FEMINIST ACTIVATES: A Salon Exploring Black Herstory Though Fashion in Collaboration with Rosa Rebellion
Photo by Suniko B — From Left to Right: Aisha Becker Burrowes of FEMINIST, Julee Wilson Beauty Editor-At-Large at Cosmopolitan Magazine, Elle Moxley Founder at Marsha P Johnson Institute, Kimberly Jenkins founder, director, and principal researcher of The Fashion and Race Database, Paola Mathe founder of Fanm Djamn, and Virginia Cumberbatch of Rosa Rebellion.
At the convergence of New York Fashion Week and Black History Month, FEMINIST teamed up with Rosa Rebellion to celebrate Black herstory in the heart of Dumbo, Brooklyn at Hudson Wilder. This salon-style affair showcased a dynamic panel discussion featuring leaders from beauty, fashion, academia, and activism: Paola Mathe, Elle Moxley, Julee Wilson and Kimberly Jenkins. The community celebrated the effects Black women have had and continue to have on style through generations, uplifting Black joy.
During the evening, FEMINIST Co-Founder Aisha Becker-Burrowes and Rosa Rebellion Co-Founder and CEO Virginia Cumberbatch co-moderated a discussion that not only allowed our attendees to learn from the panelist but also engaged the audience to share their own anecdotes about discovering personal style. The panel covered the politics of aesthetics, the history of Black women’s fashion, and the use of style as a tool for past, present, and future collective resistance.
While discussing and exploring how women of color, specifically Black women, Black femmes and gender expansive people have been the designers of movements - fashioning political and cultural disruption for centuries.
"For centuries, the indomitable spirit of Black women, femmes, and gender expansive people has pulsated at the heart of culture, especially in fashion and style. Our bodies have also served as canvases of resistance, wielding fashion as a powerful tool to subvert oppressive power structures,” said Aisha Becker-Burrowes, Co-founder of FEMINIST. “Our salon series, in partnership with organizations like Rosa Rebellion stands as a testament to this ethos, providing a platform for intimate discourse and collective action.”
Elle Moxley, founder of Marsha P Johnson Institute and one of the co-founding members of Black Lives Matter discussed how the use of fashion was utilized in the fight for racial justice. The discussion brought up the symbolic nature of hoodies and skittles used during protests against the murder of Trayvon Martin’s, which became a symbol of solidarity among activists. Moxley explained that fashion enabled those interested in participating in protests to visibly demonstrate their support. Julee Wilson, the Editor-at-Large at Cosmopolitan Magazine, spoke directly to her experience of developing her own personal identity in the beauty industry while continuing to make the industry more inclusive. Paola Mathé, founder and creative director of Fanm Djamn, added to this discussion of building community through fashion. She told the story how from wearing her hair wraps around New York City she was inspired to bring women together through this fashionable accessory. While Kimberly Jenkins, founder, director, and principal researcher of The Fashion and Race Database, shed light on the enduring influence of Black women on fashion trends, showcasing their profound impact on contemporary style.
Serendipitously, the event coincided with 'Black Love Day,' founded by Ayo Handy-Kendi, a community organizer and Washington, D.C. native, on February 13, 1993, to honor communal love and embrace unapologetic Black identity. This celebration of love and pride permeated the room as attendees shared intimate stories of self-discovery and personal style expression.
On the eve of Valentine’s Day, guests were encouraged to partake in a poignant activity: writing love letters to one another using the prompt "Dear Black Women." As the event drew to a close, participants exchanged these heartfelt letters, serving as a profound reminder of the significance of communal joy and love.
During the happy hour guests could choose from a bespoke menu of cocktails. Featuring Three Spirit a non-alcoholic vine designed to make you feel good - without the hangover. Parch, a non-alcoholic canned agave cocktail and for those who partake, we had personal sized wine bottles by Wander + Ivy. Guests snacked on Better Sour, a plant based sour gummy.
Photo by Suniko B
Saysh, the sports footwear brand founded by olympian, Allyson Felix, was a signature partner and sponsor for the event. The company will be debuting a new product at “Stylizing Our Resistance” - a sweatshirt that reads “Pay Me Like a White Man.” Rooted in Felix’s own journey of overcoming gender disparities in sports, the message is about recognizing the worth of every person, irrespective of gender or race, and serves as a powerful call to action for equality.
Photo by Suniko B
