We Stan For IVY Park Because It stans for Us
I felt the need to pop up with another blog because I felt it in my spirit to talk about this since I’ve just been paying attention to a lot lately, especially about what’s within our culture. Also, because I love Beyonce and fashion!
Let me start off by addressing that my last blog, Stop Doing It For The Culture was about the Hip Hop Subculture that most people identify us by. The main culture of African Americans that SHOULD be portrayed (and is slowly starting to get attention) is that we are Kings and Queens and we all have an obligation to society within our calling.
Beyonce’s calling is her creative talents through music, dancing, singing, and most importantly fashion! Her contribution to society resonates to black people that we can and should take up space because we matter! As you know Queen B will be launching her brand Ivy Park in partnership with Adidas on January 18th and I’m here for every bit of it!!
SN: I feel as though this launch of Ivy Park will be another Homecoming like she did at Coachella. I mean honestly, this is a moment for US to honor who we are, like we did when she performed at Coachella, excuse me, Beychella.
January 18th will be a day to celebrate black fashion designers because, can we be real for a minute? These Anglo-Saxon men have been profiting off of us FAR TOO LONG! The owners of our most popular and glorified brands, Versace, Gucci, Prada, Micheal Kors, Fendi, Balienciaga, Fashion Nova (yup, I added them in there too, they have a high-end luxe collection too) are all white men, who aren’t of the African American culture, yet we support them and pay HIGH dollars for it. It’s like a victory lap for us when we are able to afford their brands.
It’s 2020 now and I need us to keep that same energy for Beyonce and her brand, and even other African American female designers like Rihanna, Mia Ray, Kimora Lee Simmons, Nichole Lynel, Tiarra Monet.
I want to see the same excitement of unpacking the products of their brands like how we do with the other brands because it’s marketing for them.
By the way, if you didn’t know, here’s a little insider on the evolution of Ivy Park and the obstacles Beyonce went through. Ivy Park was co-founded by Beyonce and Phillip Green, the Chairman of Top Shop, as a collaboration and they individually owned 50% of the brand. However, Mr. Green was accused of sexual harrasment and even making racial slurs. Queen B did not want this attached to her brand, so according to Elle.com, “after discussions of almost a year, [Beyoncé's] Parkwood has acquired 100 percent of the Ivy Park brand." Sis cut her ties with Green, and now owns 100% of Ivy Park, THAT’S A BOSS MOVE!!
I want you to think about this though…Green allegedly disrespected us as women with sexual harassment (even with the progression of the MeToo Movement) that he choses not to confess or even apologize, and Beyonce, being a true feminist she is, stood up for us by cancelling their deal. It shows that we should also have a zero tolerance against sexual harassment, no matter who it is! Especially with the prevalence of sex trafficking worldwide.
After this shell-shocking decision, Beyonce then ventured out to partner with another top brand, Reebook. You remember that whole incident right? When Queen B had a meeting with Reebok, they presented all the products to her but she noticed something discomforting and addressed it. She realized that the people at the table from Reebok weren’t diverse. In reference to Oprah Mag, Beyonce asserted, “nobody in this room reflects my background, my skin color, and where I’m from and what I want to do,” and she took a step back and left. She not only did this for herself, but for us.
Side note: You know good and well, that none of your favorite designers would do that for us! But it’s okay, they don’t have to because they don’t understand what it means to be us and the empowerment that comes from it! But thanks to businesswomen like Beyonce, we have power! We just have to believe in ourselves and what we are called to do.
With all of this information, I hope that on January 18th, 2020, you show up and show out for Beyonce like she did for us! Not just for women, but for men as well, so there’s no reason why anyone shouldn’t support her. You already know Beyonce knows we aren’t rich, but she knows we like nice things. So you can expect high end quality, but with affordable quantity in pricing. However, if Beyonce did want to charge prices on the higher end, she could, she’s worth it! But she loves us and wants us all to support her.
I don’t know the prices yet, as the company Is keeping it private, but I can assure you, there is something we can all afford. Her products range from earrings, hats, shoes and of course apparel, something we all can enjoy!
Now when you shop, stay in your budget. Don’t go broke so you can flex for the gram. Just flex for Beyonce, show her that you stan for her because she’s making history!
Mood music: Black Effect by The Carters and if you’re in Atlanta, I encourage you to wear your Ivy Park clothing and post up at the Martin Luther King Center and use the caption “ I'm good on any MLK Boulevard” for the Kings and Queens culture. I’m sure it would make Dr. MLK proud, especially with black history month approaching.