The event will be from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., will be open to the public, and will be completely free. A showing of 40 works of art by Faison, with half the collection made exclusively for Certified Motorsports LLC. A connection that wasn’t made through the purchase of a car but a haircut.

Faison was commissioned to make a couch for his barber, who cuts out of the same warehouse. From there, one of the dealership people asked him to make something as cool as the couch. And boy did he. Upon being commissioned, he created 20 pieces that will fit cohesively within the dealership. Not to take away from the cars themselves, but to accentuate them in the space they sit.

The dealership and Faison locked in the project in April. Since then, he has spent over 500 hours painting car-themed artwork. He made it extremely clear that he’s not a car guy. Yet these beautiful beasts that eat up the open road have become a huge source of inspiration over the last four months.

“I look at a lot of these as almost sculptural, the type of considerations that you have to approach a car with is not just, this moves from point A to point B, but it’s the style of it, the look of it, the, you know, the aerodynamics of it, the engineering of it with the comfort and the speed,” said Faison.

That’s just half of the exhibit. The other half is a look into a world that he has been building. A world that spans a multitude of avenues, including clothing. Within the second 20, the timeframe is much more stretched than in the first half. He spent the last three to four years making and perfecting what’s on each canvas. The time put into and the subject of each piece provide insight into Faison’s world. During my time in that warehouse, two recurring subjects stood out in his artwork: cities and the saying “Let’s go somewhere.”

The latter came from an opportunity he had about 4 years ago to run a store. The store was “loosely based” on the NOWHERE store in Japan, created by Nigo and Jun Takahashi. However, rather than Bape and UNDERCOVER, the Somewhere store featured local brands by designers in the Tampa Bay area.

The Somewhere store has stayed alive in the world Faison has built through his artwork. “Let’s go somewhere” is a tagline that you may see boldly painted across the canvas. You may also see the Somewhere store depicted as a physical storefront in a city.

A great city can serve as inspiration to many works of art. In some cases, a city even takes on a life of its own. Artists and writers alike find ways to personify the city through paint strokes and words. James Baldwin was an exquisite mind known for his literary abilities, so much so that his work still gets studied today. Some of his work even inspired our artist. Specifically, the work that includes descriptions of the city of New York.

“It felt kind of jazzy in a sense,” said Faison. “I feel like cities are characters in themselves. I feel like every city has that stamp, that taste that’s different, flavor that makes it unique…So you see that in like the color choices and the looseness of the structures.”

His love for cities goes beyond the canvas as he aims to bring something special to Tampa. The night of the art exhibit will be a tasteful mashup of the art and car worlds. Saintkozi and Takeo Faison are coming together to create an experience everyone will remember. The pair met back in 2022, but this will be their first event together.

It will also serve as Saintkozi’s first time curating an event, yet he’s more than confident. Already known for his attention to detail. He prepared for his curation debut by studying inspirations such as Virgil Abloh and Westside Gunn. Enjoying their approach to a piece but, more importantly, how they build something around it.

They believe art should be shared experientially outside of the standard museums we have. An experience that you can feel as well as see. With this event, they hope to bring something different to art and car lovers of all ages. An art exhibition that will leave attendees inspired.

“I want this to be like a formative experience that a little homie is going to come up in here, see this, and he’ll be like, yo, I can do this fly shit too. I feel like a lot of fly shit, or just any type of project really, is based off your point of reference,” said Faison.

“Speed, Style and Beauty” is a one-night event that will define how art is presented. An experience that will intersect art, cars, and style brought to Tampa by some of Tampa’s own. The two’s first collaboration, but definitely not the last. This Sunday in August will be the spark to a wave of creation coming from the bay.

To RSVP, visit takeofaison.com.

This week, the legendary Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, hosted yet another track and field championship: the U20 World Championships. The four-day event held bi-annually serves as a preview of the brightest young talent on a major stage. Often, these men and women, fresh out of high school, compete to put their names in the discussion for the upcoming Olympics. Not a guarantee they will make it, but in the public eye they are their country’s hope at bringing home gold hardware.

However, my grievance is it seems not enough people are paying attention. For everyone to complain about the break between all major sports – MLB, NBA & NFL – this sport always has something going on. Some say it’s boring, but I say maybe they lack imagination; The imagination of running that fast. A lot takes place on that 400-meter rubber oval, and every time it comes down to hundredths or tenths of a second. If you have never run track, I can slightly understand, at the same time, how many of you didn’t play basketball, but still shoot paper into the trash, imagining hitting a game-winning shot?

Like I said, no imagination.

Well, Team USA didn’t leave a thing to the imagination. They absolutely obliterated the competition with a total of 24 medals, half of them being shining gold. The majority of those medals came from record-breaking performances. To start, get into the men’s 400-meter final.

An anticipated matchup between those lined up with the best lane draws. Jayden Deleon in lane seven, Leendert Koekemoer in lane six, and finally former Olympian Quincy Wilson in lane five. At the shot of the gun and throughout most of the race, Koekemoer maintained the advantage. It was not until the last curve that the South African saw his lead start to be eaten up.

With a kick from the two Americans on the outside of him, I could imagine the pressure felt like he was being squeezed between two mechanical pumps. Koekemoer tried to keep up but was gassed. The only thing pumping harder was the legs of Deleon, whose monstrous kick had pushed him past the two on his inside.

And he did not slow a bit, storming towards the finish line he crossed making a statement, “yea I’m the best here today”. Better yet, he was the best in championship history, setting the record for the event with a time of 44.47 seconds. Wilson crossed the line no more than a step behind, running his season best of 44.62 seconds. It came down to his start; if his reaction time was two hundredths of a second faster, it would be a different finish. He secured silver while Koekemoer sneaked his way to a sub-45 second finish for third.

Moving along in the family of sprinting events to the men’s and women’s 200 and 100 meter finals. These four finals gave us another moment in history. This time, a pair of Texas high schoolers who became the first to sweep both sprints at the championships. Tate Taylor and Mia Maxwell earned the gold medals for Team USA to add to their already impressive year.

Taylor was coming off of an impressive Diamond League win going into these championships. There, he beat the reigning Olympic champion in the 200 meters. Proving that he is the real deal and not just a high school star. Hayward Field must be a special place for the young runner as he set a championship record this time around. This time firing out the curve into that straightaway like a sports car seeing an open freeway, he crossed the line with a time of 19.83 seconds. He paired that with a season best of 9.94 seconds in the 100 meter.

As for Maxwell, her success is no less of a feat. It actually may be a cooler story depending who you ask.

The crowd was seeing double in that 200-meter final as two Maxwells crossed the finish line within the top three spots, earning medals for the USA. Twin sisters who are making a name for themselves in the sprinting world before starting at the University of Texas. Prior to the world championships, they finished first and second at the U20 USA Championships in the 100 meter.

Mia, however, kept on winning as she ran a personal best in the 200 meter. That came as she held off the Jamaican, Shanoya Mikalia Douglas, for a second time. Those two had a nice personal battle going on between the two sprint events. Not a rare sight as Jamaica and America typically run the sprints, so it will be a fun duel to see again come 2028.

Team USA’s success was undeniable, a true moment in history as they became the first team to sweep the sprinting events at the world championships. This success did not stop with the conclusion of solo competition. The American relay teams kept the speed high. There were a total of six relay events: men’s 4x400, men’s 4x100, women’s 4x400, women’s 4x100, mixed 4x400 and the mixed 4x100.

USA won four of those six events to add to that tremendous gold medal total. One win stood out more than the others, though. Each relay resulted in them setting a world under-20 lead. Except for one, the men’s 4x100, their performance produced an even better result. A world record was set by Blake Hamilton, Dillon Mitchell, Kyler Brown and Tate Taylor with a time of 38.16 seconds. Taylor anchored the team with an absolutely ridiculous split that left the rest of the pack in the distance.

The week in Eugene was spectacular for Team USA and the athletes who represent the country. Not because they were running for the country but for the physical feat that is moving one’s body fast enough to win a gold medal. To look at the person next to them and mentally decide they won’t settle for anything less than victory. The competitive drive it takes to compete in this sport is one not many can withstand. These young athletes did it on a world-class stage.

So the next time you are sitting at home post-NBA Finals and waiting for the NFL to kick back up. Instead of rewatching old games, tune into what happens inside the lines of that 400-meter oval. I promise you if you can imagine catching the game-winning pass, then you can imagine being faster than the next.

If not, well then you might just be slow.

Andre Leon Talley was a well-respected man of fashion. I say man of fashion because he held many positions that included working in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, styling, creative directing, and most notably being the editor at large of Vogue Magazine.

