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2023 Year In Review

Labrum London AW 2023 Collection / Photo Courtesy @labrumlondon

NEW YORK, United States — As another year comes to a close, we gather a selection of our favorite stories from the year that was.

  • Pharrell Williams claimed the enviable helm as Creative Director, Men’s at Louis Vuitton.

  • A big year for emerging labels dressing celebrity talent, including Feben, BOTTER, Wales Bonner, and Kimeze. Collectively, these brands were behind some of the biggest looks for Kendrick Lamar, Burna Boy, Bonang Matheba and Beyonce for a slew of major concert and red carpet appearances.

  • Celebrations and resounding industry support were in order courtesy of the CFDA for Jamaican-born Rachel Scott of Diotima and the British Fashion Council for Bianca Saunders, Martine Rose, and Maximilian Davis of Ferragamo among others.

  • ALARA arrived stateside and completed a successful multi-month takeover of the Brooklyn Museum replete with special talks, private tours, and VIP shopping experiences.

  • Andrea Iyamah opened a US outpost in Soho, Bernard James made a splash with his first storefront in Greenpoint, and streetwear label waf. doubled their store count in Lagos.

  • Hanifa officially expanded into bridal with a runway show held outside Washington, D.C.

  • I.AM.ISIGO toasted to a decade in business while Christopher John Rogers tackled paint colors with Farrow & Ball.

  • Collaborations ensued at a rapid pace for Blackstock & Weber and T.A. New York.

  • Telfar launched a puff collection while regional upstarts Nia Thomas and Aisling Camps displayed strong knitwear expressions.

  • Emerging publishers Air Afrique, Blanc Magazine, and Trevor Stuurman’s Manor Africa unveiled inaugural and reimagined issues.

  • Edward Enninful stepped down from British Vogue, where Chioma Nnadi will take the reins starting in March 2024.

We look forward to all of the growth and continued momentum in the year ahead.

Lead image original photography by Freddie L. Rankin II.