The Narrative's 7053 Profile: Ashley Walker

Originally published 6/13/19

Industry: Fashion

Occupation: Designer/CEO

Output: Leimert Park Threads

Target community: Fashion

Question: Give an idea on how we can move forward as a Community?

Idea:  Restrengthening Community through messaging

“Spreading messages through clothing has been an outlet for designers and artists for a long time. I felt that with the current climate [socially and culturally] that people would be open minded enough to wear a shirt or hat with the word COLORED adorned on the front,” states Ashley Walker, founder of Los Angeles based company Leimert Park Threads.

In an era of Western social and political upheaval, culture wars, and a reality TV star as president; the make it cool yet impactful messaging between designer and the “conscious consumer” is a vital tight-rope for consumption and brand relevance. Fueled by the democratization of information through social media, a conundrum of viral insight making old narratives anew (and vice versa) can be spotlighted with alarming algorithmic visibility by just two taps that equate to a heart on a post. As a result, Culture is shotgun with the socially-conscious consumer driving the narrative, leaving brands more vulnerable than ever to be dragged (à la black Twitter) and dusty. You either over-do it, miss the mark or find the sweet spot. In the chaos of intel that is our climate, Walker seems to have found the sweet spot.

Sitting at the intersection of 21st century technology and activism, Walker is redefining, unearthing and reclaiming the narratives of the historically erased through fashion. Recognizing the innate power of black America’s coolness and globally pervasive culture, Walker seizes the zeitgeist by artfully blending bold statements and minimalism in order to elevate consciousness and virality not just among members of the Community, yet throughout the world and country. “I am using the word [Colored] and attempting to reshape it’s perception through fashion in hopes to start conversations and even debates,” states Walker. He continues, “With COLORED being the first collection coming from Leimert Park Threads, it was important for it to feel simple and uniform so design wouldn't distract from the message itself, hence the majority black, grey and white aesthetic.”

Yet, whether Walker knows it or not, he also has placed himself at the center of the complex identity that is black America and its relationship with social media. Social media has an uncanny ability to unearth and redefine the narratives of marginal communities like black America, now on a far-reaching scale. COLORED is seizing this at a fashionably alarming rate by starting conversations across all “accessible” channels. If we agree that the democratization of information of social media (and the rapidity of technology) has made visible, erased narratives of the marginally oppressed - Walker is demonstrating what our ancestors have done repeatedly with respect to redefining a narrative with the tools he has, now on a larger scale. By taking the term colored, another label given to us by the white patriarchs of our country, Walker has repackaged, and reclaimed a term meant to advance racial hierarchy yet now in his own way, is dismantling it. “For me, COLORED represents everyone,” he states.

And by everyone, he means all parts of the Diaspora - the thing that connects us all. In an age of Colin Kaepernick’s knee bending “affront” to institutional racial systems, and the slow but steady dismantling of the white patriarchal system that is America, Walker’s appeal to connect with other African diasporeans by using black America’s fluidity around identity and cultural prowess is highly innovative. Despite its [colored] origins being rooted in American culture, Walker hopes that COLORED (and the label colored) will transcend and connect with the Diaspora in other parts of the world; spotlighting the beauty, and resilience that is us. The label itself is highly controversial given that is was adopted as a tactic by Western white powers to advance social, political and economic infrastructure through the Atlantic slave trade. Yet for a label that was passed down to virtually all African diasporeans in order to induce a racialized human trafficking system, COLORED is on a mission to rewrite the narrative not just for the black American community, yet the African Diaspora. Repackaging is a theme we [black Americans] know all too well, however, Leimert Park Threads COLORED line takes a more universalistic and expansive approach while covertly shifting a new narrative around Community with greater visibility and mobility given the age we live in. But what is the key ingredient that sparked the creation and mission for a more cohesive and connected narrative for Community throughout the world?

“I feel that the root of any community is the family structure. I feel that re-educating, re-strengthening and re-unifying families in the inner cities throughout the country will lead to more leaders coming from our communities who will feel a sense of duty to protect it [narrative] and help it flourish.” Walker sees his line as one of many to help facilitate this pragmatic ripple effect, as well as question how we want to define ourselves moving forward. And it’s catching on. His ability to unearth new and old narratives for conversation, enabling critical thought laced with a touch of coolness by the messaging of his line - is finding placement across the social media pages and channels of well-known heavily melanated influencers and celebrities. Whether it be Beyonce wearing a Leimert Park Thread’s Howard University tee in Netflix’s Homecoming, or Issa Rae rocking a COLORED tee in Insecure, Walker is creating conversation, blending narratives of our past, present and future to do it.

“I started Leimert Park Threads because I had something to say. Through Leimert Park Threads I intend to build more collections with inspiration pulled from the African Diaspora and the magic that people of color bring to the world,” states Walker. We have and will always be magical. Walker is rewriting the narrative through fashion to cement this so our narrative is now seen and heard forever.