The man of many talents was known for the great work and stories he produced. But to an extent, his style is what pushed him to another level of notoriety. Talley was a Southern man raised in the church by his grandmother. He picked up his sense of style from the experience of seeing the black community in their “Sunday’s best”. This life he was accustomed to before entering the world of high fashion he never let go of. If anything, it seemed to be a mission of his to always highlight black culture, especially in his style. As he rose to become American Vogue’s first Black creative director, he did just that, opening doors for people like him to follow suit.

This collection feels like a “Thank You” to Talley for opening those doors. In this case, it comes from another Black storyteller, Tremaine Emory, who, like Talley, is also from the South. Emory, born in Atlanta, has made it clear since founding Denim Tears that the mission is to tell a story. He may not follow in Talley’s journalistic steps, but it doesn’t mean he can’t get a message across.

Emory and the Talley estate worked together to reimagine staples in Talley’s closet. Specifically, during the 90s and on, when he so effortlessly blended streetwear brands with European couture. He wore items from brands like Billionaire Boys Club and T-shirts stamped with NAACP marks. Talley was undeniably stylish, and he made a statement while doing it. This expressionism came through the clothes from black designers like Dapper Dan and Pharrell; he was being unapologetically black in a space not used to black faces.

There is real importance in highlighting the people who come before us. A lot of times, we often see the struggle of the diaspora told in stories. This pays homage to a pillar of success for the black community. The collection introduces a generation of youth that may not be familiar with Talley. Letting newcomers learn about his killer style While followers of his work like me, get a reminder, celebrating everything that made his style so extravagant.

These two are beautiful examples of black storytelling in the world of fashion. Talley was the first to break through the white scene that was American Vogue, and Emory the first to be publicly named creative director of Supreme. This collection is an amalgamation of two artists, one past, one present, that tell the story of Black creativity through fashion.

The collection will be fully released to the public after five drops. Starting with the inaugural release on Friday, August 14th.

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Colm Dillane, owner of the brand KidSuper, has always had a deep love for soccer. As mentioned in an interview with Complex both last month and last Thursday. The prior following his collaboration with Jameson Irish Whiskey for the Bottled by KidSuper collection. The latter was after he took over the Nu stadium in Miami in place of his Paris Fashion Week slot. Dillane took his love for the game a step higher than just high-end jerseys and casting athletes as models. He created an experience that made it feel like you were in a packed stadium, getting ready to see your favorite team. An experience centered on community.

The biggest credit for creating that special experience, outside of the stadium, was the use of music. A big part of soccer is the stadium noise, specifically the use of drums and other instruments that fuel chants from the crowd. Or even just hype them up during a momentum swing. Whatever the reason, the sounds are electrifying and carry a contagious energy.

Dillane made sure to show love to the immediate community by having the Inter Miami band play live in the stands above the model’s entrance. The flags flailed, and the drums thundered, over the chanting soundtrack, placing those high-fashion models into the boots of players suiting up for this year’s World Cup matches.

Outside the immediate community, it was reported that the brand collaborated with more than 50 artists internationally. All who helped put together the Spring/Summer 2027 collection that stormed the pitch turned runway. This part of the process itself was growing Dillane and the brand’s personal community. By working with “a Panamanian designer… and an Austrian jeweler,” he was already doing what he believes the World Cup’s true purpose is to do, which is “bringing people together and introducing people.”

This has been one of the biggest realizations as American cities host these games. From seeing videos of Japanese fans doing drinking challenges in a Texas bar to Scottish fans taking over Miami streets with their bagpipe performances. These nations are fully united in their support for their team. And you can’t spell community without unity.

But back to the pitch, I mean, runway. The brand did a great job by representing countries in a tasteful way. Keeping up with the overall theme and again showing just how much he cares about the sport. Dillane had the models conclude the show by walking with a kid mascot – a tradition typically done at the beginning of games, when the teams walk out hand in hand with kids sporting jerseys, each of whom had a jersey that matched the model’s outfit. Some were spot on, like obviously this represents said country, but the collection was still on par with what Dillane and KidSuper have been known for. A collection of highly artistic, colorful, and striking looks that seemingly came directly from the sketchbook.

Here are a few of my favorite pieces that sparked the vision of a certain flag before I even saw the final walkout. My favorite piece was the green-and-red star leather jacket, presented with an Algerian jerseyed mascot, featuring a front button closure extending to the neck. This added another level of detail by having the neck flap wrap close to the opposite ear, almost like a mask to hide behind. I loved it; the look itself was effortlessly cool and something the average person could wear.

Following close behind it among favorites was a look I mistook for representing Haiti. Instead, it represented the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country whose team put the fashion world on notice with their iconic leopard-themed suits. In terms of looks representing a flag, this was my absolute favorite from head to toe. The suit shell was grey and cream. But the pops of color that clawed from underneath were the showstoppers. What looks like a scarf was wrapped and tucked within the open dress shirt collar. Served as a complementary pair with the multi-colored handbag the model carried.

​These weren’t the only outfits to show direct flag representation, such as the Swedish color-blocked outfit in front of the Algerian one. Or even another leather jacket look, which read “KIDSUPER” across the front and featured the Mercedes-Benz logo. This jacket nodded to the Germans not only in color scheme but also in the use of a global brand symbol.

Overall, the show was a 10/10 in my opinion. I believe it was the best showcase of sport and fashion I have seen. Especially as designer houses lean more and more into the soccer scene, Dillane created an experience that exudes his passion for the sport and his craft. He managed to combine his two passions in a fun, energetic, and engaging way. As the show concluded and the music continued, the former runway crowd was crowded into a dance party.

The United States is already a melting pot of many cultures, and with the arrival of this year’s World Cup, it’s on an entirely different level. Dillane managed to use the rods of fashion and sport to further stir the pot, by most highlighting the community that both create.

There is a beauty in a shared appreciation for things being passed down without any prior knowledge that such an appreciation exists. In my case, it’s the appreciation for that RED Drank. The crowned drink for Juneteenth celebrations has been a staple since we were brought to this country. From molasses and water to my personal favorite, strawberry Fanta, RED is a flavor that transcends time. Also, a color that just happens to look so beautiful on black skin. It’s no wonder it’s my favorite color.

As we reach the 9th hour of my favorite holiday, the only thing on my mind is being as black as possible today. I’ve been on a Wale kick recently, and as he once said, “Sue me, I’m rootin’ for everybody that black.” I consider myself a bit of a history buff, especially in black history, and today is one of the most important days in that history, if not the most important. And here I am working, stuck behind the white man’s desk.

Seriously, though, 161 years ago today, enslaved African Americans were finally set free when Union general Granger issued the orders. Two years after Lincoln’s emancipation proclamation. Sickening right? It took two whole years for what was supposed to be FREEDOM to come, and we know that the FREEDOM they did gain was limited under the restraints of racism and state-enforced laws.

Through all that, though, we still were able to preserve our culture. Holding on to the traditions of making this RED Drank, which comes from a “West African practice of welcoming guests with red-colored beverages made from hibiscus flower petals or kola nuts,” to represent the bloodshed of enslaved people. In the 60s Big Red Soda, which originated in Texas much like this holiday, became the “de facto Juneteenth beverage of choice in the Lone Star State,” according to culinary historian Adrian Miller. Food for thought, the first recipe for a Red Drank was published in 1866 by Malinda Russell in A Domestic Cook Book: Containing a Careful Selection of Useful Receipts for the Kitchen.

Outside of the kitchen, the colors for the day fall between three options: RED, green, and black. A direct representation of the black liberation flag. For me, though, there is only one color to wear. RED. It’s unapologetically loud and an attention grabber, which I feel should be the goal of every black person on June 19th annually. To be so unapologetically yourself because those who came before you bled for you to have that right. And as I mentioned before, it looks amazing on all shades of brown skin.

I never really understood why I always gravitated toward the color RED, but it all makes sense now. My soul is tied to a color through the lives of those who came before me. It’s truly my favorite color to wear. I mean, I dyed my hair a shade, my wallet is RED, my favorite hats, also RED, and my most expensive shoe, you guessed it, RED. Even as a journalist, my favorite magazine has always been JET, famous for its RED logo. The color has been a little bit of everything for black culture.

So, as I wait to clock out of this job and be a young, turnt black man tonight, I will continue to read black stories throughout the day to celebrate and educate. But most importantly, I’m gonna plan a RED outfit and keep sipping this RED Drank.

Happy Juneteenth!!

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It’s been ten years since what some consider a “peak” year. The NBA has changed in many ways since then; The Warriors are no longer a dynasty, LeBron is a Laker, and Kelly Oubre is a vet now. Most importantly, their pre-game drip has taken a step to the streets. Streetwear brands and clothing have swiftly taken over the pregame tunnel.

