Fashions from designers Next Level World, Hood Dandy, and Yemi Kosibah, was featured at this biannual fundraising event founded by Anita Hill-Moses. The Master Pioneer Awards took place at the Brooklyn Music School on September 30, 2017 in New York City.
The theme of this year’s all-male fashion show is “Acknowledging our Roots: Honoring our Hairitage,” seeking an audience whose social, cultural and business interests are also personal.
Produced and directed by fashion expert and lifestyle aficionado, Tyrone Farley of True Fashionista Now.
www.truefashionistanow.com, this year’s Master Pioneer Award aimed to honor those industry forerunners who have forged a path in the beauty and fashion industry based on the demand for products and services among the growing base of consumers who have gone natural.
Mr. Farley, who’s gained his fashion credibility after several appearances on HuffPost Live, PIX 11 News and China Global Television Network is also a Master Pioneer Award 2017 Honoree at this year’s event, for his contribution to fashion and style. The social motivators include a generation of young black men who resist conformity and defy identity politics in the face of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. They project an image of pride and confidence in who they are becoming and the recognition of the influence they have on the global culture, starting with their hair.
“It is important to pay it forward by giving back to the community. I love fashion and the platform for creativity and this is my way of giving back, while bringing awareness of the importance of African American’s cultural contribution to fashion.” – Tyrone Farley
This social consciousness is buttressed by the cultural impact of professional athletes with their showy styles and global following, although there are some mixed views about the appropriateness of the images projected to the world.
A critique by retired NBA player, Charles Barkley, highlights the conflicting perspectives. In the last basketball season, during a nationally televised game, Barkley set off a storm criticism across black media channels when he chose to comment on player Derrick Rose’s natural style.“I don’t like nappy hair,” said Barkley. “He needs to relax it.”
Despite such attitudes, the natural hair industry, and related Afro-centric fashion in all its versions, is booming. Market research company, Mintel, reported at the end of 2015 that spending on styling products overall reached $946 million, while spending on relaxers dropped by 18%. National distributor, Glenn Corporation, summarized the trend toward natural hair on their website, stating“The power of individualism in the growing space of multicultural beauty has led to a shift in beauty ideals where men and women are embracing their cultural identities and expressing themselves through fashion statements where curls and afros become the center of attention.”
This year’s Master Pioneer Award fashion statement certainly highlight the individualism and beauty ideals of the modern man, as well as the power and influence on business and culture, as designers present looks that represent the range of identities that are emerging as representative of black men. Neither the industry nor consumers can ignore them.
Photos by: Yendie Lynch
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