Blog

  • Zerina Akers and Black Owned Everything Partner with Nike and Nordstrom

    Zerina Akers and Black Owned Everything Partner with Nike and Nordstrom

    Zerina Akersβ€”TGU 50 2021 honoree and Emmy award-winning costume designerβ€”has just launched a collaboration between her company Black Owned Everything, Nike and Nordstrom to promote the work of four Black-owned businesses in fashion and beauty. The collaboration, which debuted Thursday, curates the unique style of these brands alongside the season’s newest Nike and Jordan drops. The collections will be featured in select Nordstrom stores as well as online through February 2022β€”and will feature a range of clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories between $40 and $325.

    Video will return here when scrolled back into view
    Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?
    Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?
    Zerina Akers x BOE x Nordstrom x Nike Photo: Myesha Evon Gardner

    Per a press release provided to The Root, the collection stars Black-owned brands Brandon Blackwood, L’Enchanteur, Sammy B and William Okpo. Brandon Blackwood has been working towards normalizing Black luxury with a focus on handbags that are on-trend yet timeless. L’Enchanteur’s mission statement is β€œTransform Your Lifestyle” while twin sisters Dynasty and Soull β€œredefine the meaning of an heirloom and timeless” piece. Sammy B creates β€œlimelight-worthy” pieces cementing them as an β€œIt Girl” favorite, and William Okpo celebrates women who have a cultivated sense of style.

    From Akers:

    When we launched Black Owned Everything back in February of this year, partnerships like Nordstrom x Nike were exactly the type of activations I had in mind to amplify the reach of the Black designers whom I work with and mentor. This intersection of well-established brands and emerging designers is where the progress of Black Owned Everything’s mission takes place. The inclusion of these selected designers are a big step for their individual career paths and an even bigger step in the right direction for the American marketplace and beyond. This curation is a fun mix of fashion and lifestyle pieces for the people who are keen to street trends and enjoy functionality.

    Zerina Akers x BOE x Nordstrom x Nike Photo: Myesha Evon Gardner

    As we’ve previously reported, Nordstrom has set goals to increase the visibility of Black and Latinx brands, including delivering $500 million in retail sales from said demographics and increasing managerial roles by 50% by 2025. The new campaign was shot and directed by Brooklyn-based photographer Myesha Evon Gardner.

    Even Weeds Grow

    Desyree Nicole, founder and designer of Michigan-based brand Todd Patrick, has announced the label’s FW21 collection, which β€œembodies classic silhouettes and a plethora of fabric textures to be a voice in vision. A blend of streetwear, contemporary and elevated garments for the everyday wearer, maintaining functionality,” per a press release provided to The Root. This collection features Earth tones to β€œfurther tell the story of the hometown hero.” Even Weeds Grow has a strong foothold in current fall trends featuring puffer jackets, tailored trousers, silk tops and leather button-downs. Even Weeds Grow is currently available on the Todd Patrick website.

    You Can Have Skin Like Lori Harvey, Too

    Photo: Courtesy of SKN by LH

    Lori Harvey has finally squashed the rumors and officially announced the launch of her new skincare brand, SKN by LH. The five-step ritualβ€”considered groundbreaking after the 12-step skincare phenomenonβ€”goes live on Harvey’s website on October 22. According to a press release provided to The Root, the products rely on β€œofficial proprietary products including a cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream and moisturizer.” The ingredients used are touted to reduce inflammation and target hyperpigmentation. Harvey has been β€œobsessed with skincare ever since [she] was a little girl,” and has been working on this concept since 2018.

    Harbison x HFR x Banana Republic

    Charles Harbison of Harbison Studios has partnered with Banana Republic on a capsule collection inspired by the matriarchs in his life. The former architect launched his career in fashion in 2013 and won the Harlem Fashion Row x Banana Republic design competition last year. The Harbison x BR collection launched on October 19 online and at select Banana Republic stores, and is sustainable, featuring organic materials, natural dyes and limited use of water production, according to WWD. Harbison pushes for β€œgender, queer inclusivity and size inclusivity, racial equity and representation” in his newest collection, adding it was crafted β€œfrom the perspective centering on the narrative of the Black matriarch and the Black muses who were so key for me early to life, but doing so to the benefit of all our customers, regardless of their identities,” per WWD.

    13 Years in the Makingβ€”Gabi Fresh Is Launching a Clothing Line

    It’s been over a decade since plus-size fashion blogger Gabi Fresh entered the scene, and after multiple partnerships with big brands, Gabi launches her own size-inclusive line October 21. The line includes sizes 12-28 and features a β€œwide array of piecesβ€”from pantsuits to knitted tops to dresses that hug and accentuate curves,” all specifically made with plus-size women in mind, per Teen Vogue. Gabi teased the collection on October 17 with an Instagram post featuring various influencers and celebrities expressing their excitement for the collection to drop. The collection is produced with Fashion to Figure and per the article, Gabi states, β€œI’ve loved designing swim and lingerie over the years but I’ve always wanted to finally design clothes for us. To have the opportunity to see all of my designs really come to life without sacrificing any part of them has been truly fulfilling.”

    Hanifa Will Debut First In-Person Runway Show in Washington D.C.

    On November 16 at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C., groundbreaking women’s ready-to-wear brand Hanifa will be staging its first in-person runway show. Hanifa Dream follows the successful virtual 3-D show of the Pink Label Congo Collection. Additional information about the show will be released in early November, and the collection will be made available online directly following the show on November 16.

    The Museums Honors Patrick Kelly

    The Fine Arts Museums in San Francisco will be honoring the β€œlife and legacy” of designer Patrick Kelly through their fall and winter programming. The Museums are β€œproud to present a variety of programs in person at the Museums through [their] Free Saturdays initiative and digitally through [their] successful Virtual Wednesdays program,” per a press release provided to The Root. October 23 is the Patrick Kelly Opening day celebration, which will feature a panel conversation from exhibition curators Laural L. Camerlengo, Dilys E. Blum and Bjorn Guil Amelan, a variety of food trucks, live music and an interactive family-inclusive art program.

    Straight From The Root

    Sign up for our free daily newsletter.