Last night’s NBA slate was another example of that reality. Looking at the player outfits that each team provided, there was excitement with each click. Mostly because for me it’s the perfect place for outfit inspiration.

Starting off with arguably one of the flyest teams, the Oklahoma City Thunder. You may have instantly thought of SGA, but if you follow the team, then you know just how fly this forward gets. Luguentz Dort, who really came onto my style radar last year, is at the top of the list for style before yesterday’s game. My favorite thing about Dort is his creativity in taking formal pieces and blending them into a street-like style. It was no different when he arrived at Scotiabank Arena to face off against the Toronto Raptors. Which was almost like a homecoming for the Canadian player originally from Montreal.

Dort came home looking like he was signed to Opium. Much like the Atlanta artists, he came in an all-black look. He wore a raw-edge-hooded trench coat that swallowed the black shirt and baggy jeans he had on. At the bottom, his gigantic Balenciaga Stomper boots peeked from under the jeans. On top, a knit Chrome Hearts beanie with a leather cross emblem appliqued to the front. The frames and ski mask hid his face as he walked in, looking to handle business.

The darkness of his outfit was like looking into the night sky; In that regard, the iced-out chain and wolf pendant were the moon and stars, as it shined even without the flashing cameras.

He was able to light it up on the court as well, leading the team to a win over the Raptors. He ended up with 15 points, cashing in three three-pointers, pulled in five boards and had a steal on defense. It was a solid performance to continue their three-game win streak. They look to keep it up tonight as they play the first-place Pistons in Detroit.

Keeping the winning spirit and showing the Eastern Conference some love this time around. 76ers guard Kelly Oubre comes in with my second-favorite look of the night. Oubre is known for his off-court style and fashion sense as he is signed with The Society – a talent agency for celebrities, influencers and athletes alike. In his tenth season now, Oubre has been mentioned on lists like Sports Illustrated’s “Fashionable 50” and Slam Magazine’s “League Fits All-Drip First Team,” so he’s true to this sense of style.

Last night, he went into the archives and pulled out an SS16 Supreme faux-fur coat. He looked as if he were on the hunt, sporting the leopard-print coat as he entered the arena. The coat matched his spotted loafers and was paired with straight-leg blue jeans. The jeans are simple but have a stitch detail above the left knee and studs along the pockets. A black beanie and a black strapped watch accessorized the vet’s outfit. With the cherry on top being the wired headphones, which have earned the “performative” title all over social media.

Unlike the talk around wired headphones, Oubre actually came out and performed in his role. His shooting percentage was above 60 percent as he knocked down two three-pointers and totaled 12 points on the night. All in all, he helped his team get the win.

The next player really could have been in the two spot — we will say 2b — he came down the tunnel just like Oubre with the wired headphones in. Except this player’s style was on a different vibe altogether. Jaden Hardy, a guard for the Washington Wizards, came down the tunnel extremely fly. At first glance, it looked like an OG Bape zip hoodie, but in realtree camo, it turns out it’s a collaboration with SAINT Mxxxxxx. The distressed hoodie opens to a brown thermal lining, with a cream zipper that ties the pants in beautifully. His color coordination in this outfit was on point. The bottoms were just as much of a statement as the jacket: a pair of Sekrit chopper carpenter pants that swallowed the Rick Owens vintages he wore. Even though Hardy did not play in the game, his outfit was a big statement off the court.

Flipping back to the west with another guard who has been known for his sense of style, Jalen Green. The Suns recently acquired Green, but his outfit showed he’s a true West Coast native. He entered the arena sporting the Los Angeles brand Enfants Riches Déprimés; wearing their woman in sheet raglan t-shirt, a pair of shorts I couldn’t identify – I think they are Kapital, but there is also a small Chrome Hearts emblem, so idk… – and spotted Vans Old Skools. I just know it’s always hot in Phoenix, so the fit choice makes sense. Those shorts are definitely being added to my wishlist as we move into the summer.

Green’s off-court performance on the athlete’s runway was chill and got the job done. However, that wasn’t the case on the court for him and his team. They lost to the Celtics in a relatively low-scoring game, by today’s standard, 97 to 81. Green was the third-highest scorer with 13 on the night. The Suns aren’t too many games back from the sixth spot in the West, so they look to bounce back in their game tomorrow against the Lakers. Who happens to be ranked one spot ahead in sixth.

We started the top five with a forward, so it’s only right that it ends with another big man. Naz Reid from the Timberwolves comes in to wrap up this list. It just so happened that they were both wearing Chrome Hearts yesterday. Reid’s piece was more of a statement in comparison to Dort’s, though. Reid wore the brand’s Timmy cashmere varsity jacket with blue jeans and classic Chucks. I could only imagine he felt like Will Smith in “I, Robot” when we unboxed his fresh pair.

His off-the-court style translated well to his play on the court. He had eight points coming off the bench on 2/3 shooting from three-point, a few boards, a steal and a block. The defensive bug seemed to be in the air for Minnesota as they grabbed their 36th win of the season. They finished with 14 steals as a team and pulled away by 3 points.

After last night’s games, I am excited to see what everyone has in store for tonight. Will streetwear continue to dominate, or will some players decide to pop out in their best formal wear? Who knows, but right now the athlete’s runway has me doomscrolling through Grailed looking for my next piece.

The mother, the head of the family, is someone we can all thank for our lives. Being raised mostly by women, I have always been surrounded by maternal love. I can confidently say that without them, I wouldn’t be who I am today. The women in my life make up most of my village, and in the past year, my village has taken two major hits. In a week, it will be a year since I lost my step-mom to cancer. While today is my great-grandmother’s birthday, who passed away less than 2 months ago.

In my eyes, they both fit into this title, for my stepmother matriarch refers to just her being a mother. Yet for my GG, it feels like the word was made in precognition of what her life would be like.

She truly was the head of the family, especially on my mom’s side. A protector and educator to my grandma, great-aunts, uncle, cousins, and sister. In the 80-plus years she blessed us all with her presence, that was a constant ray of sunshine. Her home was all of our second homes. I remember the countless holidays spent there so much that it doesn’t feel real that we could have that without her.

However, that was the reality we faced as a family going into this past Christmas.

It was nine days removed from my birthday and graduation. I went from having you in the crowd cheering as I walked across the stage to sitting next to you under the incandescent hospital lights. I stayed with you for hours when I heard they put you back in there. Those lights hunted me as you lay underneath them. I wish they were warmer lights and not so void of comfort. As I left her side and walked to my car, I caught myself choking up. Before I knew it, I bullied myself into not letting tears fall.

The very next day, she was gone. As I wiped the crust from my eyes and drove to work at 6am, I saw the unavoidable news I would officially get later. I don’t think I have ever thrown my phone faster. It was lost for the rest of that ride; The reality was just too much to accept. I turned up the music, rolled down the windows, and even tried to think positive thoughts, but the emotions won. As the gas pedal got closer to the floor of the car, my vision got blurrier; It was the tears piling up like water in a storm drain. Then I felt myself starting to rock back and forth as my body went into shock. The rest of the day was spent in a fog, my body present at my job, but my mind was up in the clouds.

The whole experience was strange, like an almost evil case of déjà vu. When it comes to both matriarchs in this story, I saw them on their last day.

When it happened for the second time with my GG, I placed an unfair sense of responsibility on myself due to the deaths of these matriarchs. I honestly started to feel as if I was cursed. Why was it that after I saw them, they passed away?

Like it couldn’t have been a coincidence to happen again.

As I continue to move through the grief, I understand that in a way, it was selfish to think like that. I have no control over life or death, so it’s ridiculous to act like my existence had significance in their times of passing. However, I do believe some higher power was allowing me to be blessed with their presence one final time. Giving me the opportunity to make up for the limited number of times I saw them in their final year.

To my stepmom, Amber, I am indebted for the amount of time she spent raising me as if I were her own. In a way, it felt like that because out of the 23 years I have existed, she was there for the first 21. Coming back from the military with my dad and kickstarting an extremely loving life with the addition of a new family.

I don’t truly remember all the experiences from when I was little, but there was never a moment when she failed to relive the moments with me. One in particular is when she took me to Texas for the first time to meet her mom. No matter where we were, Amber and I would always laugh when she recalled this trip. Especially the time when I was in the backseat of her mom’s truck singing “I’m N Luv” by T-Pain at the ripe age of 3. We shared many journeys like this, and I am grateful for all of them. Most importantly, though, I appreciate her as a mother. In a world where not everyone has the easiest living situation, I can say I was lucky to have Amber. She brought life to my two oldest siblings, whom I would give the world for. Raising them the best she could while dealing with her own challenges from this game we play called life. She got dealt the toughest card of all and fought to the very end. I admire the amount of strength she always showed.

