K.M.W.M.Y.K. '21

This project was solely inspired by my desire to act as a voice within my community and designs in my own unique way. I wanted to creatively display my stylistic interpretations of racial injustices by utilizing my knowledge and learned design techniques.

The "Don't Shoot" hoodie was inspired by the trauma of the black and brown community within the American Flag, specifically pertaining to police brutality. The pockets of the hoodie act as the stars of the "flag". They list the things that black or brown individuals have reached for before being severely assaulted by the police. As well as a subtle reference to Trayvon Martin on the sleeve. 

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The exaggerated puffer vest is a direct tribute to George Floyd. It is meant to emphasize the choking that he endured before his death. The graphics on the collar are his last words "I Can't Breathe". The trench of this outfit references the Pan African Flag. 

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The third look of this ensemble tributes all individuals who have been wrongfully convicted into the system. It is prison jumpsuit inspired with graphics that I designed myself of a barcode and an inmate number that spells the word "Innocent" based on the numeric placement of each letter within the alphabet. 

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This collection was displayed for the entire month of September in 2021 Downtown Detroit for the Detroit Month of Design and two of the looks (DON'T SHOOT and I CAN'T BREATHE) were accepted into the Costume Society of America and traveled to Minnesota to be displayed; which was a huge benefit and honor being that my work was being displayed at the time of George Floyd's memorial. 

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