Breaking Barriers: The Reality of Being a Young Black Designer in Today's Fashion Industry
In a world where diversity is celebrated on the surface, but prejudice still lingers in the shadows, building a brand as a young Black designer remains an uphill battle. At Crooks and Candy, we have seen firsthand how racism and discrimination persist — not in hushed corners, but openly, across digital platforms meant to connect and empower us.
When Crooks and Candy launched its latest Meta (Facebook) advertising campaign, we were excited to share our work with a wider audience: fashion rooted in art, rebellion, and unapologetic individuality. However, what should have been a celebration of creativity quickly turned into a painful reminder of the challenges we still face.
Facing Racism in the Public Eye
Scrolling through the comment threads on our sponsored ads, the reality hit hard. Among the genuine praise and excitement were comments laced with hate:
- "I don’t buy clothes meant for blacks."
- "Do they still allow white people on adverts."
- "Looks like he is about to mug somebody"
These aren't isolated incidents. They are symptoms of a deeper, systemic bias that Black entrepreneurs, artists, and designers continue to fight every day. The language of these comments isn’t just about clothing — it’s about attempts to diminish our existence, to question our right to occupy space in luxury markets, and to tie Black creativity to negative stereotypes.
More Than Just Fabric and Thread
For young Black designers, fashion isn’t just about textiles, trends, and tailoring. It’s about breaking generational curses, challenging narratives, and building something that wasn’t built for us — all while facing the exhausting expectation to "prove" legitimacy again and again.
Unlike many of our peers, we are often not given the benefit of the doubt. Our work is immediately politicised or judged through the lens of prejudice before anyone even touches the fabric. We are constantly made to feel that we must outperform and overachieve just to be seen as equals.
The Silent Struggle Behind Success
What audiences rarely see are the countless hurdles behind the scenes:
- Being overlooked by major retailers and partnerships simply because our brand doesn’t "fit their customer base."
- Receiving lower engagement and ad performance because online racism triggers negative interactions that harm algorithms.
- Facing microaggressions in meetings and collaborations, where creativity is questioned or appropriated.
Despite these challenges, we continue to rise. Not because it's easy — but because it's necessary.
Turning Pain into Purpose
At Crooks and Candy, we use every insult and every moment of discrimination as fuel. Our collections are love letters to rebellion, manifestos of self-worth, and symbols of perseverance for anyone who has been told they don't belong.
Fashion is not just clothing. It’s armor, it’s art, and it’s a form of protest. And every time we create a new piece, we are declaring that our voices, our visions, and our value mean something.
A Call to the Industry
To those passionate about fashion and its future: real inclusion isn’t a trend, it’s a commitment. It’s about more than casting diverse models or celebrating "Black excellence" once a year. It’s about standing up, even in uncomfortable moments, and challenging the biases that still haunt this industry — from boardrooms to social media threads.
Share our stories, wear our art, and most importantly, see us — fully, completely, without prejudice.
At Crooks and Candy, we’re not asking for permission. We’re taking our place.