Fashion can be a tool of liberation. It can be used in a powerful way to express one’s personal identity and break down societal expectations.

North Star uses fashion to reclaim and rework symbols of American identity in the revolutionary tradition of African American aesthetics.

The fourth collection was photographed in a location that is especially meaningful to me. Each semester, I teach “History of Fashion” in this proscenium-style auditorium built in 1930 and located in the New School’s Kaplan Hall. The collection is not only inspired by this space, but shaped by the experience of occupying it week after week. As I teach, I’m always struck by the curvilinearity of the ceiling and the rhythm of the architectural lines that frame the room. Those curves and lines directly informed the silhouettes in this collection. The garments echo the auditorium’s geometry, translating architectural form into gentle arcs and soft structure. As with many North Star collections, the pieces are constructed entirely from upcycled menswear.

Photography: photographer
Models: models
Makeup: artist
Design & Styling: Jonathan Michael Square

@NORTHSTAR.NYC

Lauryn in trousers and a hooded duster made entirely from upcycled Brooks Brothers shirting
👤
This 1960 photograph captures young civil rights leaders gathered at Clark Atlanta University. Their sharp suiting reflects the sartorial norms of HBCU campuses before the rise of Afrocentrism and the Black Is Beautiful Movement. Dr. Martin Luther Ki
I’m so grateful to the talented team at @commercial_artisan for designing such a stunning lookbook! Their creativity and attention to detail truly brought my vision to life. You can view the lookbook in its entirety on the North Star website.
This collection draws inspiration from the Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph “The Soiling of the Old Glory” as well as my research on Brooks Brothers’ historical connections to American slavery.
The lookbook 📖 for the third collection is now live on North Star website (🔗 in bio)!
An outtake 😂🤣