Episodes
Zandile Blay is an award-winning journalist, professor, and spiritual teacher. In 2014 she was named a ‘Fashion Innovator of the Year’ by Revlon and Refinery29. In 2013 she was named Journalist of the Year by Africa Fashion International at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa. In 2012 Blay was named a Semi-Finalist for the Nieman Journalism Fellowship at Harvard University. In 2010 she was named on Ebony Magazine’s inaugural Power List. Blay earned her Master of Arts in Fashion with a...
Published 02/23/22
Published 02/23/22
Zenobia Morrow, GIA G.G., is an artist, private jeweler, and the owner of SevenJune, a company specializing in the creation of custom engagement rings and fine jewelry. Morrow, an Atlanta, Georgia native attended Howard University, where she received her B.F.A. in design and would later proceed to study gemology at the Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.). Zenobia is one of the few African American certified gemologists in the world. Her fine jewelry designs have been featured...
Published 02/16/22
David BenDavid, also known as DBD, is the founder and creative director of Sprayground, a streetwear line known for its art-inspired backpacks and coveted by celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Meg Thee Stallion, Paris Hilton, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, and more. A native of the Bronx, New York, DBD attended a visual arts school in New York City, which helped him further refine his innate gift as a creative artist. After completing his studies, DBD applied for several jobs but faced constant...
Published 02/09/22
A native of Compton, California, designer and entrepreneur Shante Nicole, the founder of Nicole Shante, discovered her love for fashion and creating at the early age of nine years old. Inspired by the impeccable style of the strong women in her family and by getting lost in the glossy pages of Vogue, Shante enrolled in the fashion marketing program at the Fashion Insitute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles. With a knack for building something out of nothing, she would later...
Published 02/02/22
Shawn Pean is the Chief Architect and creative director of the luxury house, June79 in New York City. This Brooklyn-born talent studied business and applied his skills to the world of fashion by taking on roles in buying and wholesale. Shawn’s accolades as an industry veteran and pioneer are endless. He spent nine years in the buying office at Saks, working in the men’s accessories, footwear, and outerwear departments. He also served as president and managing director of Balmain USA and vice...
Published 01/26/22
At an early age, Cynthia Rowley, a native of Illinois, discovered her love of sewing. With an artistic and creative gift that spanned beyond her garments, Cynthia studied painting and fine arts at the Art Institute of Chicago. She would later pivot into fashion after observing the constraints of the art world environment, shifting into an industry that would allow her to be creatively free to express herself. After completing her academic studies, Cynthia moved to New York City, ready to...
Published 01/19/22
Constance C.R. White is a fashion content creator, editor, writer, and style expert. She studied journalism at New York University and received her MBA from Northwestern University, blending her penchant for reporting and the world of business. Constance landed roles at Women’s Wear Daily, ELLE, and would later cover fashion for The New York Times. Constance was also a contributor to many publications like the Chicago Tribune and became a frequent TV guest on programs like The Today Show and...
Published 01/12/22
At 25, fashion designer Tanya Taylor launched her namesake brand in 2012, taking the New York fashion scene by storm. Equipped with academic training from McGill University, Central Saint Martins, and Parsons, in conjunction with her unwavering belief in her vision, Taylor transformed her clothing line into the successful multifaceted brand it is today. Tanya integrates her love of color into all of her collections, but her dedication to the arts, activism, and inclusivity are most prevalent...
Published 01/05/22
Elaine Nichols is the Supervisory Curator of Culture at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, D.C.A native of Charlotte, North Carlina, Nichols developed her love for African American history at a young age by listening to the stories about her heritage, culture, and resilience from the elders in her family. Her love of history would later guide her academic pursuits, leading her to complete a Masters of Art in Public Service...
Published 12/29/21
Nigel Barker is a photographer, TV personality, and philanthropist known for his breath-taking photos and his iconic role as a judge on America’s Next Top Model, a televised model competition show hosted by supermodel, Tyra Banks. Born in London, Barker hit the fashion scene as a model after winning a televised competition. He would later move to New York City and eventually teach himself the fundamentals of photography by observing the sets, production details, and logistics at his modeling...
Published 12/22/21
Kimora Lee Simmons is a model, a mogul, but most of all, she’s a mom. In 1999, Kimora launched her first clothing line, Baby Phat, which would become one of the first explosive streetwear brands that specifically catered to women, and even more so, women of color. Kimora created size-inclusive denim styles and looks that complemented a wide range of women with diverse body types. As a result, the Baby Phat brand became a fashion sensation, popping up in magazines, runways, and top celebrities...
Published 12/15/21
Tracy Reese is an American designer whose signature designs for the modern woman transformed the fashion industry and paved a significant path for black designers across the globe. In 1998, Tracy Reese launched her namesake fashion brand in New York City and expanded into sub-brands like Plenty, Frock! and Black Label, which sold in stores like Barney's Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Anthropologie for more than two decades. She is also the first black member on the Board of...
