Fashion has always been more than fabric and threadit is a language, a declaration, a weapon.
Fashion has been literally a cloak for us.
Its been used to signify artistry, intellect, and resistance, she tellsVogue.
Photo: Courtesy of Blk Ivy Thrif
I watched this documentary about [jazz musician] Lee Morgan, she recalls.
There was a moment that examined how he dressed, how his contemporaries like Gordon Parks dressed.
A serendipitous visit to a design-focused bookstore in Los Angeles soon after cemented her vision.
Photo: Dr. Kimberly McGlonn, Courtesy of Blk Ivy Thrift
It wasnt an accident.
It was a calling.
This wasnt just about selling clothes, she explains.
McGlonns influences span a broad spectrum of Black intellectuals, artists, and activists.
Youd find a vintage phone on the wall or a corner dedicated to a 70s basement party scene.
It was the best kind of classroom.
The sourcing process behind these artifacts was meticulous.
I take an extra suitcase whenever I travel, McGlonn shares.
She is particularly drawn to pieces that tell a story.
Thats history woven into fabric.
Despite its success, McGlonn recently made the intentional decision to transition away from its West Philly location.
But for McGloon, the shift wasnt a closureit was an evolution.
Brick-and-mortar spaces are incredibly difficult for Black entrepreneurs, especially in the current economic landscape.
But more than that, I realized Blk Ivy Thrift could do more as a traveling exhibit.
And for me, the fight is through cultural preservation.
Through fashion, through storytelling.
Blk Ivy Thrifts next iteration as a traveling exhibit is ambitious.
McGlonn envisions immersive installations in cities like New York, Chicago, and Atlanta.
Its a time portal.
A call to action.
And its about never letting anyone forget the sacrifices made so we could express ourselves freely today.
