# Culturally Meaningful Fashion Collections Wales Bonner's SS19 is an Exploration of Black Identity By Kalin Ned | Published 2018-06-25 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/exploration-of-black-identity References: [hypebeast](https://hypebeast.com/2018/6/wales-bonner-builds-explorations-of-black-identity-for-ss19) & [walesbonner.net](http://walesbonner.net/) Through the active exploration of black identity and her venture into culturally rich narratives, designer Grace Wales Bonner created a Spring/Summer 2019 collection that does not only highlight a contemporary and fashion-forward aesthetic but one that also captures socially relevant meanings. The designer granted the upcoming eclectic collection with a poetically infused title — 'Ecstatic Recital.' During her exploration of black identity and the implementation of the inspiration into a collection of refined contemporary wear, Grace Wales Bonner gained access into Indian culture "through African-American artists" as well. The culturally meaningful offerings for Spring/Summer 2019 exhibits a great attention to detail and construction. The designer experimented with the aesthetic of each piece, aiming to balance out the traditional and the modern. This created fashion-forward ensembles that have the potential to exhibit strong cultural roots. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.2/10 - Popularity: 69% | Activity: 50% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Hip Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/hipfashion) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Culturally Meaningful Fashion:** Designing fashion collections that capture socially relevant meanings and highlight diverse cultural narratives. - **Exploration of Black Identity:** Exploring the nuances of black identity and incorporating it into fashion designs. - **Balancing Tradition and Modernity:** Creating fashion-forward ensembles that combine traditional and modern elements. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Fashion and Apparel:** Opportunity for brands to create culturally meaningful and diverse fashion collections. - **Art and Culture:** Collaborations between fashion designers and artists from different cultures to explore and celebrate black identity. - **Textile and Construction:** Demand for innovative techniques and attention to detail in constructing fashion-forward ensembles that pay homage to cultural roots. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Victory-Inspired Premium Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marathon-collection.md) - [Heritage Sportswear Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wales-bonner-x-adidas.md) - [Politically-Inspired Runway Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selkies-the-libertine-collection.md) - [Fabric-Centric Spring Fashion Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sage-nation-5.md) - [Vintage Style Collaborative Apparel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wales-bonner-3.md) - [Minimal Collaborative Summer Footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wales-bonner-and-adidas-1.md) - [Vibrant Bold Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bruceglen.md) - [Beach-Inspired Spring Fashion Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/a-kind-of-guise-3.md) - [Luxury Resort Apparel Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/auteurs-resort-2025-collection.md)