Last spring, we introduced you to the first season of Macy’s Icons of Style program, which featured five Black designers working with the national retailer to create fashion collections on their own terms. Under the Icons of Style banner, those first five designers produced beautiful pieces with the aim of challenging systemic racism in fashion, adding their crucial voices to this national conversation.
Now, Macy’s is back with all new Icons of Style, including Black visionaries Ade Samuel, Areeayl Yoseefaw Goodwin, GooGoo Atkins, JÉRÔME LAMAAR, Matthew Harris of MATEO, and Stella&Blaise. Working in collaboration with Macy’s, each designer created a one-of-a-kind collection intended to move the fashion industry forward.
With Macy’s-exclusive designs across categories, including accessories, shoes, ready-to-wear, men’s, plus-size, children’s, and gender-neutral apparel, each Icons of Style capsule shows off its designer’s unique perspective.
This Month, the next Icons of Style collections from JÉRÔME LAMAAR, Matthew Harris of MATEO, and Stella&Blaise will be released on Macys.com and at select locations nationwide starting July 22. Ahead of those drops, we wanted to introduce these designers and provide some background information on their lives, inspirations, and Icons of Style collections.
5:31 by JÉRÔME LAMAAR for And Now This
JÉRÔME LAMAAR is a true New Yorker. Born and raised in the Bronx, they began working in fashion at age 15, defying expectations and combining fashion, art, and culture in their designs from the start. LAMAAR is a multitalented creative, inventing the casually glamorous style known as “South Bronx Luxe,” while working as a designer, creative director, and futurist. They’ve collaborated with top brands and designers from around the country, while dressing A-list talent, and running 9J, their own storefront in the South Bronx. Their 5:31 by JÉRÔME LAMAAR for And Now This collection for Macy’s features fashion-forward summer staples, including matching sets and stylish cargo shorts. Everything JÉRÔME LAMAAR creates is made to bridge the magical perspective on gender, race, and age.
Stella&Blaise for Epic Threads
Stella and Blaise are sibling fashion bloggers, recently named among the Top 20 Best Dressed Kids on Instagram by a leading fashion magazine. Though they were born and raised in Orange County, California, they’ve graced global fashion runways, advertising campaigns, and red carpets from a young age. With laid-back, colorful style that reflects their California roots and their parents’ origins in Roatan, Honduras, Stella and Blaise remain grounded, family oriented kids despite their global fame. Outside of fashion, Stella loves hip hop dance and thrifting, while brother Blaise loves sports, including soccer and beach volleyball. For their Stella&Blaise for Epic Threads Macy’s collection, the pair created casual, kid friendly clothes, including patchwork denim, California-centric graphic tees, and floral prints from Stella and relaxed fit denim, palm tree prints and graphics, and summer-ready hook-ups by Blaise.
MATEO for INC
Matthew Harris, also known by his nom de créateur, Mateo, was born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica. His mother was a seamstress, but Mateo didn’t find his true calling as a jewelry maker until moving to New York City. An NYC Jewelry District veteran, he taught himself the art of design, launching his own men’s brand in 2009, a success he followed up by debuting a women’s capsule soon after. Now, Mateo focuses exclusively on women’s jewelry, a direction he’s pursued since 2014. With minimalist designs made from 14-karat gold, diamonds, and precious gemstones, Mateo’s pieces are wearable modern art offered at affordable prices. For his Macy’s MATEO for INC collection, the designer brought his unique perspective to women’s footwear and handbags, creating a range of statement-making shoes and polished bags, all accentuated with touches that recall luxurious jewelry.
Learn more about Macy’s Icons of Style here.
