As the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture comes to a close, what will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression long after the New Orleans Ernest. N. Morial Convention Center doors close are the fashion and hair looks that graced the streets of the Big Easy the entire weekend.
In particular, the style and natural hairstyles that were present at AfroPunk’s Green Runway fashion showcase—which was dedicated to highlighting Black brands who focus on sustainable fashion—and Naturally Curly’s Texture on the Runway natural hair runway show left audiences beyond impressed. And because y’all know we like to root for everybody and everything Black on this side, here’s a glimpse at some of the looks you missed if you couldn’t make it down for the festival this year..
.. AfroPunk’s Green Runway Fashion Showcase AfroPunk’s Green Runway Fashion Showcase Curated by Haitian fashion designer and stylist Amiraa Vainqueur, the showcase highlighted five different Black owned-brands who incorporate some method of sustainability within their designs and processes.
For fellow Haitian designer Atelier Ndigo who’s from Florida, all the designs are made to order as opposed to just a standard in bulk order like other fast fashion brands tend to do. Made in small batches in Los Angeles and ethically sources, Zevelyn Jean was founded in 2018 by JaVonnie TaNae as a means for people to express their personal style. Their sustainability method? Using “dead stock” fabrics, a.
k.a. fabric tha.
