Issuu

N a t t y B e l l e

Manifesto

Our purpose is to conjure, as a collective experience, the inherent sovereignty that exists within Black women and femmes. It is our belief that we are born knowing a sense of our own inherent sovereignty, which has been acquired for us by our Ancestors.

In Toni Morrison's tribute to James Baldwin, "for James Baldwin: ‘Jimmy. You crowned us,’ " published in the December 20, 1987, edition of in The New York Times, Morrison writes of Baldwin's words, "’Our crown,’ you said, 'has already been bought and paid for. All we have to do, you said, is wear it.’"

Wear it we will!

Join us as we adorn ourselves within these sentient garments as liberated, claircognizant heirs We wish to reinvoke and celebrate the freedoms of Black women and femmes in states of being that are restful, creative, playful and that reflect their self-governing satisfaction while donning an attire that reflects this power and leisure.

To us, there is no greater luxury than Freedom: the intention, the ceremony, the carefully crafted looks, the deliberate imagery and exquisite pieces, will emanate the energy and spirit harvested from this experience as an intention of a practiced liberation

This event of sundry freedoms must be witnessed at Summit Rock in Seneca Village, as we revel on ground that was once inhabited by the Lenape People and liberated Black-land owners during a time of State-enforced bondage. Luxury is also being able to occupy spaces and places that our ancestors, elders and comrades have forged

The impact of this moment will be measured directly and residually by those present and interacting with this reconstructed and reinstalled liberated world of Black people experiencing each other while carefully decorated in the wares and fashions that have been intentionally designed for this sacred phenomenon. -NB

The Deep V dress with plunging neckline, cap sleeves in two tone linen, shown here in the color Dream Blue.

Retail $695

Striped silk cut dress, s in the color

Free Yellow

Retail $1295

Draped halter dress with button closure and gathered back. Shown here in two tone linen color, Muted Sunflower. Retail $695

ss in a striped lux nt button closures, e seam and is the ng for luxuriating

Retro collar mud cloth coat with side pockets shown in Rust. Paired with button up two tone linen shirt in muted sunflower color and front drape skirt with split.

Retail: Coat $1795 Shirt $695

Double breasted mud cloth coat with patch pockets shown in Rust. Paired with Deep V linen dress in Iced Mint Tea color. Retail: Coat $1995 Dress $695

A nod to herbalist Emma Dupree, this two piece set features a long sleeved button up shirt with a front lasso closure draped skirt and scalloped front split and ruched back. The set shown in a two tone linen color called

This shirt jacket combination with pockets on the seam-line and a skirt with a front split, also includes pockets on the side seam. Shown in Comrade Green two tone linen.

Retail Jacket $995

Skirt $495

The Deneen Dress, also known as the Three Sister Dress shown here with a three tiered skirt one tier for each sister, along with a fluttered sleeve. The dress is shown in a gold silk and speckled velvet burnout. Retail $1295

Colorblock silk organza shirt paired with beige linen cigarette pant with pockets.

Retail Colorblock

Shirt $795

Pant $595

Dream girls, one day dreams and dreams at night. The day gown s in white ribbed cotton and lace neckline with a rear split. And th night gown shown with a ribbed in light grey with vintage lace ne and rear split. Both dresses: Retail $695