February is the time we celebrate Black History Month, remembering leaders who overcame boundaries to ensure equality and better lives for us all. It’s also the time of year when fashionistas from all over the globe gather at Lincoln Center for New York Fashion Week. The fierce world of fashion gifts us with countless women, originators and modern mavens, who’ve made history and expanded the possibilities for black women. BlackEnterprise.com celebrates 10 women in fashion whose monumental strides bring a fresh awareness to Black History and Black Future.
Rachel Johnson
Rachel Johnson’s fashion sense caught the attention of her fellow Rattlers while attending FAMU. She began selling her statement style to the students and eventually realized that she could make a career in fashion. Johnson started styling for musicians like Pharrell and Keyshia Cole, and in 2005 Jay-Z introduced the young talent to LeBron James’ manager Maverick Carter. Ever since, the fashionista has been the NBA’s first pick when it comes to style. In addition to James, Rachel’s clients include Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Chris Paul and other star players.
Dom Streater
Dom Streater made history as the first African American designer to win the Emmy award-winning Project Runway. A risk-taker, Streater believes that every woman is a rock star and creates pieces that are both chaotic and glamorous, but also functional. Dom was named one of Nicole Millers “Most Fashionable Women of Philadelphia” and has shown her collections at New York Fashion Week.
Riley Montana
Hardly ever is it that supermodels land major fashion campaigns before they’ve proven worthy enough to walk Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week, also known as New York Fashion Week. Riley Montana, however, scored Givenchy’s Spring ’14 campaign before working it in the Fall ’14 NYFW. Prior to her days of getting co-signs from Riccardo Tisci and Naomi Campbell, Montana was grinding multiple jobs at Popeyes, Claire’s and RadioShack. Now, you can spot the tall and lithe beauty throughout the pages of Harper’s Bazaar and on billboards.
Chantelle Winnie
You know you’re fierce when the very woman who made the word famous spots you on Instagram and casts you for America’s Next Top Model. Supermodel Tyra Banks was mesmerized by Chantelle Brown-Young’s pics and offered her a spot on her top model competition show. Chantelle, who’s more widely known as Winnie Harlow or Chantelle Winnie, agreed and the rest is history. While she was eventually eliminated from the competition, Winnie went on to book major campaigns, including hip brand Diesel. What’s special about the rising model is her skin condition vitiligo, which she’s had since four years old. Cosmopolitan, Access Hollywood and MTV have all declared that Winnie Harlow is the next big thing!
Ashley Dunn
Ashley Dunn is a fashion stylist and designer with her own collection. After graduating from Prarie View A&M, Dunn encountered the all too common problem of not being able to find employment. She finally landed a job in Corporate America, and decided to pursue her fashion passion by night. Dunn eventually realized that she would have to leave the stability of her 9 to 5 and push her fashion label full-time. Now,  her cropped jumpsuits, bright color choices and fit and flare silhouettes are featured on popular fashion blog Fashion Bomb Daily, Essence and LA Fashion Snob. The Houston-based designer recently launched her Spring/Summer ’15 collection and received rave reviews.