There’s a lot I would like to say to her, yet I am working on finding peace knowing I have forever lost the opportunity. The same could be said for the birthday girl as I get ready to go celebrate her day.

I was scrummaging through my closet looking for something purple to wear to dinner tonight, when I came across the first pair of jeans I sewed. A pair of denim that holds even more significance, knowing that I could not have finished them without her machine. On those jeans, I sewed a cross that reminds me of her consistent Sunday style that I saw week in and week out during middle school. I look at the thread that’s started to show, thinking how sewing became my favorite hobby after being hers for so long. We have so much that connects us; part of me hates that I realize it more now that she is gone.

Being the oldest of the great-grands, there was a difference in our connection. It was because I stayed with her during middle school. In those years, she was my guardian, and I probably didn’t take full advantage of the time we had. It wasn’t until I seemed to graduate high school that I started having deeper conversations with her.

My GG, who was an educator first, always made sure that we prioritized our education. It would become our main topic of conversation whenever I saw her. Especially with her past experience working at my alma mater, the University of Tampa. Hearing the stories of how the school used to look and her walk to get there used to amaze me. I loved our chats. Each time I checked in, she never failed to mention how proud she was of me delivering the message with the biggest smile.

A big reason I was able to fight and finish my degree was because she was always in the back of my mind. As we got closer and closer to the day, she seemed to be as excited as I was. It was steadily the topic of conversation. She asks if I’m ready, while simultaneously reminiscing about the younger version of me running around the house. Knowing that she was able to see me cross the stage might be the most comforting information I have during my grief. Especially considering Amber wasn’t able to, I couldn’t handle her, GG, not being able to experience it. The pictures we took after the ceremony are truly timeless. The one used in this post captures the pure joy shared between the two of us. There’s truly no one who can compare to the matriarchs of my family. If only I could hug them one more time.

Nine days ago, the second day of black history month, I felt three tears fall down my face as Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” swelled from the TV speakers. The moment came as I watched one of the most impactful black films ever made, Malcolm X. I knew what was coming; Considering the film was almost over, I had learned his life and ultimately seen it before. Yet it was an involuntary response to a known ending.

In this second rewatch, I was considerably older and honestly more advanced in my thinking. I also had the pleasure of reading his speeches in my final semester. As the tears came down, I was having an epiphany, if you will, of the duality of power — to inspire and to instill fear — that comes from Black men’s words.

For the intellectual, their words put them in a position to tell the stories of our people. The Black American who has fought since the inception of the country just to be considered, respected and not killed for existing. Protest has taken many forms throughout history: jumping off ships, revolts, marches, sit-ins, public speeches, and literature. My area of expertise is the latter. There has always been a person who isn’t afraid to take up space in the most unapologetic way by using their words.

Considering there was a time where Black Americans fully believed the talking book concept — the idea that slave owners were being talked to by their books and that’s why as a slave they were unable to read — to getting to a place where a black man, like James Baldwin is writing their own books to be read by all likes of people; There is an undeniable power that lies in that feat. When all odds are put against you, and you overcome them, you can inspire the next generation.​

That’s unfortunately where the negative side of the power creeps in. It’s the power to influence and inspire that has always scared others to the point of violence. I believe it’s one of the saddest recurring events that happens in this country.

The reason I stated others was intentional. A majority of the violence towards the black man has come from the white man in this country. Yet, it doesn’t mean there haven’t been times where envy — not just envy but even an opposing view — took over a brother, thus sparking violence. Continuing with Mr. El-Shabazz — Malcolm had officially changed his name after his pilgrimage — this was the scenario of his assassination in 1965. He was gunned down by a former brother of his, a member of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm spent years rallying people to the nation’s cause, mainly through his public appearances and addresses. His words were electric and, more importantly, compelling. The only reason they even got to such a level has to be credited to him. So, when he left and started his own mission, that was met with violence: death threats, setting his house on fire with him and his family inside, and finally his assassination.​

Malcolm X has been gone from the world for 60 years, yet he still lives on. A legacy was left behind, and it’s written. Even though he only wrote one book, his autobiography, his speeches are timeless reads that can still reflect the Black American struggle in the US today.

Another man who suffered the negative side of the power that comes with articulating ideas that run counter to the status quo was Fred Hampton. A true revolutionary who was constantly speaking up against the ways of the country. Especially by showing the intersectionality between racism and capitalism.

He was the deputy chairman of the National Black Panther Party. What makes this feat greater is that he was so young. He joined the Illinois chapter at the age of 20 in 1968, after being a member of the NAACP for the prior 2 years. The year before, at age 19, the FBI had already opened a case against him. The case and the increased pressure from officials stemmed from their fear of Hampton’s talent for communication.

By the end of 1969, it seemed they were finally fed up and decided to murder him. As they set up a raid that allowed a unit of 14 plain-clothed officers to go into his apartment and open fire on him, his security guard, and his wife. By the end of that night, Hampton was no longer with us.

It’s honestly disgusting, but that’s the harsh reality of how this country has treated Black Americans in general, but especially the leaders. White America has always had this deep fear of black people, and it comes from a place of introspection. Let me explain, these people are responsible for a vast majority of the tragedies that have happened to people of color. From slavery to the civil rights movement and even still in the present day. There is an underlying evilness to the White Christian American, mostly due to the fact that most atrocities have been justified or connected to religion in pursuit of white nationalism. They know these things, and that’s why they have projected this fear onto us.​

James Baldwin framed it perfectly in an appearance on the Dick Cavett show in May of 1969. Just about 7 months before the assassination of Mr. Hampton.

“The public’s reaction to combining the words Black and Power is a revealing insight into what the country has done with its power,” said Baldwin.

The basis of the discussion was why Black Americans still feel rather hopeless in this country, regardless of the small steps taken towards equality. That, after 400 years of mistreatment, these opportunities still result in black people facing racism. So much so that he even refers to integration as being “an accomplice to my own murder.” In this appearance, Baldwin spoke about the hypocrisy of America in many ways. Speaking on how white Americans have been revered for shouting “give me liberty or death,” yet when it comes from a black man, they are instantly marked as radical, a threat, or worse, un-American.

Baldwin was inspiring in a different way than the other two. His public appearances were more discussions and interviews, not necessarily speeches. Baldwin differed because he was a writer, and a creative one at that. As someone who was born during the late parts of legal segregation and lived well within the civil rights movement, he had a deep understanding of the racial issues in the country.

This would reflect in his writing as he wrote from varied perspectives, the oppressor and the oppressed. By doing this, he in part also attracted white readers to his work. The attraction was due to how accurately his writing painted the picture of this country. Someone who wasn’t telling half-truths but describing true experiences. Truths that made white readers reflect on their roles in these racial experiences across the country.

Nowadays, the black-and-white ability to tell the truth is lost on a society reliant on AI. On top of that, the country is run by an administration that thrives off of anti-intellectualism. From book banning to trying to dismantle the Department of Education; The historical truth has become labeled as woke or radical left propaganda. Especially when it comes to issues regarding people of color.

As someone who wants to make a living off his words, these men have inspired me to combat this in my own way. When I think of them, I see revolutionaries who have changed the country’s dynamic. I find myself often wanting to be remembered in such a way. Yet with literacy rates dropping and attention spans shrinking, how realistic is that? Information is firing out so rapidly from the devices at our fingertips that there’s little time taken to sit with ideas. It’s strange to see how the power of fully articulating our thoughts has dwindled over the last 70 years. Still, I choose to follow the path of those before me, focusing on using my words to inspire. Maybe that’s the mission, not exactly inspiring millions, but educating and impacting those that I can. It’d be disrespectful to those before me, who suffered for this power, to not use it to the best of my ability.

​

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As we find ourselves in the middle of this decade, a new player has emerged in the fashion scene, bringing with it a fresh and exciting dynamic. Athletes have stepped into the spotlight, transforming the traditional relationship between sports and fashion. The representation of the athlete has evolved from the grand stages of Paris Fashion Week, where designers like Grace Wales Bonner and Willy Chavarria have unveiled collaborations with Adidas, to the humble arena tunnels that have now become a runway for athletes showcasing their favorite designers.

The recent migration of athletes into high-fashion spaces has been fun to see, with collections from fashion houses that feature jerseys and other items that are a part of the sports world. The first five years of the decade have shown how this new relationship thrives, with a significant factor being Fashion Week.

Fashion Week

Whether it's Milan, Paris, New York, or London, each of the menswear fashion weeks has brought athletes to the forefront, marking a significant shift in the industry. Let's take a trip to Milan and look back at the PDF show. Domenico Formichetti, the designer behind PDF's Spring/Summer 2026 collection called "FREE-DOM", featured the New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara and New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs, underscoring the growing influence of athletes in high fashion.

