Pyer Moss premiered its highly anticipated Spring/Summer 2020 show and let me tell you…it was well worth waiting a year. Earlier last week, WSJ featured Kerby Jean-Raymond as a “disruptive” designer due to the fact he doesn’t stick to the typical fashion week schedule, putting on one show a year. Many viewed this initiative as a potential failure, but Kerby Jean-Raymond once again proved them wrong.
Weeks before the show, the Pyer Moss Instagram posted a link to sign up for tickets, giving away 500 free tickets to non-industry attendees. Of course, I didn’t hesitate to sign up and to my surprise, I got a show confirmation email a week later. As a Black woman in fashion, this show was so important to me and I just couldn’t miss it. I was already in NY for fashion week through a program with my school, so I skipped my flight back home to Virginia to attend the show. I camped out on my friend’s sister’s couch all day till it was time to get ready, then I took an 8-hour bus ride back home only to make it back just an hour before I had to be in class on Monday morning. Do I regret any of this? Not at all, because the show was every bit of worth it.
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A Production that Told a Story
The story didn’t start in the show, it started outside as a massive crowd lined up around the block at King’s Theatre in Flatbush. One could hear Megan Thee Stallion and Lil’ Kim bumping out of local drivers’ windows.
One thing that sets a Pyer Moss show apart from others is the story behind each collection and the fact it is carried out as a full-fledge production, giving us a true show. The SS20 collection was dubbed as Sister: the third collection of the Pyer Moss “American, Also.” three-part collection and it is centered around the “contributions of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the black woman who invented Rock ‘N’ Roll”. The show began with soothing musical notes from singer, Brent Faiyaz, along with pianist, Mike King. In addition, author Casey Gerald delivered a captivating story and word about Black people’s influence on pop culture and how our stories have been erased by society. Gerald ended on an uplifting note by stating how we need to embrace our freedom and individuality which the collection illustrates in many aspects.
The Choir Took Us to Church
Like with the 2018 show, the wondrous choir made a return and with new vocals, taking attendees on trips through various genres including gospel, R&B, and hip hop. They performed performing hit songs such as Make Me Over Again, The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) by Missy Elliot, and Sweet Love by Anita Baker, furthering contributing to the mood of Black excellence and freedom.
The Musical-Inspired Designs
While the music selections and mood were amazing touches, we can’t forget the fashion! The runway styles were filled with free-flowing garments in vibrant Spring hues of yellows, sky blues, and rose reds. Homage to Rosetta Tharpe and various other Black female musicians was paid through piano key detailing on tops, guitar-shaped bags, and black musical artist in abstract printed art. Pyer Moss previewed upcoming pieces for its continued partnership with Reebok, and also showed off collaborations with Sean John, Resonance, and Richard Phillips!
As usual, Pyer Moss did not disappoint with its SS20 “Sister” production which was culturally vibrant in more ways than one. I am already looking forward to next year’s runway show.
