Kerby Jean-Raymond: Awards Galore, Big Gig at Reebok, Your Friends In New York

The COVID Summer may be over, but the drive for social justice in communities of color is not. Couple demands for social justice with the drive for a more sustainable planet and global brands — along with traditional media — are still reeling.

In a decision that many of us applauded, Reebok named Pyer Moss designer Kerby Jean-Raymond as the new global creative director at Reebok. The parties have worked together since 2016, but Jean-Raymond will now oversee all design at Reebok, from shoes to apparel. The creative empath is considered to be one of the most visionary, articulate, no BS talents in the fashion industry, a fact that bodes well for Reebok.

The designer was just honored with the Menswear Designer of the Year award at the Council of Fashion Designers of America in mid-September, and was named Designer of the Year by Harlem Fashion Row.

Your Friends in New York

There’s more news for Jean-Raymond — and we hope he’s not taking on too much. The Pyer Moss founder began talks with Kering’s CEO and Chairman François-Henri Pinault in 2019 to create a groundbreaking new platform to empower the next generation of innovators called Your Friends in New York.

Your Friends in New York describes itself as a “community-focused platform” aimed at addressing the rapid evolutions of the fashion and retail industries, incorporating music, wellness, philanthropy, and art.

The plan is to create an “ecosystem of creativity,” where brands— including Pyer Moss —can experiment with their customer relationships.  The venture is the biggest signal yet that the influence of Black creatives is monumental right now on global culture. After decades of our believing in Brooklyn, the borough is ground zero globally for young creatives, artists, and talents of every kind.