Published 12/08/21
Born and raised to Jamaican parents in Springfield, Massachusetts, stylist, on-air personality, and creative director Carlton Spence knew that fashion was his calling from an early age by recreating looks for himself and loved ones. Carlton would later launch his decades-long fashion career in the buying office for Jordan Marsh and Lord & Taylor department stores. He eventually took a position as a Marketing Manager at Boston with Marithe + Francois Girbaud, propelling his career into...
Published 12/01/21
Ashley Longshore believes that a girl is her own best friend. The Louisiana based artist described as “the modern Andy Warhol” is known for her signature colors and bold aesthetic; with pop culture and Hollywood glamour centric iconic art pieces. As a self-taught, unapologetic painter and prolific creator originally from Montgomery, Alabama, Ashley is the true embodiment of originality -- using mixed mediums for each unique creation -- and quickly becoming a legend in the art and fashion...
Published 11/24/21
Sahara Lotti is an American entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Lashify, a luxury beauty company that holds over 100 patents and trademarks worldwide. Sahara is known for inventing the Lashify system: the revolutionary Gossamer lash and Fuse Control Wand. The technology allows for the lash to be placed on the underside of the upper lash, creating a seamless look without the damage. The Lashify system is an award-winning technology bringing home several awards, including The Cosmopolitan...
Published 11/17/21
Designer Reco Chapple does it all. As one of the very few African American designers to create and manage a successful fashion house, Chapple's portfolio includes a variety of womenswear, menswear, accessories, and houseware. The Atlanta-based designer started by dressing local strippers and drag queens and would later style some of the most prominent figures in business and entertainment, including Toni Braxton, rapper T.I. Kandi Burruss, Janelle Monáe, and more. Chapple has also established...
Published 11/10/21
Norma Kamali is an American fashion designer and icon whose career has continued to rise for over five decades. This native New Yorker and FIT graduate took the world by storm with the invention of her iconic sleeping bag coat in 1970, an item that continues to be one of the designer's signature staples until this very day. She was one of the first major designers to launch an online store in the 90s and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the CFDA. Much like her designs, Norma is both...
Published 11/03/21
Sondra Jo Holtz is a model, social media influencer, and self-love advocate. When she’s not saving lives as a 911 emergency operator, she’s sharing her adventurous travels and the latest fashions for brands like SKIMS, Savage FENTY, and Fabletics, to name a few. But beyond her captivating personality and gorgeous campaign photos, Sondra Jo’s quest to spread the gospel of body positivity through her platform, Curves and A Carry-On, has left an impact on thousands of women across the globe,...
Published 10/27/21
In 2013, the Rana Plaza disaster, where a building collapse killed one thousand garment workers and injured more than 2,500 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, spurred global outrage. The catastrophic event inspired fashion and design professionals Carrie Somers and Orsola De Castro to create Fashion Revolution, an international non-profit organization spanning over 92 countries, dedicated to mobilizing citizens, industry, and policymakers through research, education and advocacy work. In the United...
Published 10/20/21
Keanan Duffty is a British fashion designer and musician based in New York City. Duffty studied fashion design at Saint Martin's School of Art in London and is a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. He is also a Mentor for the Master's Program in Fashion Styling at Polimoda, and a Program Director at the Master’s of Professional Studies in Fashion Management at Parsons School of Design.  In addition to launching his own label, Slinky Vagabond in the 1990s, Keanan would...
Published 10/13/21
Standing at a statuesque 5'11" model Somalia Knight was determined to become a model. Inspired by the hit show "America's Next Top Model," Somalia's determination grew more than ever. She started a fashion club in high school to foster a community of fashion enthusiasts and raise funding to support various philanthropic efforts like combating eating disorders. Determined to overcome the exhaustion of being bullied, Somalia graduated early at the top of her class. She would later meet an agent...
Published 10/06/21
Katy Winn is an iconic entertainment and news photojournalist who has captured the magic at fashion week events across the nation for decades. With a passion for photography at an early age, Katy began shooting weddings and political events to cultivate her talent. After college, she would eventually achieve her dream to be a photographer in New York City, working for major companies like Corbis, Everett Collection, Getty Images, and AFP.  Katy has worked with clients like MTV, The New York...
Published 09/29/21
Patrick Mcdonald, also notoriously known as The Dandy of New York, is an American fashion icon who inspires us with his impeccable style. From the bold ensembles, sophisticated tailoring, and always featuring a signature hat, Patrick’s style is unlike any other, and one that is bound to inspire. Patrick’s life is as fascinating as his incomparable fashion. Host Kirsten Holtz Naim chats with Patrick about his early inspirations, building a fashion career in (New York City in the 1970s), along...
Published 09/22/21
With a designer presence in over 900 retail stores around the world, any fashion lover knows the signature look of a Rebecca Minkoff design. As the Chief Creative Officer of her fashion empire, Rebecca Minkoff and her brother, Uri Minkoff, officially launched her iconic global brand in 2005. Following a rapid launch onto the national scene, Rebecca’s signature reconstructed “I Love New York” T-shirt emerged as a trademark item in women’s apparel. Her now million-dollar business spans from...
Published 09/15/21