Thee Watchful Five Vol 6
The Watchful five is back, better than ever. It’s a brand-new year, and the trends are ever-evolving from y2k to knit to garage core. And what better way to spend the new year than deep diving for new unsung designers that deserve recognition? So, let’s get into it.
Nelly Co
First on my dive for the Watchful Five is Nelly Co, a handmade Black woman designer. Her take on deconstructed wear goes beyond the typical usage of patchwork and explores new silhouettes. Her latest collection has an affinity for denim, often building corset wear and tufted jackets from all pieces of jeans, meaning a pants leg may be an arm sleeve or essential cupping to a bustier. Her previous collections are just as bold, using bright opaque colors to drape figures and accentuate curves. One garment that stands out is her green leather python chaps with a matching bikini and ultra-cropped mock neck jacket. It screams the main character! Catch your next faves like IAMDOCHEII rocking her custom, one-of-a-kind pieces!
IG: @nelly_thedesigner
555Jewels
No outfit is complete without the right accessories, and 555jewels will ensure your look taps into the futuristic. 555Jewels is an accessory brand owned and operated by black designer, Kyreem. His more metal-based jewelry incorporates different shapes and free-forming silhouettes, adding a wavy aspect to any outfit. A prime example would be the Drip earrings, literally emulating a drip of minerals, or the drip ring with its craters and cut-out detailing. The stylings of his jewelry play into the alternative aesthetics while still capturing the jovial nature of his designs. His card rings, acrylic chains, and charm chains can be seen. The best part is you’re not going to break the bank. These cutting-edge designs range from $15 to $60!
IG:@555jewels
Sabaa Goods
Continuing through the vortex of accessories, we land on Sabaa Goods, the hat of the moment! Sabaa Goods is operated and owned by black women designer Imani Nia. She is the current Vice President of brand partnerships for Brandon Blackwood, another chic Black designer. However, she took hold of this eclectic bucket hat trend all on her own. The first drop featured a mixed material bucket hat, using faux leather and shearling, and let me tell you, the girls ate it up! The fall colors ranged from deep olive green to black and burgundy. Currently, her newest collection sports more checkboard and pastel coloring. My favorite piece (and everybody else’s, considering it’s sold out!) is the pastel blue and mustard yellow checkboard shearling bucket hat! Such vibrant colors and a fun design add a bit of flair. You can catch Kehlani stunting that cozy sold-out hat!
IG:@sabaagoods
Omani Omari
This next designer did not come to play with fabrics! Omani Omari is a luxury Black woman-owned and designed brand by Khalida Ali. Influenced by her Sundanese and Vincentian upbringing, she intersects bright, bold colors with layering textures. The pieces themselves feel like paintings. Her first collection (and my favorite) adheres to the depiction of a painting, the duo collection. The colors were hellfire red and yellow and deep-rooted purple and black. She designs corsets with great silhouettes, whether layered over a dress or an individual top. Her pieces also include men with loose-fitting pants and intricate lace-up tops.
IG:@omaniomari
Vivian
Last but certainly not least, we have something for the softer and daintier. Vivian is a fashion brand designed and owned by Black woman designer Amber McGloster. Her goal is to create timeless and sustainable pieces inspired by architecture and nature. The femininity of the pieces comes from intricate details such as hand stitching and individual accents. Now the pieces honey, we must start with the Rhodonite. The vegetable leather corset has a wide bottom, hugging the hips of the wearer, creating a sophisticated yet vampire-esqe feel. The elbow-length matching gloves definitely add to the spice of the piece. A softer piece from a new collection would be the cherry, a set with red thong cut-out pants and a matching bralette top. Another banger that fine-tunes feminine shapes.
IG:@vivian.co_