et Ochos; Shayne Oliver, Hood by Air; Kerby Jean-Raymond, Pyer Moss; Telfar Clemens, Telfar; and Lamine Kouyaté, Xuly.Bët.
Check out some of our NYFW 2016 Fab Five designers' work (note, some of the clothing in the slideshow is from previous seasons):
Felice León is multimedia editor at The Root.
A model rocks Hood by Air in New York, February 2016 Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows
Advertisement
In a trick shot using multiple exposures, a model looks head over heels in Hood by Air, February 2016, New York Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Making a statement: A model walks the runway wearing Pyer Moss in New York, February 2016. Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images
Advertisement
Standing tall: model in Pyer Moss, New York, February 2016 Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images
Striking a pose in Pyer Moss in New York, September 2015 Fernando Leon/Getty Images for Pyer Moss
Advertisement
Looking “haute” in Pyer Moss in New York, September 2015 Fernando Leon/Getty Images for Pyer Moss
In formation: Models walk down the runway in Pyer Moss, New York, September 2015 Fernando Leon/Getty Images for Pyer Moss
Advertisement
Man with a plan: Fashion designer Kerby Jean-Raymond of Pyer Moss in New York, Sept. 11, 2016 Mireya Acierto/Getty Images
A model walks the runway in Telfar in New York, Sept. 8, 2016. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Telfar
Advertisement
Going green in Telfar in New York, Sept. 8, 2016 Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Telfar
Looking swimmingly in Telfar in New York, Sept. 8, 2016 Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Telfar
Advertisement
Walking the runway in Telfar Sept. 8, 2016, in New York Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Telfar
Baring a little skin for Hood by Air, New York, September 2015 Joe Kohen/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows
Advertisement
Gracing the runway in Telfar Sept. 8, 2016, New York Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Telfar
What's in a name? Telfar designer Telfar Clemens in New York, Feb. 16, 2016 Mireya Acierto/Getty Images
Advertisement
In your face in Xuly.Bët, New York, February 2016 Randy Brooke/WireImage
Looking under the hood in Xuly.Bët in New York, February 2016 Randy Brooke/WireImage
Advertisement
Owning the runway in Xuly.Bët in New York, February 2016 Randy Brooke/WireImage
Cool moves in Xuly.Bët, New York, February 2016 Randy Brooke/WireImage
Advertisement
Man of the hour: Xuly.Bët designer Lamine Kouyaté waves from the runway during his fashion show in New York, Feb. 17, 2016. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows
Gliding down the catwalk in Hood by Air, New York, September 2015 Joe Kohen/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows
Advertisement
Hood by Air designer Shayne Oliver in Paris, June 28, 2015 Vanni Bassetti/Getty Images
Modeling Cushnie Et Ochs in New York, September 2015 Joe Kohen/Getty Images
Advertisement
Commanding the catwalk in Cushnie Et Ochs in New York, September 2014 Albert Urso/Getty Images
A lady in red: Cushnie Et Ochs, New York, February 2016 Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows
Advertisement
A vision in white: Cushnie Et Ochs, New York, September 2015 Joe Kohen/Getty Images
Following their lead: Designers Michelle Ochs (left) and Carly Cushnie of Cushnie Et Ochs in New York September 2015. Mireya Acierto/Getty Images
DISCUSSION