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
5 surprising secrets of obtaining true happiness
Every individual must find a path to true happiness on their own, but these tips may help.
When was the last time you were truly happy? How do you even know that you are truly happy? Life is full of many disappointments and we can get easily carried away and forget to appreciate the small things. Here are 5 surprising secrets of true happiness to help you appreciate life more.
Don't Compare Your Achievements
As humans, it is normal for us to be naturally competitive. There is always that voice within us that keeps telling us that we can be and do better; that silent whisper in our head that keeps motivating us to push further. However, the problem comes in when we start comparing our achievements with those of other people. For example, if we start comparing our fitness goals with those of others, we will end up getting disappointed since different people have totally different lifestyles. Therefore, if you want to attain true happiness in life, stop comparing your achievements with others; compete with yourself instead.
Do Things That Scare You
When was the last time you did something new? When was the last time you went to a place you've never been to before? When was the last time you did something random? When was the last time you did things that scared you? The whole world is out there reaching out to you to embrace it. Stop being too predictable in everything you do. Take a random trip to a new place on Friday after work. Quit your job and start that business that you've always been procrastinating. Take a bus and talk to the stranger sitting next to you. They say that life is what happens when you are busy making other plans, and I say true happiness is found in the strangest of places.
Live in the Present
What if you don't land that job? What if he doesn't propose after years of dating? What if…. We are all prone to get carried away by the uncertainty of the future that we forget to embrace and enjoy our present. We do not know what the future holds, and worrying about it every second will not change a thing. Sometimes it's good to just let things happen. Enjoy everything you have in your present because tomorrow it could be a privilege you wish you had.
Relish in Your Alone Time
When was the last time you had a conversation with yourself? If you cannot recall the answer to that question, then it's high time you created some alone time. Alone time is always a good opportunity for you to evaluate your life and see the best direction for you to take. It is the best time for you to make some critical life decisions. What can you do to be happy? Who do you need to let go in your life so you could be happier? These decisions are best made when you have an honest conversation with yourself in your alone time.
Listen to Your Inner Voice
It is always advisable to follow your intuition. Your heart always knows what your head hasn't figured out. If you have a bad feeling about something, it is best if you don't follow through with it. On the same note, if you have a good feeling about someone, it is advisable to give them a chance, and who knows, you could make the best memories with them.
The key to happiness is in your hand. With all the disappointments that life keeps throwing at us every day, we are left with the option of creating our own happiness. If you want to be truly happy and you have no idea where to start, try making use of these 5 surprising secrets of true happiness and thank me later!