Romeo Hunte SS19

Amidst a week of white-male dominated runway shows and parties, Romeo Hunte’s SS19 NYFW show highlighted the power and promise of a new and diverse set of designers making their way into a fashion industry normally run by decades long empires. Bright colors and strong outlining gave a fresh look to classic silhouettes such as the shawl, pea coat, and suit jacket.

Brooklyn born and raised, Romeo Hunte is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology. After several years of working as a personal shopper for luxury clients, Romeo’s brand blew up following his collaboration with Beyonce in July of 2015.

SS19 was a beautiful combination of sleek, techwear inspired design and long, oversized fits. Romeo’s take on a pea coat reveals enough of the classic design to make you feel comfortable - but through a smart utilization of black mesh, fur, bold line accents, and rubber patch work he pushes the boundaries of what luxury is assumed to look like.

The runway show was packed, with every seat in the Pier59 Studio C space taken. Attendants arrived in a broad range of outfits, but a particularly heavy influence from the streetwear and sneaker culture of the past year seemed to be present.

Romeo Hunte’s prices are at the high luxury designer price of $476 flannel shirts, which is inaccessible to most. However, as with Virgil Abloh of Off White being appointed the new menswear director of Louis Vuitton, this is one step in the process of bringing in new stories, visions, and experiences (specifically those of designers of color) into the exclusive world of luxury fashion.

Words & Photographs by Amal Flower Kay // @cohibit