The Funk Boutique: Creating a Confident, Strong and Sustainable Impact

Nigerian designer Taofeek Abijako pulled his inspiration for his 2021 collection “Johnny Just Come” from his favorite books by the late Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe. No Longer at Ease and Chike and the River have prevalent themes centering around the “intersection of African tradition and modernity.” Abijako tells Vogue he connected with Achebe’s point of view and the coming-of-age stories he found himself resonating with. The silhouettes are “heavily inspired by West African traditional wear,” with sleek lines combined with utilitarian pieces. The bright and monochromatic pieces can mix, match and work together, playing on the designer’s boyhood memories.

We love it when a good sustainable collaboration rhymes. The most recent H&M collaborations have been nothing short of amazing, from the Simone Rocha campaign to the DVF homeware collection, but it’s fantastic to see a sustainable Black brand coming in hot for the summer season. Supermodel Liya Kebede, founder and creative director of Lemlem creates beautiful summertime staples that are perfect for lounging on the beach or having dinner with friends in the city. “Because we created this beachwear collaboration together right in the midst of the pandemic, it was extra significant to all of us that the spirit of this collaboration and the collection be about a sense of joy, and a focus on what connects us,” Kebede tells Vogue.”

The collection includes caftans, swimwear, accessories, sundresses and matching sets all created with sustainable materials in Lemlem’s signature colors and patterns. The collection is now live online at H&M.

Makeup has been a mode of expression for Black people for, well, ever, and five queer Nigerian artists—Uche Uba, Michael Kohh, Ashley Okoli, Ayopo Abriri and Ayo Lawson—use makeup as a way to walk the line between protest and self-expression. Speaking with Lagos-based writer Vincent Desmond for Allure, each artist explains how they use makeup differently but all agree on a central theme: while they posit that living in Nigeria as a queer Black person is “worse than living in hell,” they find they are truest to themselves in the makeup they wear. From the heat that makes it impossible for some to be in drag 24/7—where a few feel they are at their best—to bearing the criticism of wearing a full face as a man or woman, these artists hold their own and stick to their guns, making it possible for others to do the same.

Elisa Johnson has one of those senses of style, the type that can switch up between baggy sweats and sexy sets and exude the same level of confidence. But the one accessory, day or night, that holds each look together are her enviable shades. She can pull off literally any shape—and now we can, too. Elisa Johnson (the brand) launched on May 10 offering five different shapes—Jane, Flynn, Gigi, Lyric and Bonnie—in a variety of neutral colors to match any outfit.

The Queen of pandemic fashion and safety graces the cover of V’s Summer edition and as someone said (Editor’s note: Okay, it was me), gatdamn—Naomi Campbell is still doing the damn thing. As you can see, Campbell power poses in a Tom Ford bikini, Burberry coat and boots while dripping in Cartier—because, of course. The shoot with Mario Sorrenti is the first she’s done in New York since last year and the supermodel speaks with V about the “growing demand for diversity in fashion” and the work she is doing to create a future for Black models that is equitable.

April 14 marked the 35th anniversary of Campbell’s modeling career, and in a rare moment of vulnerability, she touches on how it’s a bit nerve-wracking to work with younger models in the industry. But her passion for equity in the fashion industry overrides any insecurities about the younger models who have recently emerged, many of whom she’s taken under her wing. She tells V that ownership in fashion is “not impossible,” as it has been seen in art and music. She closes the interview with a powerful statement: “If there is one thing that I do leave in this business, it’s that I would like to be a part of that change in making sure that these young ones have that.”

I really want to know who decided that it was a good idea to start profiting off of Juneteenth. Old Navy recently hired the influencer agency Mavrck to reach out to talent and after sending an email out to 300 Black influencers, the campaign was met with major backlash. Not only did the email ask the influencers to pay for the campaign’s t-shirt, but offered a measly $425 for a post on their feed and three stories to Instagram. FashionUnited reports Mavrck released a statement saying they meant to send the email to two types of influencers—”macro and micro”—and apologized for their approach to the campaign.

But to be perfectly honest, the approach isn’t the only thing they should be apologizing for. Juneteenth is the celebration of the emancipation of slaves; asking Black people to pay into and receive a very small amount of money to help a white company profit is a lot backward. There are plenty of ways this “campaign” could have rolled out; unfortunately, Old Navy chose one of the worst ways to go about it.