Fall-Winter 2021 Collection

MARRISA WILSON NY’s Fall 2021 collection, To Be Black and Female, is inspired by the Harlem Renaissance, drawing parallels from the social movement of Black America in the 1920s to today. It takes its mood and direction from the jazz age Cotton Club– a legendary spot in Harlem where supremely talented black artists performed for the approval of all-white audiences— and W.E.B DuBois’s concept of double consciousness. To be black in America is to always deal with that two-ness— “two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.” And to be a black woman is to deal with a certain triple-consciousness— a constant monitoring of our existence that informs how we navigate our lives.

But this collection— with its bold, vibrant colors, printed velvet, pleats, color and fabric blocking, made-to-move fabrics and shine—was created to showcase our voice, our bodies and our spirit. It’s not looking for an audience. It’s not asking for permission. It’s spirited, lively and cool— and it’s for our approval only.