A collection heavily influenced by streetwear culture, we saw Kamara walk down the pavement in a distressed hooded workman-jacket and distressed jorts to match, which came to his shins. Both the jacket and shorts were primarily covered in teal fabric. It looked like it was supposed to give the feeling of graffiti, but it looked like a bunch of motorcycle brand stickers were slapped on. Diggs was styled in the same silhouette; the difference for Diggs was that his jacket was zipped close, and his coat seemed purposely puffed up. I enjoyed the color of the garments and the choice to focus on texture rather than covering this in graphics as well.

For Diggs, it wouldn't be his last men's show of the year as he traveled to Paris, where he walked for Willy Chavarria, alongside another professional who was making his fashion week debut, James Harden. This show was not only important because it featured two athletes, but also because it debuted a new collaboration between the designer and Adidas. Not the first time a big designer has collaborated with a sports brand and definitely won't be the last, but we will come back to this later.

Continuing in Paris, which is the location that attracts the largest crowd of athletes, we saw Russell Westbrook and Jordan Clarkson as well. These two are very familiar with the high fashion world, which is part of the reason we see more athletes in that space. Clarkson, who has great style off the court, was just attending this time around; he hit shows like Dior, Rick Owens, and Willy Chavarria. Westbrook took it one step further.

He attended the Amiri and Louis Vuitton shows as their celebrity guest. Still, most impressively, he modeled for Feng Chen Weng. A designer with whom he has a close relationship, which became apparent when she came out to do her walkout concluding the show. Westbrook was seen hugging and then jogging through the runway with Weng, the two of them smiling from ear to ear after a beautiful show. It was a great fashion moment for the NBA veteran as he wore two looks in the show.

While basketball and football players often dominate the media's portrayal of athletes in the fashion world, it's important to remember that the sports-fashion relationship is far more diverse and inclusive. The fashion world is buzzing with activity from a wide range of sports, including gymnastics, soccer, and track and field.

David Beckham, who was known for his edgy style during his playing days, was in attendance during Paris Fashion Week. Current player Declan Rice even made an appearance during London Fashion Week. Where he would end up walking for the brand Labrum London. The sports madness doesn't end there either, as a handful of Olympians were spotted at the Paris and New York weeks.

In New York, we saw Sunisa Lee, Gabby Thomas, and Jordan Chiles all in attendance. Chiles only went to one show, but Thomas and Lee had their plates full with three showings each. With a focus on the American brand Tommy Hilfiger, which featured the two on their Instagram sitting in the front row.

The last Olympian of the bunch is the world record holder for pole vault, Mondo Duplantis. He was in Paris attending the Dior and Hermes show. Two very prestigious brands that have a deep history in the fashion industry. The appearances of these athletes show the unity between high fashion and sports.

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Vogue

Vogue magazine, often referred to as the bible of the fashion business, has played a pivotal role in setting trends and expanding the fashion audience. The inspiration for this story came from 'Vogue: In the 90s', a docu-series and podcast that illustrates the magazine's profound influence on the fashion business.

Why does it matter?

If Vogue sets the standard, then the increasing presence of athletes in its pages is a clear indicator of the growing influence of athletes in the fashion industry. This trend is not just a passing fad, but a significant shift that is shaping the fashion landscape of this decade.

In the past 26 years, there have been 11 appearances from athletes in Vogue that the magazine has truly loved. Going back to 1998, when Serena and Venus Williams were first photographed wearing Carolina Herrera. However, the collaboration between Vogue and professional athletes has not always been smooth.

It started in 2001, when the January cover came out, and it featured Marion Jones. At the time, the fastest woman in the world and winner of five medals at the 2000 Olympic Games. As I found, Jones was the first athlete to get a solo cover shoot at Vogue, but when you look it up, a deep dive has to be done. In most cases, Serena Williams' solo cover in 2015 is considered the first. It's a pivotal moment for athletes and black women alike, so why isn't it talked about more?

Unfortunately, a controversy followed the star athlete, and the people involved never let up until the truth was out. In 2004, Victor Conte, the founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative or Balco, revealed in a national interview that he personally gave Jones "four different illegal performance-enhancing drugs before, during, and after the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games." Jones denied the accusations until 2007, when she admitted to lying under oath to federal agents about her steroid use during the Olympic Games.

The scandal that followed this athlete, along with another Vogue cover in the late 2000s, contributed to what seemed to harm the relationship between the magazine and athletes. The cover is the April 2008 edition, which featured NBA star Lebron James and supermodel Gisele Bündchen. It received a lot of backlash due to how the two were portrayed on the cover. With critics and fans saying the photo was racially insensitive, giving the feel of "King Kong."

The controversy that followed these two covers feels like it had Vogue leaders walking on eggshells. It would be another seven years before an athlete graced the cover again, this being when Williams got her solo cover. There were still features within the magazine, and ultimately, the use of athletes picked up. In 2018, Williams appeared on the cover again. In 2020, Simone Biles scored the solo cover for the August edition, and a few months later, Naomi Osaka had a solo cover in January of 2021. Williams got another solo cover in 2022, and in 2024, two athletes: Coco Gauff in April and Sha'Carri Richardson in the August digital issue. Most recently, though, coming off an LVMH-sponsored Olympics, the first issue of the new year featured WNBA star Angel Reese. This made her the first professional women's basketball player to be on the cover of the illustrious magazine.

So, in the last five years, every year except 2023, there was an athlete to grace the cover of Vogue. If that wasn't enough to prove that athletes are the new faces pushing the luxury fashion business forward, then consider that last year's Vogue World was all about sports. It was deemed to be a collaboration with youth athletic academies throughout France and a story of sports and fashion over the last 100 years. The showcase brought a lot of big names out like Serge Ibaka, Stefon Diggs, Kyle Kuzma, and Venus Williams.

Sports Brands and Fashion Designers

With the recent trend of athletes switching their uniforms for runway apparel comes the increase of designers working with athletic apparel companies. Names like Grace Wales Bonner, Martine Rose, Veneda Carter, and most recently Willy Chavarria all come to mind. When it comes to the trailblazer who laid the foundation for the luxury designer in the sports world, I instantly think of the late Virgil Abloh.

Abloh and Nike collaborated for the Ten collection while he was still a part of the OFF-WHITE team back in 2017. Considerably one of the most influential shoe drops of the last ten years, it received instant love from professional athletes. Westbrook was seen wearing different versions of the Jordan 1s in his pregame outfits back in 2018. As well, players like Montrezl Harrell and P.J. Tucker were even seen wearing sneakers from the collection in-game.

Abloh really ignited this movement, and Wales Bonner kept the flame burning when she did her first collection with Adidas about 3 years later. Taking her ideas one step further than footwear and reimaging a staple of the brand, tracksuits. She created a frenzy when previewing some designs during London Fashion Week, selling out instantly when the clothes hit the market.

Now, about five years later, the frenzy around her Adidas collections has grown chiefly by bringing back sneakers and garments from the archives of the sports company. Reimagining and elevating comfort looks through the use of different materials to the point that they look like they are taken straight from the runway.

My favorite part of this shift is that multiple brands want to work with established fashion designers. It's expected from the powerhouses of Nike and Adidas, as they represent a majority of professional athletes. However, Under Armour would not be left out of the mix, working with their own design giant. The brand's most recent collaboration was with Balenciaga under their head designer Demna. A collection that wasn't the flashiest, but kept the iconic baggy shape that Demna made famous while at Balenciaga. Like the other collaborations, they managed to reimagine staples to the brand like sweatpants, sneakers, and shorts.

Chavarria is the most recent designer to collaborate with a sports brand, joining Wales Bonner at Adidas. He also managed to bring back some iconic looks, especially with the track pants he made. The collection looks like a perfectly tailored blast from the past.

With five years left in the decade, I'm excited for what is yet to come.

Starting with my favorite Olympian, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who showed up in a pearl colored dress with black embroidery and accessories to go with it. A very elegant look that didn’t overdo it and had great shape. She didn’t take home any awards but still showed up stunningly.

Another Olympian, Sunisa Lee, did end up walking away with an ESPY for best comeback athlete. The gymnast who was diagnosed with a kidney disease back in 2023 went for gold on the red carpet, literally. Showing up in an Oscar de La Renta dress that was covered in sequins and featured a high slit. With a pair of matching heels that shined just like her dress.

Her fellow teammate at the Paris Olympics, Jordan Chiles, showed up in a shorter gown than the first two, but it was unique in shape and texture. A pink-nude strapless mini-dress that had a woven pattern that makes you believe it came directly from Bottega Veneta. In reality, it was from designer Cong Tri, who did absolutely amazing with this piece. A couple of more women caught my eye with fun and unique dresses: LSU tigers basketball player Flajaue Johnson, rapper Martica Ivory “Fat” Nwigwe, Los Angeles Sparks player Rae Burrell, and Olympian Gabby Thomas.

