It’s time for our Throwback Thursday Vintage Vibes post! ⋒
We are so honored to feature Uche and Bianca of @playgroundvs online shop.
Pronouns for Uche & Bianca: she/her/hers.
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PLAYGROUND is an online vintage store that specializes in statement vintage clothing with a very modern bend to its styling in order to give it context and best reflect the way a lot of people actually wear vintage. We are self-proclaimed maximalists. PLAYGROUND’s foundation is that of vintage clothing, but we hope it becomes a platform for something much bigger than just fashion.
When we asked Uche and Bianca what makes them proud of their heritage, here’s a snippet of what they each shared:
Bianca: In short, black people are magical! Need I say more? I’m very proud to be African American, as that’s how I primarily identify. I do not know too much about the specifics of my lineage aside from some French descent (creole heritage). I think black people are some of the most talented and resilient people on this earth. Black people are just a vibe; we are the trend; we are a ball of excellence, hope, and power wrapped into one. As a brown skin girl I love seeing other women like myself prosper and embrace everything that makes us unique.
Uche: I’m Nigerian, which means I grew up surrounded by strong cultural influences. Aside from my culture being very family and community-based, I also appreciate how vibrant it is... I love that we are starting to get some of the credit we deserve; being acknowledged as the interesting, creative forces that we always have been. We have been inspiring and influencing people all over the world without even meaning to, and I think that was taken advantage of. But now, we are reclaiming what it means to be African, more specifically in my case, Nigerian, and despite the colonization that has negatively impacted my people and our country to this day, still.
For the full interview visit our profile and stories for the link!
Image descriptions: [The first image is of Uche on the left and Bianca on the right surrounded by collage artwork by @bleubyrdie. The rest of the images are of models wearing their vintage gems. Website has more vivid descriptions!
⋒ Meet the Maker ⋒
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It's an honor to feature the team behind @americahatesus! AHUS is a contemporary lifestyle brand that offers clothing and accessories to “communicate views we hold dear through the use of symbolic expression”. Their offerings reflect the current socio-political-economic landscape, and we’d personally love to see more people rocking their wares. 20% of all proceeds from AHUS go directly to @periodmovement, @wearyourvoice and @wehavestories
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What is your favorite piece in your collection and why?
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Our “Believe Women” piece is our favorite. Aside from it being our most popular, allowing us to enter the homes of thousands of folx around the world, it has greater significance. While the brand’s founder was a law student (Rutgers Law School-Newark) they worked at a trafficking and DV clinic in New York. While there, they had the opportunity to meet with, attend court with and interview survivors.
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Visit the link in our bio to read the FULL interview
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Image description: 5 images of various team members, creatives and public figures wearing @americahatesus.
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Danielle Achong (@skyhi25) wears aviator sunglasses, a black tee and holds a sign with “American Hates US” written in black.
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Autumn Myers (@itsautumnm), the team’s media correspondent and lead writer, is a Black-American and Puerto Rican cis-gender woman. She is culturally proud of my Black lineage and currently on a journey to discover her Boricua ancestry as well. Autumn wears a short sleeve Black “Believe Women” shirt.
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Black Believe Womxn shirt worn by @fredtjoseph
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Red Slap Your Local Racist shirt (worn by Bronx based writer, author, performer, and story-teller, Joel L. Daniels, @joelakamag, photo by: @serenatripodi_)
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Latina Power Con Frida Shirt (worn by student activist, Amanda Pericles, @afrolatinas_)
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Black Dad Cap with “white lies matter” embroidered in white thread.
Leah V @lvernon2000 is without a doubt a fashion icon. From her website: “Leah V is an international Hijabi social media influencer, award-winning author, motivational speaker, educator, and content creator. Her content has garnered over a million views combined, and she’s been featured in hundreds of media platforms from The New York Times to Buzzfeed.” Leah V certainly makes us want to look a million times at her saturated sartorial choices that play with texture and color. From her inspiring and vulnerable Instagram posts, to her upcoming book, to her next look, we are all eyes, ears, and hearts for Leah V!!! Check out her new, “Not asking for your permission” apparel line and upcoming book robe released this October, which you can preorder, which always helps writers with sales! We invite you to use the Indie Books link rather than Amazon!
Link in profile to our feature!
Image descriptions: [Ten photos of Leah Vernon, who self describes as a fat Black Muslim woman, wears ten drop dead gorgeous looks in yellows, reds, pinks, mustards, and rainbow hues. One image is of the cover of her forthcoming book and another image is of Leah in a field wearing black from head to toe, with her fist in the air, eyes closed.]
Meet the Maker ⋒
Taylor Jay @shoptaylorjay is an ethical and sustainable clothing brand with a focus on elevated basics that will fit a range of bodies. Taylor Jay’s Core Values say it all: Elevated comfort, inclusion, and sustainability.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Visual description: Taylor identifies as an African American woman
Garment size range: xsmall through 3x and some free size one size for most styles
What inspires your work?
Making women look and feel good from the inside out. In every stage of their journey in life. My background as a boutique owner and my connection with women, their bodies and their desires to feel and look good.
Check out the link in our profile and in our stories for the full interview and more images of Taylor Jay’s garments!
Image description: [First image is of Taylor Jay, an African American woman, standing in her studio wearing some of her own separates in warm grey. She is wearing a brown wide brimmed hat and has long braids past her shoulders. She has her hand resting on a rack of clothing. The frame around the photo is collage artwork by @bleubyrdie. The other three images are models wearing Taylor Jay Essentials and Kotton pieces.]
