Black designers are certainly important to us, and lately actress Gabrielle Union has been making us swoon over her fashion choices. Union, who also recently launched her own collection for New York & Company, has been showing her support for Black designers through her stunning looks on Instagram.
Last week, Union quoted a powerful statement from actress Yara Shahidi about our art being important and shared that she and husband Dwyane Wade would only be wearing Black designers during NBA All-Star weekend. “We must continue to amplify, uplift & inspire. We need to continue to see ourselves as heroes everyday…on screen & in everyday life. We must tell our stories, share our testimonies & support each other,” said Union on Instagram.
In the above look, Union wears a LaQuan Smith sweater and Brother Vellies boots. LaQuan Smith is a Queens-based self-taught designer who launched his label in 2010 and has been recognized by everyone from Beyoncé to Vogue’s former Editor-in-Large Andre Leon Talley. Brother Vellies was founded by Creative Director Aurora James to introduce traditional African footwear to the world while also sustaining jobs in Africa. The label’s shoes and handbags are handcrafted in South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and Morocco.
Wade is wearing a Pyer Moss jacket paired with a Romeo Hunte shirt, Balmain pants, and Kanye West x Louis Vuitton sneakers. Led by Haitian-American designer Kerby Jean-Raymond, label Pyer Moss has gained recognition for its collections which often serve as political and social commentary like its recent powerful Fall 2018 runway show. Romeo Hunte is a New York-based designer who launched his fashion brand in 2014 and has received notable recognition by fashion press and retailers alike.
Union also slayed at a party in this white knitted top and maxi skirt from Aisling Camps. Formerly a mechanical engineer, Camps is a knitwear designer who hails from Trinidad. She makes each of her pieces by hand in her Brooklyn studio. While the top is sold out, you can purchase the maxi skirt Union wore here.
For one of her recent design meetings with New York & Company, Union wore a white blouse and jeans from her own line and carried a handbag from Brother Vellies, which you can get your hands on here. You can also buy Union’s shirt and wide-leg jeans from her New York & Company collection.
At the NBWA 2018 Women’s Empowerment Summit, Union wore a gorgeous burgundy Cushnie et Ochs dress with cold shoulder cutouts and a thigh-high slit. Cushnie et Ochs is led by Afro-Caribbean designer Carly Cushnie (cofounder Michelle Ochs recently stepped down from the label.) You can snag Union’s dress here.
Over the busy NBA All-Star weekend, Union also wore a black velvet and crepe jumpsuit bySergio Hudson paired with jewelry by Mateo New York and a handbag from F&W Style. If you love the jumpsuit as much as we do, you can purchase it on sale here.
Sergio Hudson, who designs a women’s ready-to-wear line based in Los Angeles, was the winning contestant on Styled to Rock, a designer competition show executive produced by Rihanna. Matthew Harris is the Jamaican jewelry designer behind Mateo New York which is sold everywhere from Bergdorf Goodman to Saks Fifth Avenue, while F&W Style is a luxury handbag brand founded by Nigerian designer Alexandria Alli.
Union also stepped out with her husband in a stunning Mimi Plange sheer ostrich feather blouse and silk textured coat. Based in New York, Mimi Plange is a Ghanian fashion designer, and her eponymous womenwear brand is inspired by Africa. Plange’s designs have been seen on everyone from former First Lady Michelle Obama to Rihanna.
Lastly, the actress wore a now sold-out Off-White dress paired with a Sergio Hudson velvet coat, Brother Vellies shoes, Mateo New York jewelry and F&W Style handbag. Off-White is a luxury men’s and women’s streetwear label which was founded in 2013 by Virgil Abloh. Formerly Kanye West’s creative director, Abloh has become one of the most recognized and respected designers in the fashion industry since launching Off-White.
We salute Union and Wade for showing such support to these talented Black designers, and can only hope that we see more Black celebrities and influencers doing the same in the future!