a gift guide: designs from the diaspora

 By Aerin Agyei

 
The stories of those who are a part of the African diaspora are defined by resilience and power in response to adversity. These values are represented in numerous Black-owned fashion brands around the world centering around reframing the diasporic narrative through heritage and unity. This article highlights three fashion labels that embody these themes: Amsterdam based streetwear brand Daily Paper, hip-hop culture staple Cross Colours and luxury fashion house Pyer Moss.

Daily Paper

Daily Paper is a fashion and lifestyle brand established in 2012 in Amsterdam. Today, they have stores open not only in Amsterdam, but also in London and New York, and they have experimented with pop-ups in Johannesburg, South Africa and Accra, Ghana. Its founders — three childhood friends all of African descent — focus on fusing the richness of their cultures with elements of Europe’s streetwear. Their designs are characterised by African heritage aesthetics such as traditional patterns, colors, and fabrics. These influences are present in many of their collections, which feature West African kente cloth patterns, native African languages and tribal imagery and symbols. Even their logo is heritage inspired, as it reimagines the Maasai shield, representing protection, craftsmanship and fine art. Daily Paper started as a fashion blog, hence the journalism inspired name, and rapidly expanded into a world renowned high-quality streetwear brand, endorsed by celebrities such as WizKid, Brent Faiyaz, Lupita Nyong'o and Jorja Smith. In an interview with Coveteur Magazine, Hussein Suleiman, one of the three founders, remarked, “when I was growing up, people weren’t really proud to say that they were from Africa — they thought it was cooler to identify with Black Americans or the Caribbean. That’s because around that era, this was the ‘90s and 2000s, a lot of hardship fell on Africa; whether it was famine or war, it was a place that wasn’t sexy, so people didn’t really have the pride that they do today.” Suleiman highlights the contrasts and friction between the various global cultures that arose from the African diaspora, and it was this tension that he aims to remedy by displaying cultural pride in Daily Paper’s designs. This winter, we recommend adding one of their “Epuff” jackets to your wishlist. They come in a variety of colors and lengths, making them the perfect cold weather staple for any closet.

Cross Colours

Founded in 1989 by Carl Jones and TJ Walker, Cross Colours was created to fill a gap in the fashion industry. Jones and Walker felt that as hip-hop culture was rising in popularity, there was a lack of representation branching out from the music industry into streetwear. They visited New York City, the epicenter of hip-hop music at the time, and took inspiration from the baggy styles that they saw the younger generation sporting. The oversized look that is still hugely popular today can be partially attributed to their brand. They were also pioneers in developing connections with celebrities as a marketing tactic, paving the way for modern day influencer relations. Household names such as Will Smith, Tupac, Aaliyah and the Wu-Tang Clan were endorsers of Cross Colours in the 90s, allowing the brand to flourish into the timeless label they are today. In an effort to maintain relevance among the youth, Cross Colours has founded partnerships with HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) and BSUs (Black student unions) across the country. Here at USC a chapter of this initiative, Cross Colours BSU x USC, was recently established to create a space for celebration of Black stories and experiences through fashion. We recommend adding one of their logo hoodies and sweatpants to your 2022 wardrobe. Whether you’re relaxing at home or exploring the city, Cross Colours’ loungewear is the perfect mix of casual and trendy to fit any situation. All trends come back around, and the 90s are back in baby!

Pyer Moss

Pyer Moss is the passion project of Haitian-American designer Kerby Jean-Raymond. He created the brand in 2013 in New York as a venture into the crossroads of art and social commentary. It is centered around using fashion as a platform for sparking conversations on activism. Breaking free from the traditional framework of the fashion industry, Pyer Moss releases its products in limited amounts and following no particular schedule and each capsule aims to use personal storytelling to explore the nuances of the Black American experience. The brand gained traction in 2016 with their runway show highlighting police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement. Jean-Raymond worked to develop the Pyer Moss identity to incorporate a classic yet contemporary feel, focusing on the central values of craft, unity and outspokenness among others. Since its conception, the company has won various awards including the 2018 CFDA Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent and the 2018 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. While it is difficult to get your hands on their limited releases, the online shop has staples such as long sleeve tees and hoodies available for purchase. If you’re stuck on what to gift the luxury fashion fanatic with an appreciation for graphic designs in your life, Pyer Moss is the way to go.