It’s soo amazing how fashion, often criticized as being frivolous, has such a huge impact on the world and generations ahead. Designers never know the depth and greatness their works will grow and somehow volunteering at a homeless shelter reminded me of this.
While sorting through a pile of women’s sweaters to organize for homeless patrons (shout out to the Bowery Mission in the Lower East Side) I ran across a familiar print. Soft as a baby blanket but funky in print as one of Dr. Huxtable’s famous sweaters,I looked at the tag and low-and-behold it was a WILLI SMITH piece!
I freaked, because only in my fashion classes had I heard about this African-American high-fashion legend. Never had I actually touched one of his pieces.
Clearly I take this ish serious.
Before I or anyone in my generation was a glimmer in our parents eyes, Willi Smith was taking the fashion industry over by storm. Born in Philadelphia, he attended Parsons School of Design in 1965 on a scholarship. After years of trial and error lines, apprenticeships and traveling the globe, he was able to partner with Laurie Mallett and successfully run “WilliWear”. This sportswear line is where this abandoned piece I was holding was birthed.
Smith was a design inspiration to the fashion houses of the day including Perry Ellis, Christian Dior and Chanel and close friend Betsey Johnson. Like a mild version of Koos van den Akker’s work, Smith pieces are most memorable from the entire cast wardrobe of School Daze, which he designed.
At the height of his career his sportswear company grossed $25 million in sales, his clothing appeared in more than 500 department stores, he won an American Fashion Critics’ Coty Award for women’s fashion, and a Cutty Sark Award for Men’s Fashion in 1985. All this being HUGE accomplishments for a designer…nevermind a black man…for back in the day.
His death in 1987 was a bit of a mystery at the time. Even announcing it two days after his passing, investigators still had no idea that the pneumonia he died from was a result of AIDS.
One thing that was no mystery was the source of his inspiration. He always said that he designed for regular people with that sixth sense of fashion, ”I don’t design clothes for the Queen, but for the people who wave at her as she goes by.”
The beauty of it all is that the story of Willi Smith doesn’t end.
Remarkable designers always seem to live on through exclusive runways shows of Paris….or just in a messy bin at a homeless shelter.


Ralph Lauren Aviators- $89 at Bloomingdales
Juicy Couture Jackie-O’s Sunglasses- $145 Bloomingdales
Target Jackie-O’s Sunglasses- $12
Diane von Furstenberg Wrap Dress- $400 at Neiman Marcus
Walmart Wrap Dress- $20 at Walmart.com
Kincross Cashmere Sweater- $200 at Sierra Trading Post
Target Button-Up Sweater- $20 at Target
Cole Haan Braided Belt- $125 at Cole Haan
Kmart Braided Double Belt- $7 at Kmart.com
Xhilaration Suede Boot- $20 at Target

Kanye West and Amber Rose
Will.i.am.
In the mist of the Tyra’s, Chanel’s and Naomi Campbell’s there lies an obvious truth to black women of older generations.