If you aren’t familiar with SSENSE, it’s the online epicenter for buying luxury brands and high-end streetwear. Founded by the three Atallah brothers, the goal was to take away the obstacles and headaches that could arise from purchasing high-end fashion and democratize the latest, coolest brands.
More than any other platform right now, SSENSE does curation right. They’re painfully aware of which pieces from new collections are a fit for their audience. They show you what’s relevant and hot right now — prioritizing pieces you’ll genuinely like rather than what’s just being pushed by the brand. Now, SSENSE carries brands of all price points from Adidas to Versace.
Another highlight: SSENSE is known for its brand diversity. They often highlight Black-owned brands and showcase collections from people of color and lesser-known designers. To close out Black History Month 2024, SSENSE is teaming up with none other than ESSENCE: a pairing that makes perfect sense.
ESSENCE, the lifestyle publication geared towards Black women, is helping feature three designers and artists: Bianca Saunders, Mowalola, and Stanley Raffington. The series will showcase their designs and tell their story.
According to SSENSE’s site,
“The two brands are turning ESSENCE’s “In The Studio” print franchise into a video series hosted by Lynette Nylander. The series will spotlight the achievements and creativity of Black designers who have significantly impacted the menswear realm. With three episodes, each featuring a distinguished designer, the series offers exclusive insights into their creative processes and journey,”
Meet The SSENSE X ESSENCE Feature Designers
Bianca Saunders
Bianca Saunders
British GQ
Bianca Saunders’ clothing embraces masculinity in womenswear. Her jackets will always be a bit oversized, or the style will mimic a classic streetwear bomber that could have been borrowed from boys like Jeremy Allen-White and Jacob Elordi — a girl can dream.
“The essence of Saunders' clothing lives in the details, which point to how she subverts ideals often associated with menswear.”
Finding the intersectionality between workwear and streetwear, Saunders clothing is genderless and trendy. Some of her signatures include layered shirts, tucked waists, and somewhat minimalist designs.
@babyboyflame Buying Black: @Bianca Saunders #streetwear #menswear #blackownedbusiness #fashion #fashiontok #fashiontiktok ♬ Oldschool - Cookin Soul
Mowalola
Mowalola
Joyce NG
Mowalola, a highly sought after designer whose pieces have been worn by the likes of Rihanna and Naomi Campbell, is a bit of an icon in the fashion world. Her mantra for fashion is “do what you want to do” and that’s exactly the kind of energy Mowalola’s clothes give off.
Much like Bianca Saunders, Mowalola is known for her gender bending designs. Inspired by cinema, many of her collections revolve around movies. And this is on full display at her cinematic runway shows.
She brings an edge to her designs through textures like leather and intentionally placed cutouts. She’s not afraid to make public commentary on race and gender, making her runway shows incredibly popular.
“The British designer has shifted the cultural zeitgeist with her boundary-pushing collections inspired by the world around her.”
@i_d Replying to @JAC So are we! #ferragamo #maximiliandavis #tiktokfashion #mfw #mowalola ♬ original sound - i-D
Stanley Raffington
Stanley Raffington
ESSENCE
In a world where the Chanel black-and-white aesthetic hails ever-popular, especially amongst those emulating Old Money Style and Sofia Richie’s closet, it’s hard to find designers who aren’t afraid of a bit of color…enter Stanley Raffington.
Often incorporating Rastafarian colors of red, yellow, and black as an ode to his Jamaican roots, Raffington isn’t going to shy away from any hue. He quickly rose into fashion prominency when Madonna and FKA Twigs attended his show, which included 3D printed accessories.
Constantly inspired by his Jamaican roots and the nostalgia of past trends, you will see lots of Y2K nods in Stanley Raffington’s clothing. He’s embraced tech in the fashion world by utilizing 3D printing in many of his designs and runway shows, and he’s not slowing down now.
@yungstanz Process behind my 3d printed curve bag. Taking inspiration from the architecture of Zaha Hadid, mixing new technology with natural materials and craft. Available now exclusively at @SSENSE ♬ Never Lose Me - Flo Milli
Subscription Laundry Detergent Is A Thing. We Tried It: Here's What Happened
As I've gotten a little older, I feel like I've really refined my sense of style, and have started to buy more high-end basic, pieces of clothing that'll stand the test of time. They're the type of pieces that can be machine washed, but I feel like store bought laundry products are all have the same generic scent that makes me smell like a flower that swallowed a dead flower. Plus, the generic brands just don't really take care of my clothes, and now that I'm actually investing some money into what I wear, it's important to me that the clothes last as long as possible. If I buy the same laundry products as my mom, I'm going to smell like my mom. Poof, mind blown. There had to be a detergent out there that didn't look and smell like they were meant for housewives from the 1950's. I did some Googling, and found Frey, a line of products designed to change the way we think about washing our clothes.
