I would love to discuss the obsession with Telfar now that they are so popular.

Fashion is based on popularity. It’s literally a popularity contest in this social era. In the essay, I would like to discuss how Fashion is ruled by the desire to obtain the “celebrity” look and the massive obsession with following trends.

Let’s take it back first and reframe Fashion today as more of business and not an art. This is important because for the industry to thrive it needs to be profitable in this world we live in.

Now let’s look at society. Our society praises the famous & those with large followings. Rather you deny it or not, you want to live a lifestyle similar to theirs. You want a piece of their glamorous life & guess what part of their lives are pretty accessible to the masses?

Fashion.

So the marketing directors, owners, and designers do product placements on these influential people. This goes back for years. This tatic is so smart because it's literally takes on post from a famous person and the trajectory of your business can change in mins. Literally.

But the key thing about Telfar is that the company really didn't follow into that tactic. You can see on their IG page that they genuinely make their items so luxury could be accessible to the REAL people of the world.

I'm am OVERJOYED they are getting their recognition to due the fact his line has been est. since 2005. Look it up. How many of y'all just started supporting bc now it's the ”Thing”?

Now this is directed to Black Consumers. We only truly support our own when it's popular!

I see all these post like ”I want to collab with Telfar” why now all of a sudden?

Oh, because its a trend as stated in the thesis. Would y’all still want to if it was still an underground designer?? Ask yourself what’s the purpose of collabing with them at this point in their journey.

You’re probably thinking in a business and profitable mindset and not from a genuine place of support for fellow Black Fashion Designer. Period.

For those who are upset because they can’t get one. Well honestly that’s too damn bad. In MY OPINION, I feel like you should be happy that another Black Owned business is selling out in minutes. Look at the bigger picture here....

We are currently living in a time where we have a Black Owned fashion item that has comparable exclusivity to the Hermès Birkin. The fact that Telfar marketed the bags as the Black Birkin has manifested beautifully.

You’re just gonna to have to be quicker. Fast fashion has made y’all feel like everything needs to be accessible, in large quantities, and always available. It’s also made y’all compare small Black businesses with large corporations.

As a Black person YOU quite frankly understand we have to work with HALF of the reasources available to these larger companies. We have smaller teams and no one really is there extending a hand to guide you through the ends and outs.

But, here Black Business are. They are still trying and get bashed because they struggle to accommodate the masses after a spontaneous boost in brand awareness. They are not given grace.

They are expected to know everything and have solutions to issues that they couldn’t even have imagined just the month prior. Then, consumers will turn around and call the business unprofessional/scammers/and a terrible business.

There needs to be more solidarity within Black Consumers. We shouldn’t just focus on who’s popular to support them. Collectively we shouldn’t never left Baby Phat, Sean John, Fubu & etc go out of business. Those were our leaders and change makers. Those companies couldve

helped young Black designers get there foot in the door through internships, jobs, and more. I feel like today we are in the process of rebuilding what they started. There is no way we will last if this negative/popularity mindset towards Black-Owned Fashion businesses persist.