HBCU Style Icons To Be On The Lookout For
Courtesy: Instagram/@londyyn_elyyse
If you were to walk around an HBCU campus, you’d find that these schools are the birthplaces of many Black fashion creatives. These aren’t your typical college students who throw on a laidback fit for their 8 am lecture—these students spend time carefully crafting their best fits to showcase their individuality and creativity, regardless if they’re only stepping out for one class.
Fashion is the culture on HBCU campuses, where every day is a show. Students are given countless opportunities to flaunt their unique styles at events like Hump Wednesdays, First Fridays, and Founders Days. However, some of their influence transcends campus borders. Behind the scenes, student designers, stylists, and fashion innovators are making a name for themselves in the fashion world. For this year’s HBCU week, I spoke with a few budding student fashion creatives attending HBCUs across the country, who are taking their impact beyond the yard. We talked about how they got their start, who their style inspirations are, and gathered all of their tips to help you find your personal style and rock it with confidence.
7 HBCU Style Icons To Be On The Lookout For
STARRE (@londyyn_elyyse)
Spelman College
Shot by @playgirlsgallery
Starre is a freshman at Spelman College, a model, creative, and all-around fashion icon. Her ultimate style inspiration is Meka from Digable Planets. When it comes to discovering your personal style, Starre recommends finding your niche, as well as not feeling pressured to fit into what everyone else is doing. As the owner of her jewelry company, Starre Jewels, she is keen on mixing metals and snazzing up outfits with waist beads and rings.
“Just find what makes you feel the baddest and capitalize off that.”
As a Texas native, Starre was amazed by the emerging fashion scene in Atlanta. “Coming to Atlanta was definitely a culture shock. I was never really exposed to this kind of fashion scene and it was something different. But I would say Atlanta is literally a Black Hollywood, I am proud to be in a place where Black excellence is encouraged and supported by all. The fashion scene is diverse, and I feel as if some of my peers are really on their way to doing some great things, which I enjoy seeing.”
Starre’s goal for the future is to create a talent agency for young Black girls like herself to jumpstart them into the industry by amplifying their distinctive qualities.
Madyson Hayes (@madysxworld)
Spelman College
Courtesy: Instagram/@madysxworld
Madyson Hayes is a freshman at Spelman College, a stylist, seamstress, and designer whose work won the Follet 2024 HBCU design contest. She’s been designing her own pieces since childhood which has allowed her to perfect her craft. Her style and business inspirations are Zendaya, Rihanna, and Teyana Taylor. When it comes to learning your style, she suggests, “Trying on everything and don't be afraid to take risks and look different from your peers!”
Hayes believes that fashion is about pushing the envelope and expressing who you are through what you wear, and the first step is embracing your body and personality.
“I want to combine my art with fashion and social justice. I want my clothes and art to represent movements and start revolutions! My art will be legendary and groundbreaking one day and I can’t wait for people to see!”
Madyson sees the fashion scene in Atlanta as “really streetwear focused and big on the entrepreneurial side of fashion, and less on the artistic side.” She loves to see the influx of Black-owned creative brands finding ways to produce income, all while staying authentic to themselves. Hayes does everything from painting, styling, and photography, to creative directing.
ElRÉY (@reyshiest)
Morehouse College
Courtesy: Instagram/@reyshiest
Rey, a freshman at Morehouse College, is the creator of the clothing brand ELRÉY. His brand has been featured in the Atlanta University Center’s (AUC) fashion shows.
“The meaning of ELRÉY roots from my Afro-Latin descent, El Rey translates to The King in Spanish but it’s also the first syllable of my first and last name. ELRÉY is a combination of authenticity and practicality to express individuality. ELRÉY is an extension of me.”
The brand is a product of Rey’s Dominican culture, where he grew up surrounded by seamstresses. In October of 2023, he took a leap of faith and created a collection for a fashion show hosted by The Agency, an AUC creatives collective. This led to a love for design he currently carries. He now establishes his name by partaking in fashion shows and pop-up shows, which spread his art and express his individuality.
“My brand will be a major fashion label that’ll be recognized globally.”
When it comes to his style inspiration, Rey gets inspired by everything and everyone around him, and he sees society as a whole as his inspiration. When trying to find your style, he emphasizes the importance of getting in front of the camera: “Being able to see your progress drives you to keep experimenting.”
Nataiya Johnson (@tbh.taiya)
Howard University
Courtesy: Instagram/@tbh.taiya
Nataiya Johnson is a freshman at Howard University, a fashion content creator, and a beanie designer. Her earliest fashion inspirations were her parents, specifically her father, a huge sneakerhead who taught her the “sandwich” styling method. Nataiya is still developing her personal brand, but she recommends paying attention to what makes you feel best when discovering your personal style. She’s constantly exploring new passions and diversifying her content with her unique editing skills. Johnson sees the HBCU fashion scene in DC as dynamic and diverse, with no bounds when it comes to creativity.
“My creative aspirations are fueled by the talents of my peers at Howard University and on social media. Modeling organizations at Howard like Models of the Mecca and Elite showcase incredible artistic endeavors through photoshoots, editorials, and fashion shows. Black creatives on social media such as Iamchyane, Nihaokailanxoo, and Urfriendkari inspire me with their innovative clothing designs and personal styles.”
The essence of her brand, Thenebularclub, intertwines the arts and sciences, with a mission to inspire others to tap into their creative side. Johnson has just released a line of satin beanies that you can shop:
Keonte Devone “Helmet Head Yont” (@keeonte___)
Morehouse College
Courtesy: Instagram/@keeonte__
Keonte is a fashion influencer and freshman at Morehouse College who gets his style inspiration from the women in his life, who always kept him in the most stylish clothes. When it comes to finding your style, his philosophy is, “Be yourself, get creative, and it will help you stand out”.
He sees fashion as a community of creative minds coming together to produce more than what’s been done in the past. His content consists of GRWM’s, modeling for HBCU brands, and collabs with his other, equally fashion-savvy friends.
“Some people need inspiration through a conversation, and I feel like I’m the man for the job.”
Keonte sees the HBCU fashion scene in Atlanta as having pros and cons but embraces those and the changes college brings as well. He hopes to use his communications major to effectively speak and write about the fashion world, leaving an impact on more than just clothing.
KeShawn “Prince” Wiley (@retaliationdept)
Morehouse College
Courtesy: Instagram/@luushawn
Founded in August of 2023, Retaliation Dept. aims to defy harmful stereotypes by “retaliating with success.” Wiley was inspired to create the brand after noticing a lack of financial literacy in his community.
Jaden Michael-Adir Bouldin-Miller (@adir.clo)
Tennessee State University
Courtesy: Instagram: @michaeladirr
Jaden Miller hopes that one day Adir will be a name that inspires others. He wants his brand to be a source of affordable luxury for those in his community.