These racially inclusive sweaters have the same aesthetic as typical college or university apparel, but they are simply imagined, as if these schools existed. In reality, recognition of black leaders is virtually absent on the collegiate scene, with very few schools honoring black influencers in the current educational environment.
This collection however, called the 'School of Thought Sweatshirt Line,' draws upon famous and prominent black individuals to name fictional schools after them. Leaders in the collection include writer and activist Audre Lorde, abolitionist Harriet Tubman, botanist and inventor George Washington Carver and writer James Baldwin, among many others. The innovative clothing line was designed by Donte Neal, an illustration intern at Mashable in partnership with Philadelphia Printworks, a socially conscious screen printing company. Neal hopes to expand the line of inclusive sweaters to include snapbacks and T-shirts -- a thoughtful and forward-thinking manner to make politically and socially charged messages through fashion.
What's Driving This Trend
- Racial Inclusion in Fashion
- Opportunity for brands to create clothing lines that celebrate and recognize underrepresented cultures and leaders.
- Fictional School Apparel
- Potential for designers to create merchandise that imagines schools named after historical figures from various backgrounds.
- Socially Conscious Fashion
- Growing demand for fashion products with messages that promote social and political awareness.
Who This Affects Most
- Fashion
- Fashion brands can tap into the trend by designing racially inclusive apparel and merchandise.
- Education
- Educational institutions can explore partnerships with fashion labels to create merchandise that honors diverse historical figures.
- Printing and Screen Printing
- Printing companies can cater to the demand for socially conscious fashion by offering screen printing services for inclusive clothing lines.
