Tiffany S. Walker is the owner of the Pink Lucy Fashion House. She has been an entrepreneur/designer for 20+ years and has been able to expand her business during COVID-19 and the unrest. Black Fashion designers have always been in the shadows and not given the same recognition as their white counterparts. Walker gives her advice on how black fashion designers can thrive in this industry and how we can support as a community.
Why are Black Fashion Designers not obtaining the same level of respect as our white counterparts?
Black designers are often overlooked because for years the narrative that we aren’t worthy of being in the fashion industry has been pushed. Although our styles are often copied and we have been trendsetters since the beginning of time- to have a black face automatically labels you as urban.
It is systematic racism that continues to be carried out no matter how high we raise the bar.
How can the black community help support Black Fashion Designers and bring more awareness to your work?
Share! Like! Post! Engage! These are things that don’t cost a thing but these 4 things bring awareness, views, interaction, and it helps us to get in front of the right people. Undoubtedly, the end goal is sell our products but if you’re not able to purchase- at least do that. Also, give us grace. Often, black designers do not have the funding and resources that our white counterparts have. In no way am I saying do not hold us accountable because accountability has made me stronger in my business and has helped to correct costly mistakes. However, speak to that black business owner directly and with respect. Your feedback helps to make them stronger, not your negative statements and blasts about them.
You have been in the industry for over 17 years, what are some things you would like to see changed?
I want to see more black owned brands receive the recognition they rightfully deserve. I want to see more of us on the runway, more of our faces on ad campaigns. I want us to BUILD our own tables since we rarely get an invitation to the table! We are tired of a few being their tokens so they can say, “we have a ‘diverse’ team”. It’s pacifying to sprinkle us around. Address the issues and make a change from the core. That is the only way we can level the playing field!
Why is it that anything we do often labeled as “Urban” or as you stated “Ghetto”? How can we change that perspective?
Simply because of the color of our skin. Our swag, lingo, soul, and ingenuity has been copied for ages but when whites culturally appropriate these things- suddenly its so cool, hip, cutting-edge and ON TREND! But that Street culture that they are adopting is the essence of our being. They want to be us but they don’t want our struggle. All of these cool things about our culture emerged because of our struggle and our refusal to conform. We found our own way without morphing into what was considered as “status quo”. We are the seasoning that makes everything “taste” better- we are the TASTEmakers!
What are some upcoming events you are involved with?
We will be opening up a NEW showroom and designs house this month. In our new showroom we will have more product offerings from ready to wear apparel to shoes, handbags, and of course drop dead gorgeous one of a kind gowns, dresses, separates, and jumpsuits.
What sets you apart?
I have a style aesthetic that screams PINK LUCY. People can always tell when it is something I have designed. That is the ultimate compliment because a designer is defined by the wearable art they create. You know Picasso without looking at the signature on the canvas- you know PINK LUCY without looking at the tag.
I have remained true to my design aesthetic and I treat my clothing as art. That in itself shows that I don’t conform – I innovate and that’s my IT FACTOR!
What advice do you have for upcoming young black designers?
Simply remain true to who you are! Find your design aesthetic and make that work for you. Most importantly, protect yourself. Make sure you have contracts in place, make sure you are operating as a legitimate business, don’t try to do everything by yourself- you need a team!!!!
you can Shop Pink Lucy here: https://www.shoppinklucy.com/
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