8 black-owned fashion labels you should be adding to your radar

If you think this looks like a dress that Rihanna would wear, you’re right. Emerging designer Christopher John Rogers is known for his flamboyant designs that marry volume with colour. If you’re feeling bold and beautiful, this ankle-length dress comes highly recommended. It is emblazoned with the brand’s statement blooms, complete with pockets at the front for that laid-back, sophisticated look.

HK$5,773.74 from Net-a-porter

If you think the square-toe trend is worn out, break into the various unique styles offered at Brother Vellies. The accessories label, founded by the aforementioned Aurora James, is aimed at keeping traditional African design practices alive. Its handbags and shoes, like this feathered mule, are handcrafted by independent artisans in Africa using eco-friendly and upcycled materials to help reduce its impact on the planet.

HK$5,449 from Farfetch

London designer Grace Wales Bonner started her fashion label for men, delving deep into themes like her African heritage and alternative ideas of masculinity. No surprise then, that her womenswear reflects this too. You might recognise this jacket’s silhouette — it echoes Dior’s iconic Bar jacket, which Wales Bonner was invited to redesign for the brand’s Resort 2020 collection. We recommend this version if you want to nail the intellectual look that’s become integral to Wales Bonner’s brand.

HK$$7,916 HK$3,958 from Matchesfashion (50 percent off)

Kerby Jean-Raymond hates the term ‘streetwear,’ so don’t use that label on his designs for Pyer Moss. Instead, call it a ‘sportswear-influenced uniform for the socially-conscious.’ The New York designer is known for using his fashion shows as a platform to highlight issues like racism, police brutality and more. His brand will speak to anyone who cares about those very same issues.

HK$$9390 HK$3287 from Ssense (65 percent off)

Michelle Obama is a big fan of Cushnie, so that may tell you something about the brand’s ability to make women feel confident and beautiful in their own skin. Its SS20 collection draws inspiration from the 80s movie Splash, which gives this asymmetric dress its mermaid-like colours and embellishments. Crafted from dusty rose silk-chiffon, the dress comes adorned with  iridescent paillettes, fringe and beads, and features a plunging cowl neckline and an open back with thin, crossover straps.

HK$15,081 from Net-a-porter

Thebe Magugu made history as the first African designer to bag the LVMH Prize last year, and it’s easy to see why. Like Brother Vellies and Wales Bonner, the Magugu’s eponymous label is rooted in African culture, as is its whole production process. We love this cinched waist trench coat for its contemporary and feminine design, especially the added storm flap and drawstrings details that create unique shapes and volumes for an interesting visual.

HK$11,295 from Farfetch

“It’s not for you — it’s for everyone” is the motto of the unisex fashion label Telfar. Its iconic Shopping Bag, dubbed the ‘Bushwick Birkin,’ has now become a symbol of inclusivity, especially among the queer, Black creative community in New York. The Telfar bag, approved by Solange and Dua Lipa, is almost always sold out, so we wouldn’t sit on this purchase.

HK$1,900 from Ssense

For tie-dye looks that aren’t boring, check out Mowalola. The label, helmed by Nigerian-British designer Mowalola Ogunlesi, offers a psychedelic brand of glamour that is hard to find elsewhere. That’s probably why it already has a cult following, including from the likes of Megan Thee Stallion and Solange. It goes without saying that Mowalola’s leather jackets and minidresses are made for the club, or anywhere else the cool kids hang out.

HK$11,210 HK$3,924 from Ssense