Now, a moment for the women who came in something other than the standard dresses, even though they were stunning. For starters, the suit dress, which was executed beautifully by both Alyssa Thompson and Sloane Stephens. 

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Thompson made history 2 years ago, becoming the youngest player drafted first in the National Women's Soccer League by Angel City FC. However, on Wednesday night, she traded in the kit for a navy suit-dress that had a front button closure to the base of the dress. Paired with a black chanaynay (Chanel bag) and heels. Stephens was the yang to Thompson’s yin, as she showed up in all white. 

Stephens' suit dress featured a double-breasted top that stopped right above the torso and transformed into a full-length dress. It featured a high slit with a small button detail going from the torso to the top of the slit. Paired with matching heels, the tennis star looked terrific as she accepted arguably the most important award of the night, the Mohammed Ali humanitarian award. 

Two women decided to drop the dress from the wardrobe entirely, showing up in a suit. WNBA Legend Diana Taurasi was one of them. She wore an all black double breasted suit that was accessorized with silver jewelry and clear circle frames. My favorite of the two was Ashleigh Johnson, who came in a quilted suit. 

Now let's move on to the men, who did slightly disappoint me, especially with fashion week ending just under a month ago. But to be fair, it wasn’t a bad showing completely. Some people stood out, but for the most part, a lot of looks were basic and what you would expect.

To start us out strong, the winner of two ESPYs this year, best male athlete and NBA Player (his second one in two years, btw.) Shai Gilgeous Alexander had an amazing year in his sport and is one of the best-dressed athletes in the world. He showed off his incredible style Wednesday night when he showed up in a gray striped suit and a trench coat to match. Give him a cane with a fedora, and we would have been calling him “a pimp named Shai” all night long. In all seriousness, though, the look was so well put together, and as always, the look was tailored to him perfectly. 

Following right behind SGA in terms of style was Josh Sweat, a linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals. The big fella came in gray just like the All-Star guard, except his look was more relaxed. In a white t-shirt, hugged by a cool gray circle-collared suit jacket with pants to match, the best part was the hanging belt straps that fell from the hidden area underneath his jacket. Finished off with a pair of clear frames and blue loafers. This was the perfect way to switch up the normal attire for a pretty formal event. 

To wrap it up were two more gentlemen in striped suits, one being a former teammate of Sweat, Jordan Davis. The defensive lineman for the Eagles came in a gray three-piece suit with a maroon bow tie. Next was someone who doesn’t professionally play sports, but his outfit made people take notice on the red carpet. 

Garrett Josemans, a quantum physicist and winner of Love is Blind season 7, showed up in a navy suit with a gold pinstripe detail. Underneath was a white sweater top, a brown leather braided belt with a gold buckle, and vintage brown loafers. In all honesty, the only reason his outfit wasn’t closer to the top was to get the athletes done first. But Josemans outshone a lot of people with his style Wednesday night. He and his wife, Taylor Krause, are for sure my style couple for the night as his suit complemented her golden dress perfectly. 

With the women showing their range and ability to be stylish in all types of garments, the men were truly outshone. It speaks to a reality in the fashion space that women are more likely to experiment with what they wear. You can’t put them in a bubble. For men, however, we stick to what's comfortable and rarely dress in a genderless way. Pinstripes are in right now for men, for women, just about everything you can think of. 

A quarter of a way through my twenties, I’m grieving two loved ones-one who hasn’t even passed, stressing about finishing school and what comes next. But at the forefront of my mind, this question lingers: Where did the love go for playing dress up? 

Recently, I have felt a need to move away from streetwear, or at least elevate it to the point where it’s not just the same silhouettes in each outfit. Wearing blazers and/or dress shirts more casually, finding vintage pieces no one has, and curating jewellery that can take a basic outfit up a notch. With that being said, I haven’t made any changes toward that goal of elevation. The wishlists are full, but the motivation is gone. 

It’s safe to say I’m burnt out. I feel like I've gone through everything in my closet. Don’t consider myself a content creator, but I was at least consistent in recording my outfits, and even that has stopped. 

The last time I was active in my styling and trying to mix and match every single piece every way possible was last November. (I was looking back at my Instagram stories this morning, and that's what made me want to write this.) If we are being honest, the stretch from September 12th to November 11th, I was in my bag. I shocked myself with my style and tried some new things. Sadly though it was all performative, and I realized that months later when the spring semester began and the fits stopped. 

During those two months, my relationship ended, and I lost a genuine connection with someone dear to me. I was distraught, couldn’t sleep, and was barely eating. Day after day, though I put on an outfit and posted on my story, hoping I could get one person’s attention. 

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I read a Substack earlier about intimacy, and they described it perfectly. It’s all the little things we do with our person when we have truly become comfortable with them. From falling asleep in each other's arms to sending TikTok videos that suit a humor only you two share. For me, sharing our outfits was something that I held so dear to me that when I couldn’t send them directly, it felt almost unfair. Hoping to find the same validation for experimenting with style that she gave me, I posted on my Insta story the only place I knew she would see. She did, and for a while, there was even interaction. When that died, not only did it click how much those little interactions of sharing outfits meant to me. But the way I thought and dressed had to be let go of, along with that relationship.

The realization was not that I lost a love for dressing up, but I lost a source of love, and continuing to be stylish was the only way to distract from the hurt of reality. 

Here we are, months later, and I’m now in a style stalemate. A time where putting on things I own no longer reflects the character I am becoming. A time where I’m studying the brands I want to wear instead of buying into trends. A time that wouldn’t have come without a reflection of my most recent pain. A time where I quietly find the joy of playing dress up again. 

I think I've just entered a phase where quality is the most important factor. Quality in thought, action, and most importantly, my garments. Can sending fit pics be my love language? I need retail therapy, maybe without the retail. 

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A powerful moment on one of the biggest stages in fashion and in my eyes the most important of the week. A performance that was moving and from a place of genuine care for issues affecting people outside of the fashion business. 

The Mexican-American designer used his platform to speak out, and with it being the fourth of July, I sit with this moment. Not really wanting to celebrate the current state of the country or government, but still happy to have the freedoms I do. With it being THE American holiday, Chavarria’s prelude is the most American thing he could have done. A perfect example of using his freedom of speech and right to petition the government, an administration actively working against the majority of the American people.

In the past week alone, I felt like I’d seen some of the most disappointing and dystopian headlines. For starters, in my home state of Florida, we had a new migrant detention center open up in the Everglades. Alligator Alcatraz, a place that has already started to be filled with people, even though it isn't as safe as officials have claimed. A facility that is supposed to be able to withstand hurricanes but allows water to seep into the building from a common storm. 

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Then, on top of that, Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” has been pushed through the House and to the president's desk.  He plans to sign the bill into action today at 5 pm, but there is nothing beautiful about it. Taking away from programs like Medicaid and food stamps, tax cuts for high-income citizens, and raising the overall debt ceiling for the country. All while still making it harder for people who want to get access to higher education and limiting healthcare options for women and the LGBTQ community.

My shock doesn’t come from the president’s actions-as his morals are gone-but from his supporters, constituents, and people who are in a position to speak up but don’t. Speaking on this, something that upset me earlier when I was reading a GQ article on Chavarria’s show was this line: “prodding whether or not it was an appropriate statement to make at a luxury fashion show in Paris.”

Why wouldn’t it be? It’s when the most attention is on the fashion world, and it seems like the perfect time to reach a lot of people. The real question that should be coming from fashion fans is, why aren’t more designers willing to make noise like this? Fashion activism is not new to the luxury space, especially after a designer like the late Vivienne Westwood. We are past the time of the “I’m not into politics” mindset, it's cliche, but politics are into you and will affect you or those close to you. 

Chavarria’s prelude wasn’t the last display of criticism towards the American government. There were also a couple of T-shirts that had “America” upside down, to reflect on how quickly everything has flipped and, for lack of better words, how backwards the current state of the country feels. 

The designer created an experience that was stylish, important, and commanded the attention of his audience. As we move through time, I hope and believe there will be more designers or brands speaking out against the injustices of the world. It made it more convincing that he is someone with such a big platform. 

Instead of thinking about what he could have lost from this showing, he sets a precedent. That no matter how big you get, you are never too big to stand up for others.

From the NBA Draft & Finals to the MET Gala & Paris Fashion week, this look has caught my eye and I'm here for it. It’s too hot nowadays, and I’m getting tired of the same shape for formal outfits. The shorts are a refreshing change to formal attire. Not to toot my own horn, but I feel like I was ahead of the wave. Just a brace-faced teen, I bravely showed up to my high school homecoming back in 2019 with my shorts on.

A black t-shirt & blazer from H&M with a pair of shorts-pants from H&M that we had tailored down into shorts. Finished off with my favorite shoe at the time, a Converse collab with Comme des Garçons. Let’s just say my style has evolved since then, but I still love that outfit; it was the first time I felt like I experimented with my style.

Back to the stars, on one of the biggest nights in fashion, the Tampa native Doechii showed what black dandyism meant to her. In a Louis Vuitton outfit that featured checkered shorts and a cropped tuxedo jacket covered in the brand's monogram. With a pair of calf-high burgundy socks and Mary Jane loafers. She was the only person I saw bold enough to wear shorts to the event, yet it didn’t feel out of place.

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To continue with the spirit of Louis Vuitton at the Spring 2026 runway show, I spotted someone in the front row in a similar outfit. It was a young man that I spotted during the moment between Pharrell and Beyonce-he gifted her a bag directly from the collection during his final bow and walkout. I was looking behind this interaction, directly at the brown short suit he was wearing. A brown blazer, vest, and tie all hugged the white button-up he wore on top of matching-colored shorts. His look was completed with a pair of white round-toed sneakers.

Current NBA star Lu Dort followed the outfit's recipe going into game 7 of the NBA Finals. His, however, wasn’t LV coded, a more subtle approach compared to the artist, yet effortlessly stylish. A black double-breasted blazer, unique black dress shorts with Comme des Garçons socks, and MM6 Maison Margiela x Dr. Martens 1461 loafers. As I mentioned in a previous post, it was my favorite look that night and during the Finals as a whole.

To be followed up a couple of weeks later by a young player, whose dream of making the NBA was accomplished when Adam Silver announced his name as the sixth pick to the Washington Wizards. Tre Johnson wore a double-breasted navy suit jacket over matching knee-length tailored shorts, white slouch socks, and Dr. Martens’ Adrian loafers.

The blazer and shorts had a very subtle pinstripe detail that had to be done with a navy thread that had a sparkle to it. Something that could only be noticed when the sun or camera flashes shone directly on the fabric. Add in the tie Johnson wore, and his outfit became the perfect balance between the previous two. All showed how we can style shorts formally-Doechii being the most dressed up with her perfectly tailored tuxedo jacket, Dort with a dressed down approach, and Johnson comfortably in the in between.

Wearing shorts to the wedding is probably still out of the question, but I hope you at least entertained my style request. At the very least, the idea of wearing shorts formally can be less taboo. The biggest moments should be celebrated with style and comfort, so if shorts can get you into the Met Gala or sitting front row at the Louis Vuitton show. Then, best believe I’ll be rocking some shorts at the next formal event I attend.

What do you wear with a championship on the line? A suit, favorite shirt, statement piece, or maybe you keep it simple like Thunder’s Chet Holmgren with a good old Nike sweatsuit. But is pre-game style even important to a player getting the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream?

Absolutely.

Compared to game 6, both teams collectively took their pregame style up a notch to close out the season. That's not to say it was a bad showing in the previous game, but more players caught my eye Sunday night, especially the Pacers, whom I deemed the losers of the tunnel fit battle on Thursday.

Starting with new faces Myles Turner and Obi Toppin, Pacers two big men, who I wouldn’t say had my favorite looks but showed their style. For Toppin, it was a statement top from le PÈRE, a New York based brand founded by Ryan Wright. The mashup between a long-sleeved button-up and graphic t-shirt was my second favorite item to see in the tunnel. The graphic was loud, attention-grabbing, and paired well with Jordan 1s. However, I feel he could have worn a different pair of denim; the proportions of the baggy loose-fitting top with the straight leg denim wouldn’t have been my choice.

Turner came quietly, repping luxury fashion in a monochromatic look, elevating a very simple look with the quality of the clothes. He wore a black Prada t-shirt and black pleated trousers folded at the ankle to show off his leather boots. I wasn’t familiar with the boot brand, but they featured a front strap with a silver clasp to the side. Topped off with black frames and a Goyard bag to match the color scheme.

The team leader on the court and in off-court style, Tyrese Haliburton, showed up for the biggest game of his career so far, repping his team. In a black leather Pacers jacket that looked like it was pulled straight from the nineties. The rest of the outfit felt like it matched the time as well, his black shirt was tucked into a crisp pair of blue denim and finished off with an all-black pair of Dr. Marten’s derbies.

Tyrese Haliburton Walkin

His accessorizing was very subtle, only one chain, a pair of glasses, and a plain black belt. With one highlight of a bag, the yellow Louis Vuitton ‘millionaire’ speedy bag. It’s great, a pop of color that ties right back into the outfit with the yellow lining of his jacket. Even though it was an unfortunate ending for Haliburton on the court, he had a great performance in the tunnel.

A great showing from the Pacers, but on to the Thunder who had more looks that I favored before Thursday's game. Let’s just say they didn’t disappoint.

Starting with my new style inspiration and favorite look of the night, Lu Dort, I was genuinely lost for words. You could say I wasn’t familiar with his game.

Lu Dort Outfit

Dort walked the walk in a black double-breasted blazer left open to show off the plain black shirt and three chains, all with cross pendants that danced around his neck. Hanging from the collar of the blazer was another chain with a cross that hung like a pocket watch. His shorts were my absolute favorite part of the look, a pair of black dress shorts, but look closely towards the knee of the shorts and you see leg openings that are constructed like the waistband of the shorts. Belt loops, side and back pockets all detailed at the bottom of the shorts. Finished off with Comme des Garçons socks and MM6 Maison Margiela x Dr. Martens 1461 loafers.

Thunder Enter Arena

You can never keep the Thunder guards out of the conversation when we are talking fashion, the usual suspects, Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but a surprise for me was Andrew Wiggins. He arrived in a candy red leather jacket, a white tee, black double-knee leather pants, and black Timbs.

Red is my favorite color to wear so there may be a little bias there…but still the jacket did what it was supposed to, completely grabbing my attention.

For J-Dub, he sported what looks like another vintage tee, a long pair of distressed jorts, slouch socks, and Rick Owens low-top vintage sneakers. The tunnel has shown me one thing so far, and it's that NBA players have a deep bag collection. The highlight of his outfit was the beige shearling messenger bag he wore from ERL. It was a statement, but it was also playful, went perfectly with the color scheme, and just made me want to make an impulsive purchase.

Last but certainly not least, the MVP, who also toned down his outfit in terms of label representation but not style. From the top down, an army green diesel hat, boxy shaped grey hoodie with a snap closure, a pair of black leather pants with a front flap let down, and finally his sneaker, the Shai 001 in baby blue.

In a great presentation of style and even greater performance on the court, the Pacers and Thunder closed out the season, with the Thunder crowned NBA champions. As well as winning the style competition, and since they are the last team standing, I feel like it's only right to name them the most stylish team in the league.

Now we wait until the NFL season, where we get to see more style and tunnel outfits from players we know and love.

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Stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Tyrese Haliburton showed up in style for the athletes runway. At least that's what I like to call it. The tunnel, where you get to see the athletes' creativity off the court. Mixing in elements of luxury and streetwear fashion showing off each of their unique styles.

Even though it does not affect the outcome of the game, I think tunnel outfits are the first real battle between two competing teams. Which team has the best style? Which player?

So as we recoup from the results of the game and the players travel back to Oklahoma City planning their championship outfits. I want to give my favorites from game six on both teams, starting with arguably the best dressed in the league. Shai Gilgeuos-Alexander.

Thunder Outfits (This link is a video of the outfits. I did my best to include images.)

The superstar point guard is known for his off-court style and true appreciation for fashion. From his creative director role with Converse to modeling and walking for Thom Browne during Paris Fashion Week. Gilgeuous-Alexander has had his share of first-hand experiences in the fashion space, which many athletes can not relate to.

In this video, the MVP is dressed in a Chrome Hearts varsity jacket and a pair of their double-knee carpenter-style denim with their signature crosses all over. Styled with a camo hat, a blank white button-up, and his signature sneaker Shai 001 in an unreleased baby blue colorway.

My personal favorite of the night goes to Jalen Williams or J-Dub as fans refer to him. He came with an expanded color palette compared to his teammate Gilgeous-Alexander. Wearing a 2022 Balenciaga oversized hooded flannel and what looks like a vintage tee depicting Jesus. On the bottom of his look are a pair of statement pants, pink Chrome Hearts denim with the pink crosses. Paired with all white Maison Mihara Yasuhiro Peterson sneakers, an all white leather cross body and chain with pendants all from Chrome Hearts.

It felt like the team brand was Chrome Hearts for the night as these two came repping heavily. But that wasn't all for the Thunder as their big man Isiah Hartenstein and Lou Dort both came correct. Dort was my favorite of the two and showcased that you can have style and not be too flashy.

He wore a chocolate-brown leather blazer unbuttoned to show off the plain white tank top and what I can only assume to be Balenciaga jeans based on the shape. The team brand still made an appearance as it looks like he is wearing a Chrome Hearts belt. Accompanied by a green handbag that reads ‘READYMADE’. A great look in my opinion and refreshing difference to what some of his other teammates wore.

Overall the Thunder came dressed to impress, setting high standards for the hometown Pacers to match. Well hate to let you down they didn’t meet the bar, at least from what I saw.

Bennedict Mathurin Outfit

The birthday boy, Bennedict Mathurin, led the team in style points for Thursday's game. He strutted down the tunnel in a Canadian tuxedo, but if you focus on his jacket it was a circle collar which is different from most denim jackets. Everything fit perfectly and he didn’t miss a moment for a subtle logo flex with a black Louis Vuitton belt.

Tyrese Haliburton Outfit

The star point guard of the team, Haliburton, wore a blue and yellow tracksuit that had a vintage look and a brand I couldn’t quite figure out. I assume that it was an old Russell Athletic collection with the Pacers but I could also be wrong. It was a clean look and the glasses he wore topped it off. They were sleek and the frame reminded me of the old Oakley OVERTHETOP glasses that were made iconic in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Other than that I wasn’t too impressed by the Pacers, but I'll give them grace as they were focused on not being eliminated. With the outcome of the game it seems they had the right focus. I just hope to see some great fits going into game seven, the finale of the NBA season on Sunday night.

This loss has led to the industry becoming less sustainable creating unsustainable volumes of textile waste.

“I believe in Bangladesh they even have (clothing) graveyards or where you go out and there's nothing but landfills,” said Alexander Sheffield, a 26-year-old designer.

In 2023, 92 tons of textiles were disposed of in landfills. Multiple companies' increased production and lack of quality ideas fuel this unsustainability. Over 100 billion garments were made between luxury fashion houses, fast fashion brands, and independent designers.

Nipah Dennis/Getty Images

As it stands now independent designers have the mindset and connection that I believe is necessary to change how sustainable the industry can be.

“There should be more of a line between fashion brands, universities, programs, and non-profits. Where from the top-down resources, materials, supplies and even just knowledge that is passed onwards and forward,” said Takeo Faison, a 26-year-old designer in the Tampa area.

The OR Foundation is a non-profit that operates out of the US and Ghana. Their mission focuses on rebuilding the connection and manifesting an alternative to the current system. A system that doesn’t do anything but keep the consumer in a position where they feel a need to constantly buy.

They have been doing the groundwork necessary to help the issue since 2011 with several programs both in the US and in Ghana.

Collectofus 2.0 is one of the programs by the foundation. It promotes the use of social media for a “peer-based, object-exchange curriculum focused on removing marketing from the designer-to-consumer relationship, rethinking sustainability rhetoric and researching the accessibility of bespoke tailoring services.”

It’s a unique way for smaller designers to come together to reshape the consumer relationship in fashion. It also provides grants for designers to create a garment for a stranger they have met through the internet. Overall to promote “sustainable relationships, learning and financial literacy.”

That program is the oldest among their active programs and is meant for anyone in all regions of the world. The next program is labor-based work called the Tide Turners Cleanup Team.

It’s a partnership with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and other cleanup groups to go out and clean the beaches of textile and plastic waste. A team of about 50 people comes together to clean up an average of 18 tons a week.

The oldest of their previous work was (sustainable) fashion's night out, an event that was held in New York City. On the OR foundation website, it describes the event as a “partnership with Manhattan’s Textile Arts Center, the NYC Fair Trade Coalition and EcoSalon, the first ever (Sustainable) Fashion’s Night Out and Lookbook featured fair trade, upcycled and slowly crafted garments, and asked the evening's guests to engage beyond the price tag.”

A community-centered event that was utilized to spread a deeper message and allow consumers to further connect with the items they were viewing. It’s similar to an event that was held in the Tampa Bay area this past March.

Tampa Connect Fashion Week was an event that brought hundreds of people who all love fashion together. It may not have been started with the intention of promoting sustainable fashion but it featured artists and designers that have these practices. Featuring garments that were locally sourced either from fabric or thrift stores and given a new life.

“They’re still functional garments and technically solid. You know sometimes they just need a little facelift.” said Faison, whose designs were featured at this event.

Courtesy of Takeo Faison

Fast Fashion Effects

In Ghana, the OR foundation is drowning in a sea of textiles. The country is receiving thousands of older clothes by the boatload each week. Beaches are crowded but not with people, mountains of clothes stack so high that the sand might as well not be there. Waves wash up green sweaters and long sleeves like seaweed, all with tags from your favorite US stores.

Zara, H&M, and Shein are the main three lying on the Ghanaian beach shore.

These three are also the most-voted brands in the Speak Volumes campaign - a project by the OR Foundation. This campaign asks brands all over the world to disclose the number of garments they are making in a year.

The campaign was started because each year the statistic is never a specific figure but a range that it can fall between. So far, the campaign has gotten brands like Adidas, Fendi, Lululemon and Wrangler to join their cause in reporting hair numbers.

It’s typically reported anywhere from 80 billion to 150 billion garments made. The issue is there shouldn’t be a range because each brand keeps track of inventory and production but is choosing not to reveal the information.

By withholding the information, it only makes it harder to create solutions. Brands that continue to produce a high amount of clothes and not report it contribute to the system the Or Foundation is looking to change. It’s also a system that operates through capitalist practices and ideas.

“Unfortunately, a lot of the fashion industry cycles back to capitalism at a very high level,” said Faison.

One of the main reasons this part of the industry thrives is because of the low cost they spend on labor. These companies focus on profit maximization knowing they can continually exploit workers in eastern countries while also increasing the consumer demand.

Consumers don’t understand the cost that goes into the pieces they are buying. It’s a true disconnect across the value chain, from supplier to consumer.

It goes back to the lack of connection. Well, a connection is there but now it’s to the money that comes with business and not the pieces they are putting out. Specifically, when it comes to fast fashion it's a constant drop of garments with a variation of colors and graphics. They will make garments that are replicas of what luxury fashion houses are making typically made with less quality fabric. Pieces are purposefully designed to be frail with a limited lifespan as designs change quickly and are cheap to produce.

Fast fashion is a part of the industry that is growing at such an extraordinary rate. Due to social media more and more brands are coming out, as well trends are being run through. Clothing hauls becoming an easy formula for viral content on apps like TikTok and Instagram.

Brands have been able to take advantage of consumers because of the validation that comes with the success of these videos. It’s the demand they need to continue making so many pieces and there's a science to it. They have a team of analysts and advertisers who target specific demographic desires and aspirations.

Last year it was reported that in comparison to 2000 fast fashion production is two times the rate of what it was.

Implement Local Solutions

A top-down approach is definitely in call to reverse or make progress towards a less wasteful process. Luxury fashion houses sit at the top of the chain when it comes to quality and production. Everything they do is mirrored by the rest of the industry.

These brands are a pillar of influence in the community; smaller designers mimic their designs but also their practices. But it may be time for bigger houses and brands to listen to these designers when it comes to being sustainable.

One way is slowing down the creation process and realigning the focus. Being at the top of the business there is typically always going to be demand for the product but there's no need to drop as frequently. I’ve found that local designers take their time when it comes to what they put out. They break down everything they can to find a connection to themself and their garments.

“I don’t want to put out some s*** that I’m not proud of and I feel like when you chase the bag you end up doing that at some point,” said Faison.

Courtesy of Takeo Faison

Notably, both Faison and Sheffield discussed their connection to Japanese fashion culture. Both designers expressed a love for the brand Comme des Garcons and the process behind Japanese denim.

Everything moves at a slower pace there and it’s not always about changing but perfecting the technique and quality. Fast Fashion brands rely heavily on Eastern workers but don’t look at their practices. We already have so many garments on the planet and with nowhere to go so why not slow down production and take back what you put out.

“Companies should incentivize their own buyback program or scrap donation service,” said Faison. “There's definitely a young designer somewhere out there who can’t afford fabric.”

Programs like this can be an opportunity for other designers to get the practice necessary to work in the field. It also saves material from being tossed or burned which negatively impacts the environment. It would be a chance to create a circular economy in the fashion business.

Urban Outfitters is a good example of a company that already implements this strategy. On their website, they have a section dedicated to renewal which features clothing and home items that have been reconstructed from older pieces they put out. This program has given designers a platform to show off their work while also helping the planet.

If this brand can do it, then so can others. It's all about the attitude and effort towards it. Slowly we can rebuild the connection to our garments and preserve the planet we have.