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At NYFW, Black Designers Are Expected to Be Stars and Activists

Black designers face the usual challenges of building a brand plus the pressure to make strides for racial equity within the industry.
Sergio Hudson dressed in a purple robe on the runway finale.
The Sergio Hudson Collection 11 showed at New York Fashion Week on Feb. 11. (Getty Images)
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BoF PROFESSIONAL

When the first model strutted down the runway at Sergio Hudson’s Fall/Winter 2023 showing on Saturday night in a neon yellow Blazer and matching shorts, ‘90s club anthem “Show Me Love” by Robin S was blaring from the speakers and attendees swayed to the beat. iPhones lit up the room and VIP guests including Kimora Lee Simmons and talk show host Sunny Hostin visibly oohed and ahhed from the front row.

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Further Reading

At NYFW, Diversity But Little Inclusion

The official calendar included the largest number of Black designers to date, but small production budgets, a dearth of media coverage and an overwhelming sense that Black creatives’ biggest supporters continue to be other Black and brown people has left much to be desired.

About the author
Sheena Butler-Young
Sheena Butler-Young

Sheena Butler-Young is Senior Correspondent at The Business of Fashion. She is based in New York and covers workplace, talent and issues surrounding diversity and inclusion.

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