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
Connecticut Approves Chronic Pain as Qualifying Condition to Medical Cannabis Program
There are now 38 ailments that qualify a patient for medical cannabis in the State of Connecticut.
Connecticut's medical cannabis program is about to get a lot bigger!
Last September the Regulation Review Committee approved two new conditions for the State's eight-year-old medical marijuana program. These recommendations were made by the Board of Physicians and Commissioner of Consumer Protection. By adding chronic pain and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome to the list of qualifying conditions, there are now 38 ailments that qualify a patient for medical cannabis in the State of Connecticut. Below is a breakdown of approved conditions for adults over 18 years of age, as well as patients under the age of 18.
For Adults, Debilitating Medical Conditions Include:
- Cancer (Effective 2012)
- Glaucoma (Effective 2012)
- Positive status for HIV or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Effective 2012)
- Parkinson's Disease (Effective 2012)
- Multiple Sclerosis (Effective 2012)
- Damage to the Nervous Tissue Of the Spinal Cord with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity (Effective 2012)
- Epilepsy (Effective 2012)
- Cachexia (Effective 2012)
- Wasting Syndrome (Effective 2012)
- Crohn's Disease (Effective 2012)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Effective 2012)
- Sickle Cell Disease (Effective 2016)
- Post Laminectomy Syndrome with Chronic Radiculopathy (Effective 2016)
- Severe Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (Effective 2016)
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Effective 2016)
- Ulcerative Colitis (Effective 2016)
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Type I and Type II (Effective 2016)
- Cerebral Palsy (Effective 2016)
- Cystic Fibrosis (Effective 2016)
- Irreversible Spinal Cord Injury with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity (Effective 2016)
- Terminal Illness Requiring End-Of-Life Care (Effective 2016)
- Uncontrolled Intractable Seizure Disorder (Effective 2016)
- Spasticity or Neuropathic Pain Associated with Fibromyalgia (Effective 2018)
- Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis (Effective 2018)
- Post Herpetic Neuralgia (Effective 2018)
- Hydrocephalus with Intractable Headache (Effective 2018)
- Intractable Headache Syndromes (Effective 2018)
- Neuropathic Facial Pain (Effective 2018)
- Muscular Dystrophy (Effective 2018)
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Effective 2018)
- Chronic Neuropathic Pain Associated with Degenerative Spinal Disorders (Effective 2018)
- Interstitial Cystitis (Effective 2019)
- MALS Syndrome (Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome) (Effective 2019)
- Vulvodynia and Vulvar Burning (Effective 2019)
- Intractable Neuropathic Pain that is Unresponsive to Standard Medical Treatments (Effective 2019)
- Tourette Syndrome (Effective 2019)
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Effective 2020)
- Cerebral Palsy (Effective 2016)
- Cystic Fibrosis (Effective 2016)
- Irreversible Spinal Cord Injury with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity (Effective 2016)
- Severe Epilepsy (Effective 2016)
- Terminal Illness Requiring End-Of-Life Care (Effective 2016)
- Uncontrolled Intractable Seizure Disorder (Effective 2016)
- Muscular Dystrophy (Effective 2018)
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Effective 2018)
- Intractable Neuropathic Pain that is Unresponsive to Standard Medical Treatments (Effective 2018)
- Tourette Syndrome for patients who have failed standard medical treatment (Effective 2019)
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome