Thee Watchful Five Vol 4
LAKIKA WORLDWIDE
Let’s start with the website’s home page because that’s where the magic begins for this brand. The homepage of textiles and garments handmade in Mali reveals a richly colored Black man – his eyes following you through your first scroll. Heading down the page, black skin is embossed in dark blue pants reading clothing. Everything about the experience is captivating. Once we reach clothing, the screen is lacquered with opaque and earthy-toned garments. The first piece that caught my attention was Sangare Wrap Top, a rusted olive wrap top embellished with complimenting ribbing. With a top as such, there is freedom in how it’s wrapped around the silhouette, creating a unique frame per individual. The homage lends to Africa’s Saharan environment with colors and the appreciation of the body noted by Mali’s culture. Beautiful pieces with even better execution.
IG: lakikaworldwide
Anikaleila
The young designer continues fashion’s new fight for sustainability with her absurd but tantalizing garments. How, might you ask? The self-named brand Anikaleila uses discarded and expired make-up to create prints on her clothing. Amazing, right? This started with her hunger for fashion and concerns for the environment meeting in her interest in fashion printing, knowing the vast amount of waste caused by fast fashion. Going more in-depth, she stated, “The fabrics I use are ‘wastage’ fabrics or fabrics with mistakes /marks, etc., thrown away by larger companies. Sustainability and the future of fashion have always been a huge priority for me.” Her limited drops feature halter and crop tops with an unmistakable face on the front. The face, the print mentioned earlier, is the star of the show. Usually shaded with heavy contrast to illude inverse coloring, these pieces are few and go quickly. Her sustainability and edge are enough to make any girl go wild.
IG: anikaleila
Vinai
Straps, buckles, and soft satins are only a few highlights of this brand. Vinai was created by Vickie Vee and named after the Thailand refugee camp, ‘Ban Vinai,’ where she was born. Her powerful story builds the foundation for what she wanted her garments to do for women. She wanted women to be allowed to embrace their femininity and confidence, which were often not afforded to girls of color. So, she offers women elegance. The color palette for the collection reminds me of cold beaches and spring showers; the creams, sand, eggshell, and midnight black settle nicely over the skin. Now, star player pieces from this collection have to be the Jaton Diamond pants and Jewel Suit. Firstly, let’s get into the pants, okay? They are eggshell denim trousers, very reminiscent of the ’90s, but with a twist of the tapered leg. It is marked with a sparkling buckle that allows the wearer to belt and adjust the tightness of the taper, genius. The Jewel Suit really sets it off, especially with the cropped blazers trend sneaking all over the timeline. The Jewel Suit brings something different to the table. The blazer has a satin full-length sleeve on one side and a satin bralette that peaks on the other side. It creates a dynamic in an otherwise regular suit.
IG: Shopvinai
1nd1
This brand is not for the faint of heart. This brand hinges on the intersection of punk and queer, reveling in the distortion of colors and designs. 1nd1 is precisely that, one of ones yet to be seen replicated or made anywhere else. This growing designer uses two-tone dyes to create an in-depth color experience and cuts and sews into chaos. Possibly one of my favorite pieces of all time is a beige and cream asymmetrical one-shoulder top. The intricacies of the design incorporate threaded rope across the breast and different cutout sections on the stomach and side. While their drops are sporadic, we anxiously await new stuff to arrive.
IG: 1nd1.hq
Jackson Napier
As far as cool guy designers go, he’s one of the coolest. This plays strongly in how he displays his clothes, usually in front of a brick building, and hides his face in the shadows. For him, the work speaks for itself. The style of his garments center on layers. This isn’t just for men, but women as well, layering the cuts with a sheer overlay or mock necks. The garments must feature multiple dimensions based on his latest drops. His best-sellers are Pull Pants, colored track pants banded by straps to tight and taper on different leg areas. It moves beyond streetwear to an almost futuristic field, expanding functionality and fashion.
IG: thejacksonnapier