{"id":2690,"date":"2025-09-24T16:53:52","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T16:53:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/?p=2690"},"modified":"2025-09-25T14:57:39","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T14:57:39","slug":"the-3-black-designers-who-are-using-tech-to-shape-fashions-new-reality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/24\/the-3-black-designers-who-are-using-tech-to-shape-fashions-new-reality\/","title":{"rendered":"The 3 Black Designers Who Are Using Tech To Shape Fashion\u2019s New Reality"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This past summer, I was presented with an amazing opportunity to tour New York\u2019s Garment District, and what I saw as a Black creative wasn\u2019t just beautiful or innovative \u2014 it was affirming. I witnessed other Black creatives who are not only at the forefront of technological advancement, but using that to completely reshape the fashion landscape.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Our first stop was the New York Embroidery Studio \u2014 a nondescript building from the outside, but on the inside, houses one of the most \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200badvanced \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200btools \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bin \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bfashion \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200btech \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bright \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bnow: the \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bStratasys \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bJ850, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200ba \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bprinter \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bthat \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200buses \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200blenticular \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bprinting, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bor \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200ba \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200btype \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bof \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b3D \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bprinting, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bto \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bapply \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bholographic, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200braised, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bor \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bshifting \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bvisuals \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bdirectly \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bonto \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bfabric (think \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200blayers, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bgradient, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bphoto \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200brealism, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bor \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200btextures \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bthat \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bappear \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bto \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bmove \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bwhen \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200byou \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bdo). This is \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bhow \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bsketches \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bbecome \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bsculpture, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200band \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bfabric \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bbecomes \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200ban \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bengaging \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200band \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bfun interactive \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bexperience.<\/p>\n<p>This \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200btour, which was led by Lenese Griffin, a seasoned apparel production manager with a wealth of experience in product development, opened my eyes to the massive, complicated world of fashion. The industry is so much more than aesthetics and seasonal trends \u2014 it\u2019s an intricate system that\u2019s evolving into something \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bmore \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bintelligent, inclusive, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bimmersive, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200band \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bintentional. \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bAnd we\u2019re at the intersection \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bbetween \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bhigh \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bdesign \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200band \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bhigh \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200btech, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200band \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bBlack \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bdesigners \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200blike \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bLaQuan \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bSmith, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bAnifa \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bMvuemba, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200band \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bMadison \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bMaxey \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bare \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bleading \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bsome \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bof \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bthe \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bboldest \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bwork \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bin \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bthat \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bspace. \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/p>\n<div><title>DashDividers_1_500x100<\/title><\/div>\n<h2>LaQuan Smith<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/laquansmith.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"LaQuan \u200bSmith (opens in a new tab)\">LaQuan \u200bSmith<\/a>\u2019s \u200bspring\/summer 2025 \u200bshow \u200bfeatured \u200ba \u200bsleepwear \u200bcapsule \u201cLucid Dream,\u201d \u200bco-created \u200bwith \u200bSamsung, that drew design inspiration from the sleekness of the \u200bGalaxy \u200bRing. \u200bThe \u200bsleepwear \u200barrived \u200bin \u200bvivid \u200bchartreuse \u200bsilk \u200borganza and it served as a contrast against other designs, like \u200btrench \u200bcoats \u200bmade \u200bof \u200ba \u200bnew \u200bmaterial \u200bSmith \u200bcalls \u200b\u201ctransparent \u200bhorse,\u201d \u200bmade \u200bby \u200bhis \u200bItalian \u200bmills. He described the look as perfect for when \u201ca \u200bwoman, \u200bon \u200ba \u200brainy \u200bnight, \u200bgoes \u200bto \u200bher \u200bman\u2019s \u200bhouse \u200bto \u200bhave \u200bmakeup \u200bsex.\u201d It\u2019s sensual luxury with a futuristic edge.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The New York-based designer used \u201cAI Atelier\u201d on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, where AI tools like sketch-to-image helped with the design process, and \u201cNow Brief,\u201d which supported things like organizing fabrics, scheduling fittings, and making communication with his team more efficient. <\/p>\n<h2>Anifa Mvuemba\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p>Congolese born and DMV-based Anifa Mvuemba is the designer behind <a href=\"https:\/\/hanifa.co\/?srsltid=AfmBOopY2D4vaIZ-GhEgvdx1nxq3Sa7oHvPrTZDNcdsW6bG5g0pqANK_\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Hanifa (opens in a new tab)\">Hanifa<\/a>, a brand that draws on her cultural background, resulting in bold silhouettes and inclusive sizing. In May 2020, she presented Pink Label Congo, a collection that honored her Congolese roots while raising awareness about issues like the exploitation that\u2019s tied to coltan mining, as a digital runway show using invisible 3D avatars on Instagram Live. It was immediately celebrated for its innovation and cultural commentary, proving that technology can be used to amplify a message and unite the community instead of diluting it.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Since then, Hanifa has continued to evolve, balancing innovation with intentional craft. Mvuemba uses digital tools, like CLO, Procreate, and Blender in her design process, reducing waste while refining her vision of how clothes should move on the body. Her philosophy is clear: Fashion should be inclusive, technologically forward, and deeply connected to heritage. <\/p>\n<h2>Madison Maxey\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p>Imagine buying a jacket that not only keeps you warm, but also senses how often you wear it, keeps track of how many times it\u2019s been washed, and even helps a brand understand how its product moves through your life. That\u2019s what <a href=\"https:\/\/www.loomia.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Loomia (opens in a new tab)\">Loomia<\/a> is doing right now. The tech \u2014 Loomia Electronic Layer (LEL) \u2014 is a flexible circuit sheet that bends, sketches, and survives in fabrics while carrying functions such as heating, lighting, or pressure detection. And yes, the layer holds up when stretched or handled; its electrical performance stays stable, unlike older \u201csmart fabrics.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>And the woman behind Loomia is: Madison Maxey, who started it out of a desire to make electronics disappear into clothing, so the fabric does the work without feeling like gear. Before Loomia, she experimented with conductive inks, computational design, and patterning electronics with designers and engineers. LEL is now mostly used in medical, outdoor, automotive, and wellness fields, proving that wearable tech can be something that\u2019s used, lived in, and trusted every day, by everyone. Case in point: A recent collaboration with L.L. Bean, where LEL was sewn or attached inside of outdoor gear to report wear behavior: temperature, wash, count, and usage patterns. The versatility of the technology shows how seamlessly it can be folded into existing brand identities and products. Loomia isn\u2019t just for Loomia \u2014\u00a0 it\u2019s scalable and transferable, and that\u2019s its real strength.<\/p>\n<div><title>DashDividers_1_500x100<\/title><\/div>\n<p>These designers are writing the next chapter of what fashion looks like. \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bThey\u2019re \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bbuilding \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bnew \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bsystems, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bnew \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bfabrics, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bnew \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200blanguages, and \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bdoing \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bit \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bon \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200btheir \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bterms. We \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u2019re \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bentering \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200ba \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bnew \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bera \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bof \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bfashion, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200band it \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bvalues \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bidentity, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200binnovation, \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200band \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bequality that leaves an impact \u2014 and \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bI \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bcan\u2019t \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bwait \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bto \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bsee \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bwhat\u2019s \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bnext.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This past summer, I was presented with an amazing opportunity to tour New York\u2019s Garment District, and what I saw as a Black creative wasn\u2019t just beautiful or innovative \u2014 it was affirming. I witnessed other Black creatives who are not only at the forefront of technological advancement, but using that to completely reshape the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2690"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2690"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2691,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2690\/revisions\/2691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}