When I landed on Frey's site, I felt like I was onto something different. The vibe was sleek and modern, unlike any laundry brand I'd ever seen before, almost like a lifestyle product for cool men that hitchhike across the country to swim in hot springs, but also own a closet full of suits. I scrolled over to products, and honestly was surprised to see more than one. I guess I never really thought past detergent. I learned Fabric Conditioner could reduce the wrinkles in my shirts, who knew? Still, I didn't know if a natural product would actually get my clothes clean, or if I could trust that I'd like the scent. Scent is so personal, how would I know I liked something I bought online?
I decided to read more. I learned that Frey has no parabens or toxins, which is good for the environment and my sensitive skin, plus its concentrated formula means less waste per load. I liked how Frey has total transparency about its contents and created a business model based on sustainability—Frey plants a tree for every order placed. These guys get it.
But going back to my original dilemma, I needed to know about the scent, and didn't know if buying something on the internet I couldn't smell first made sense. There was a lot of hype with the customer reviews. . . "So. F'ing. Good." "Smells like a man with an 815 credit score." "Nomad Wizard Lumberjack." I wasn't even sure what the last one meant, but with such unique and detailed descriptions, I figured people must really like it.
Then I noticed Frey's Laundry Plan. It was like they knew I needed a little help. I answered a few easy questions like what kinds of fabrics I would be washing (work or workout) and if I ever wear clothes a second time in between washes (who doesn't?!). Then they gave me a suggested laundry list. They even have articles with really useful tips like "How To Get Barbeque Stains Out Of A White T-Shirt." The only thing left was to try it. . .
Smelling my clothes after washing with Frey was like doing a cannonball into a creek in an autumnal forest. But also really subtle- I understand the hype. Now when I put on a clean shirt I feel put-together and on top of my game. And it doesn't even costs less than regular detergent; those can cost up to $0.93 per load, Frey's cost is just $0.40 per load! #MathNerdAlert. Plus the smell is amazing . . . Excuse the pun, but what a breath of fresh air.
Subscription Laundry Detergent Is A Thing. We Tried It: Here's What Happened
As I've gotten a little older, I feel like I've really refined my sense of style, and have started to buy more high-end basic, pieces of clothing that'll stand the test of time. They're the type of pieces that can be machine washed, but I feel like store bought laundry products are all have the same generic scent that makes me smell like a flower that swallowed a dead flower. Plus, the generic brands just don't really take care of my clothes, and now that I'm actually investing some money into what I wear, it's important to me that the clothes last as long as possible. If I buy the same laundry products as my mom, I'm going to smell like my mom. Poof, mind blown. There had to be a detergent out there that didn't look and smell like they were meant for housewives from the 1950's. I did some Googling, and found Frey, a line of products designed to change the way we think about washing our clothes.
When I landed on Frey's site, I felt like I was onto something different. The vibe was sleek and modern, unlike any laundry brand I'd ever seen before, almost like a lifestyle product for cool men that hitchhike across the country to swim in hot springs, but also own a closet full of suits. I scrolled over to products, and honestly was surprised to see more than one. I guess I never really thought past detergent. I learned Fabric Conditioner could reduce the wrinkles in my shirts, who knew? Still, I didn't know if a natural product would actually get my clothes clean, or if I could trust that I'd like the scent. Scent is so personal, how would I know I liked something I bought online?
I decided to read more. I learned that Frey has no parabens or toxins, which is good for the environment and my sensitive skin, plus its concentrated formula means less waste per load. I liked how Frey has total transparency about its contents and created a business model based on sustainability—Frey plants a tree for every order placed. These guys get it.
But going back to my original dilemma, I needed to know about the scent, and didn't know if buying something on the internet I couldn't smell first made sense. There was a lot of hype with the customer reviews. . . "So. F'ing. Good." "Smells like a man with an 815 credit score." "Nomad Wizard Lumberjack." I wasn't even sure what the last one meant, but with such unique and detailed descriptions, I figured people must really like it.
Then I noticed Frey's Laundry Plan. It was like they knew I needed a little help. I answered a few easy questions like what kinds of fabrics I would be washing (work or workout) and if I ever wear clothes a second time in between washes (who doesn't?!). Then they gave me a suggested laundry list. They even have articles with really useful tips like "How To Get Barbeque Stains Out Of A White T-Shirt." The only thing left was to try it. . .
Smelling my clothes after washing with Frey was like doing a cannonball into a creek in an autumnal forest. But also really subtle- I understand the hype. Now when I put on a clean shirt I feel put-together and on top of my game. And it doesn't even costs less than regular detergent; those can cost up to $0.93 per load, Frey's cost is just $0.40 per load! #MathNerdAlert. Plus the smell is amazing . . . Excuse the pun, but what a breath of fresh air.