Highlights from “For the Culture”, an event hosted by AVNU (@shopavnu), a streetwear brand that challenges the status quo of the fashion industry. AVNU was founded and designed by Nareasha Willis (@avenue_n), whose viral design “Ghetto Until Proven Fashionable” has caught the eye of many publications from @Refinery29, @XONecole, @ebonymagazine and @teenvogue.
Willis is also the founder of Black Vogue™️ (@blackvoguemvmt), a social justice movement that celebrates the diversity and beauty of the African diaspora in fashion. After two features in Vogue magazine, with irony, Vogue’s parent company, Conde Nast, has launched a lawsuit against Willis due to her brand’s moniker of “Black Vogue”, that they claim “tarnishes the brand’s [Vogue’s] value.”
As Willis stated during “For the Culture”, the event was not solely about her, but also those who support her movement and support inclusivity and visibility within the fashion industry by creating their own lanes. For anyone who wishes to support Willis and her ongoing legal battle with Conde Nast, check out this link to her active GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/black-vogue-movement.
Thank you to Nareasha and her team, L’Rose Public Relations (@septoyber18th, @lrosepr), for granting me an opportunity to document this amazing event of unity, empowerment, and stylishly good vibes.