What do you get when Marvel’s Black Panther and New York Fashion Week collide?
An enchanting event not to be missed! However, if you did miss it, no worries. The Knockturnal was on the scene and we’ve got you covered! Marvel and Disney teamed up with 10 designers to bring us one of a kind pieces, inspired by the film. Cushnie et Ochs was one of the designer brands to join in on the capsule collection. I had the pleasure of speaking with Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs, the creatives behind the brand about their thoughts on the film and their collaboration with Marvel. Check out our exclusive interview below!
Can you tell us about the collaboration with Black Panther and Marvel?
Carly Cushnie: We were super excited to collaborate with them and design a piece that was inspired by the movie. It’s a super inspiring and empowering movie. It has really great, diverse, strong, female characters that, we’re just so drawn to. That was a great focal point to design a piece.
Tell us a little bit about the actual make-up of the piece, the material, pattern, and embroidery. Also how you decided that this would be the piece to represent a fusion of your brand and Black Panther?
Michelle Ochs: We wanted it to feel like liquid armor, so it actually is a special fabric that we set aside from our runway collection, which we’ve just showed last Friday. We wanted it to feel strong and powerful. We were really inspired by the female warriors and the Vibranium, which is like a strong metal that they had in the film. And the herb shaped heart pieces is where we got inspired for the embroidery.
How important is it to you, to empower women through your brand?
Carly Cushnie: It’s really important to empower women today … Just in every aspect of their lives. In the way, they dress. In the way, they approach their work, their careers, their families. All of it. It all sort of works together. It’s very important to give to good women, the support they need and encouragement to feel empowered.
Lastly, what do you hope the people take away from the movie and collaboration?
Michelle Ochs: I think it’s great for superhero movies that boys and young girls can look up to the female characters. Because they’re not just sidekicks in this film, and that’s what we really took away from it. They’re four strong, beautiful, very independent women who are really equals to the male hero. I think that’s a really strong message to take away.
Be sure to check out Marvel’s Black Panther, in theaters Friday, February 16!
The event was presented by Lexus, Lancôme and benefitted Save The Children.
