Marvel Studios announced the presentation of Black Panther “Welcome to Wakanda” – a celebration of fashion inspired by the movie – on February 12, as part of New York Fashion Week.
Designers including CHROMAT, Cushnie et Ochs, Fear of God, Ikiré Jones, Laquan Smith, Sophie Theallet, and Tome, who were selected for their dedication to empowerment and individualism through fashion, worked with Marvel Studios to create one-of-a-kind pieces interpreting different characters and themes from the movie, which will be shown the night of the event.
Following the event, the one-of-a-kind looks will be auctioned off via CharityBuzz.com in support of Save the Children, an international humanitarian organization that gives children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn, and protection from harm.
Additionally, Black-Panther-inspired capsule collections from Brother Vellies, Douriean Fletcher, and Josh Bennett will also be on display at the event, each becoming available for purchase on their respective websites on February 13.
“Black Panther is visually stunning, from the backdrop of Wakanda to the beautiful, intricate costumes, with technology playing an important role throughout,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media. “Each of these designers has taken inspiration from the incredible storytelling, empowering characters and iconic look of the movie, while bringing their own unique aesthetic to the designs.”
Black Panther‘s nation of Wakanda may be fictional, but its style is rooted in real history. Oscar-nominated costume designer Ruth E. Carter researched and travelled across Africa seeking inspiration and studying patterns, colors, beadwork, and silhouettes ensuring that the costuming in the film was not only true to the story but that all of the looks felt fashion-forward as well.
“We wanted to explore and create the afrofuture-idyllic concept with Wakanda and make it a world like we have not seen before in cinema,” said Carter.