As the Pride celebrations continue, the conversation around visibility deserves a deeper look. Long before mainstream runways caught up, Black queer and non-binary designers were quietly (and loudly) architecting the very trends that define modern style. This June, we are looking beyond surface-level corporate capsules to celebrate the true boundary pushers.

From those redefining traditional tailoring with Caribbean heritage to those using fluid streetwear as an act of radical resistance, these creators are doing more than just designing garments. They are championing the LGBTQ+ community through their work. Ahead, discover some of our favorite Black designers who are crafting a bold new visual language for fashion right now and always.

No Sesso

No Sesso (Italian for ‘no sex/no gender’) is helmed by the brilliant design duo Pia Davis and Autumn Randolph. The brand has become a sanctuary for Black queer and non-binary fashion. Together, Davis and Randolph craft stunning, hand-wrought knitwear and club-culture-infused streetwear designed to empower bodies of all gender expressions. The latest pieces from the brand include deconstructed gowns fused with hoodies as well as pinstripe girdle shorts that are pushing the boundaries of contemporary fashion.

Christopher John Rogers

Founded in 2016, Christopher John Rogers’ eponymous brand has always championed taking up space sartorially. Through the use of exaggerated silhouettes and a refreshing take on prismatic pairings, the message is clear: Fashion should be a continuous source of pure, unadulterated joy. From dressing global icons to dominating fashion week, Christopher John Rogers’ high-octane designs make space for Black and queer excellence to shine.

Theophilio

Edvin Thompson continues to treat fashion as a vibrant love letter to his Jamaican heritage, masterfully blending the pulse of Caribbean dancehall with the sharp energy of New York City street culture. What’s even better? Thompson uses his brand to explicitly celebrate intersectional Black and LGBTQ+ identity, a vision that earned him the CFDA Emerging Designer of the Year award in 2021.

Diotima

One of the most compelling, poetic forces in contemporary luxury, Rachael Scott roots her brand Diotima in the power, sensuality, and resistance found within Caribbean traditions. Through her work, Scott preserves and reimagines Black and Caribbean histories in ways that feel urgently relevant today.

K.ingsley

Kingsley Gbadegesin launched his namesake label with an unshakeable, hyper-visible mission: to disrupt the fashion landscape by entirely reclaiming and elevating the Black, queer, and femme body. Though the brand has become known for layered and intricately cut tops, its focus on bridging the gap between community ballroom culture and high-fashion minimalism proves that the most revolutionary thing you can wear is unapologetic self expression.

Brandon Blackwood

While balancing sharp, elegant structural design with an edge of absolute culture-shifting relevance, Brandon Blackwood has built a verified accessory empire. The most recent collaboration with reality queen Olandria Carthen says it all. Even as his profile rises, Blackwood continues to serve as a blueprint for young LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs to look up to, demonstrating that accessible luxury can be both playfully vibrant and deeply grounded in community.

Coco and Breezy

Twin sisters Corianna and Brianna Dotson of Coco and Breezy have spent over a decade asserting that eyewear should be treated as architectural art rather than a simple afterthought. Their progressive, gender-neutral approach to design has earned them a cult celebrity following, dressing style icons ranging from Prince to Lady Gaga. What’s even better? Coco and Breezy often use their platform to amplify the beauty of intersectional queer visibility.

Read the original article on Essence.