• Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Essence Fashion House

ESSENCE Fashion House: 50 Years Of Hip Hop Fashion

The iconic designers, stylists, and entrepreneurs discuss the importance of Black musicians’ impact in fashion.
ESSENCE Fashion House: 50 Years Of Hip Hop Fashion
Essence
By Marisa Kalil-Barrino · Updated September 9, 2023

President and Chief Executive Officer of Essence Ventures Caroline Wanga moderated We’ve Been Here Before: 50 Years of Hip-Hop Fashion. Here, she, Tony Shellman, and Mike B. discussed the influence of hip-hop and the Black community on fashion over the past 50 years.

Black culture is undoubtedly the blueprint. However, Black trends often begin with a negative undertone.

“We continue to intertwine culture, plus what we deserve economically, plus what the narrative is of how Black people continue to be minimized for the sake of those that don’t want to give us credit for our work,” Wanga said. “Part of the thing that happens when we influence culture is somebody will try to make it bad so we don’t get all of our credit. Somebody will try to create our narrative or stir our pot.”

Mike B. agreed. “Black culture pretty much influences everything,” he said. “Hip-hop and street culture keeps the culture of the youth; its creativity.” 

Shellman is the co-founder of sportswear brands Enyce, Mecca, and Parish Clothing. He is also the principal and founder of Blue Deluxe Group Consulting, where he’s promoted brands’ marketing, growth, and branding strategies for over 20 years. Mike B. is a stylist and founder of the brand Bogard, a brand influenced by his Jamaican and Cuban roots growing up in Harlem from the ‘70s to the ‘90s.

Mike B. and Shellman have known each other and collaborated together since 1996, having both been involved with entities such as Bad Boy Records.

“Mike B. has been a style icon for me – a cultural revolution, an icon revolution,” Shellman said. “I’ll say it because I know everybody’s afraid to say it, but he’s a hustler, a mover, a shaker, and a creator. He’s a guy for me, who has been an influencer.”

Besides discussing the impact of hip-hop and Black culture on society, they highlighted cherished symbols of growing up Black, such as preserving the condition of white Air Force Ones or acquiring a Starter jacket. Shellman not only spoke about the Starter jacket, but also presented Wanga and Mike B. with New York Starter jackets bearing the words “Hip-Hop 50.”

Like many families, Wanga emphasized how Starter jackets were a staple in the Black community, but weren’t always accessible or affordable. Her parents, and many others, said if you have clothes on your back and any type of jacket to stay warm, you’re good. Consequently, her reaction upon receiving her first Starter jacket was priceless.

The conversation wrapped up on a high note when a member of the audience asked how Shellman and Mike B. began their fashion careers. They credited the likes of Dapper Dan, April Walker, their upbringings, and all Black women for constantly inspiring them.

TOPICS:  #fashionnews essence fashion house nyfw
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now