A Note from the Editor
Dear Readers,
Like you, we are appalled and devastated by the ongoing police brutality that has taken place, and continues to take place today in the USA. We stand against all forms of racism, and strive for equal opportunities and diversity. We recognise that we are not perfect in our mission to be inclusive, and we will continue to reflect and learn how to improve on our focus on equality and diversity in opportunities for positions on our committee, made up from models, contributors, and people in leadership roles.
In the wake of recents events, Haute Magazine would like to show our support for Black Lives Matter in promoting fashion brands that may have suffered as a result of racial discrimination. We have chosen to focus on Black-owned British brands, to encourage our predominantly UK-based readers to support Black-British fashion designers who have also suffered as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.
These are only a few designers and we welcome your suggestions for a range of affordable brands to promote. We shall continue our mission to diversify Haute Magazine.
Below are Haute’s recommendations of brands to support now, and always.
Womenswear
A A K S
Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, graduated from Kingston University London with a BA (hons) Fashion degree, and founded her own brand AAKS. Akousa’s beautiful raffia and leather bags are hand-crafted in Ghana using durable and traditional Ghanaian weaving techniques, with the aim to also create sustainable jobs within Africa. Akosua’s woven bag collections are available for worldwide shipping, and are stocked by Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters and Bloomingdales.
South-East London designer and CSM graduate, Grace Wales Bonner, founded her label in 2014 initially as a menswear brand. Since then, she has expanded her label to womenswear. Born to an English mother and Jamaican father, Wales Bonner encompasses a cultural hybridity of European and Afro-Atlantic approaches within her luxury fashion brand.
Her line is internationally stocked by Matchesfashion.com, Dover Street Market, Net-A-Porter, Barneys, Ssense, Browns, Boon the Shop and Galeries Lafayette.
Image Credit: Fashion in Motion: Grace Wales Bonner, 2015. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
DAUGHTER OF A BOHEMIAN
Founded in 2012 by Nuala Ferrington, the brand works to up-cycle existing garments and support everyone involved in the process of creating. Their clothes are available to buy here and on Asos Market Place.
Lingerie & hoisery
Sincerely Nude was founded by London based Michelle Asare in 2018. “I noticed that I could never find any nude clothing close to my skin tone whenever I went shopping or even browsing online.” Their focus is on inclusion and diversity, representing all women.
Ade Hassan founded London based brand, Nubian Skin to provide women of colour suitable skin-tone hosiery and lingerie after being frustrated by the lack of choice on the market. Hassan writes, “My nude isn’t the nude I see in shops. Despite the reality that women of colour have the same needs as all women when it comes to lingerie and hosiery, the industry simply doesn’t cater to us. So, I thought, it’s time to rethink the definition of nude".
Nubian Skin has redefining the 'nude', with their inclusive approach, encouraging other aspects of the fashion industry to be more inclusive.
Menswear
Martine Rose established her menswear label in London in 2007. Inspired by her Jamaican-British heritage, and the high / low melting-pot cultures of London, she creates sensitive clothing that explores the sensuality of masculinity.
