It’s always a good time to shine a spotlight on the wide range of talented Black Canadian fashion designers’ work. Whether you’re looking to add a standout swimsuit, delicate necklace, perfectly designed backpack or spectacular pair of heels to your closet, the brands below have what you’re looking for. They’ve won CAFA awards; they’ve dressed and accessorized the likes of Issa Rae, Cardi B and A$AP Rocky. Here are their stories and our pick of pieces to get your hands on.
Téjahn Burnett
Canadian-Jamaican designer Téjahn Burnett’s founded her collection in 2018 to offer a size-inclusive solution to high-end footwear without compromising on fun and creativity. And fun it most definitely is! Her range of stunning heels, boots and sandals are adorned with cowrie shells, glittering embellishments or elegant ankle-tie straps—exactly what you need to step up your shoe game, just like megastars Cardi B and Joan Smalls, who’ve both rocked Burnett’s designs. —Vina Nguyen
Naomie Caron
Montreal-based designer Naomie Caron took sustainable fashion into her own hands and created Selfish Swimwear, utilizing recycled-fibre fabric to create fashionable bikinis and one-pieces, from colourful prints to the award-winning black mesh-back design. An investment in one of the brand’s suits is worth every penny: they’re built to last, and the brand’s repair service extends beyond the first-year warranty, so you can wear your new favourite suit time and time again. —V.N.
Omi Woods
Jewellery designer Ashley Alexis McFarlane creates stylish, contemporary heirloom pieces such as pendants inspired by traditional Jamaican and Nigerian coins and cowrie shells from West Africa. (The eternally cool Issa Rae is a fan.) Combining heritage with sustainability, the Toronto-based designer specializes in timeless pieces that are ethically handmade with fair trade African gold. The brand’s name is a nod to McFarlane’s Jamaican-Akan-Indigenous-Maroon heritage (omi means “water” in the Yoruba language and the word Jamaica derives from the Taino word Xaymaca, meaning “land of wood and water”). —V.N.
Spencer Badu
Spencer Badu’s eponymous brand centres on the concept of the everyday uniform, innovated. With the post-gender fashion revolution in mind, masculine and feminine elements are incorporated into unisex garments like boxy zip vests, asymmetrical tank tops and one especially sleek nylon taffeta midi skirt. While Badu has spent time in Calgary, Brampton and Ghana, he’s now based in Toronto and his sartorial influence extends far and wide—it has found its way to some of music’s biggest names like A$AP Rocky and Kendrick Lamar. —V.N.
Sully & Son Co.
Toronto-based accessories specialist George Sully’s brand encapsulates sophistication with sleek yet functional footwear and backpacks. Sully carries some serious cred within Canadian and international fashion circles: He’s been inducted into the Bata Shoe Museum twice and is one of the makers behind the Star Trek: Discovery Starfleet boot (alongside friend and fellow designer Henry Wong, with whom he founded the brand Sully Wong). CAFA’s 2022 Change Maker Award recipient, Sully is also a vocal activist and is the creator of the Black Designers of Canada index, amplifying the talent of the country’s Black creatives. —V.N.
Pretty Denim
Tahnee Lloyd-Smith’s luxury denim line puts emphasis on tailoring and features unexpected details like ruffles, sequins and quilting—even the lion-head-stamped buttons have been carefully considered. After working as a stylist, Lloyd-Smith founded the line in 2018 in order to fill a gap in the market for sophisticated, dressed-up denim. In part, her creations are inspired by her fashionable upbringing. “I had an incredibly stylish grandmother,” shared the Toronto designer. “Clothing was always considered really important in my family, but in a healthy way.” —Amanda Demeku
Cherry Gardens
When Myla Davey revisited her childhood neighbourhood of Cherry Gardens in Kingston, Jamaica, she was inspired by the lush surroundings and laidback feel, something she now incorporates into her loungewear collection known for its soft fabrics and chic cuts. With representation top of mind, all the pieces are inclusively designed for a wide range of shapes and sizes, and made sustainably in Toronto. —V.N.
Andrea Iyamah
If you’re looking for a statement swimsuit for your next trip to the seaside, look no further than Andrea Iyamah. The Canadian-Nigerian swimwear line is full of flattering silhouettes that never shy away from a vibrant colour situation. Launched in 2011, the designs are inspired by designer Andrea Dumebi Iyamah’s African heritage, and intended to help women express their most confident selves. Need a resort-ready cover-up, too? Iyamah also has a stunning ready-to-wear collection that will take you from the pool to cocktails with ease. —A.D.
