As we wrote in our May 2017 article 15 Haitian Designers You Need to Know, “Kerby Jean-Raymond of Pyer Moss uses his creations to spark discussion and comment on civil rights issues of the day. Though he has unveiled many runway shows (he specializes in luxurious, streamlined sportswear for mainly men though he recently delved into womenswear), he is most known for his revolutionary t-shirts like his “They Have Names” tee that enumerated the names of black men unjustly slain by law enforcement, and his “Juneteenth” tee, worn by Usher, to acknowledge the Juneteenth Holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S.”
Jean Raymond is a revolutionary. His Fall 2018 show featured a choir singing, “Every N*gger is a Star,;” Issa Rae wore one of his dresses to host the 2018 CFDA Awards, sporting a bedazzled blue dress equipped with a belt boasting the phrase.
Pyer Moss is a poignant choice given the country’s political climate. Jean-Raymond is of Haitian descent, a place President Donald Trump once called a sh*thole country. His receipt of this award is an illustration of the American Dream, of an immigrant coming to this great country, exercising his undeniable talent, and rising to the top of the fashion world.
It also should be noted that Jean-Raymond is the 2nd solo black male designer to win the coveted Fashion Fund prize (Telfar Clemens was the first to win last year). Past recipients of color include Aurora James of Brother Vellies and Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne of Public School. The Judges panel of the CFDA has been accused of not being reflective of the diversity of the American populace.
It’s encouraging to see fashion and the CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund in particular moving in this direction.
See all the pictures from the red carpet over @FashionBombDailyMag.
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