Designer Legend Kenny Kas Flanagan Unveils the Welcome Black Collection!
Featuring his unapologetically genderless line W.E.T. (With Exceptional Taste)
On September 15th, 2025, the fashion world turned its eyes to an icon who has spent more than three decades dressing the stars and shaping the runway. Celebrity designer Kenny “Kas” Flanagan has unveiled his newest triumph, the Welcome Black Collection — a love letter to heritage, power, and unapologetic style.
Kas has always been a designer who creates clothes with presence. His pieces don’t whisper; they announce. Whether he’s dressing Rihanna, Snoop Dogg, Alicia Keys, Toni Braxton, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Sherri Shepherd, Nelly & Ashanti or Kevin Hart, Kas delivers fashion that commands attention — on red carpets, in music videos, and on the global stage.
This season, he’s doubling down on that ethos. Alongside Welcome Black, Kas is spotlighting W.E.T. (With Exceptional Taste) — a line that challenges every outdated idea of who gets to wear what. “I wanted to disrupt the idea that fashion has to be gendered,” Kas says. “W.E.T. is about attitude, not anatomy. It’s a line that empowers anyone to feel bold, unapologetic, and exceptional — regardless of labels.”
The Welcome Black Collection is couture with teeth — rich fabrics, daring silhouettes, and a narrative rooted in strength and legacy. It’s a reminder that luxury isn’t about playing it safe. It’s about stepping into a room and owning it.
Kas’s journey to this moment is as legendary as his work. A protégé of Yves Saint Laurent, he studied under the master himself and went on to make history as the first African American male couture designer featured at Saks Fifth Avenue. His creations have appeared on magazine covers, blockbuster films, and television, earning him awards like the America’s Prince of Fashion Award, Career Achievement Award in Fashion, and a Proclamation from the State of Marylandhonoring his contributions to the industry. He has shown at New York Fashion Week, been nominated for the CFDA Breakthrough Designer Award, and earned a reputation as a designer who moves culture forward.
The energy around Kas’s new work is electric. His new management team, Hungerford Management Group, is fueling this momentum. “Kas has always been a visionary,” says Co-CEO Dana Hicks-Hungerford. “The Welcome Black Collection isn’t just fashion — it’s a statement. This is about redefining luxury and inclusion at the highest level.” As Kas always says, “It’s a Lifestyle….KasLifestyle”.
The Welcome Black Collection is here and as promised, it’s an unforgettable debut that will blend Kas’s couture craftsmanship with his fearless point of view. For Kas, it’s not just about clothes. It’s about rewriting the rules — and inviting the world to join him.
Photo Credits: Norman E Jones
