“By Us—For Everyone”: Black Fashion Fair Launches All-New Print Publication
It all started with one Twitter thread. In 2016, FIT alumni and Brand Director of Theophilio, Antoine Grégory, created an ongoing Twitter thread highlighting Black designers and creatives. Antoine had always noticed a gap in the luxury fashion space and wanted to highlight those under-represented. Grégory kept the thread going for up to two years. In 2020, he officially launched the digital space now known as Black Fashion Fair. The online platform held the same purpose as the thread–highlighting black creators in fashion. In 2022, Grégory has launched the first physical and tangible version of the publication, Black Fashion Fair Volume 0: SEEN.
Source: @bibbygregory on Twitter
The magazine features all-black designers, photographers, and artists. But make no mistake, Black Fashion Fair isn’t looking to exclude anyone from this high-fashion experience.
Their purpose, as stated on their website states, “Black Fashion Fair is not exclusionary; it is meant to include everyone interested in discovering the contributions and influence of Black people in fashion, art, design, and popular culture. Black Fashion Fair encourages dialogue and gives voice to those who have been historically erased from these narratives.”
Source: Black Fashion Fair
The 200-page magazine consists of three unique covers. Cover one features model Aleya Ali styled in Pyer Moss Couture, captured by duo AB+DM (Ahmad Barber and Donte Maurice). Cover two features model Joan Smalls in Theopilio and photographed by Quil Lemons. The third and final cover features model Maria Borges in Sergio Hudson, also captured by AB+DM.
All the looks featured were styled by Antoine Grégory himself. Each cover retails for $95 USD and there’s also a collector’s edition of the magazine that retailed for $300 USD. This edition is adorned in a bright lemon yellow acrylic holding case. There are only 175 copies of their kind.
Source: @flyrebel on Twitter
Source: HypeBae
BFF partnered with the eyeglass wear brand, Warby Parker, for the limited-edition magazine. The brand’s eyewear is featured on cover three and can be found in the magazine as well. Besides the stunning fashions, the magazine includes essays, photography, art, and many behind-the-scenes shots from runway shows.
There are included shots of fashion brand Hanifa’s runway show in Washington, DC, and Pyer Moss’ Couture show from 2020. Some other designers highlighted include, Brandon Blackwood, House of Aama, Bianca Saunders, and many more.
The magazine launched on February 7–just in time for New York Fashion Week. It was also the publication’s first anniversary since the brand launched and the magazine has been sold out since then.
It’s safe to say that Black Fashion Fair is here to stay. This is only the beginning as Grégory plans to continue uplifting black designers and creators, so they live on. Part of Black Fashion Fair’s message is to “tell the often-forgotten stories of Black designers while also documenting and preserving Black fashion: past, present, and future.”
Will you be ordering Black Fashion Fair? Leave a comment below.