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From one of the most impactful singles, “Where Is The Love,” to the catchy hit “Boom Boom Pow,” will.i.am has been an integral part of the music industry and still places a massive stamp on the world. As a member of the iconic music group Black Eyed Peas, the Grammy-Award winner has released many popular studio albums. Will.i.am has also played the role of record producer by working alongside other artists such as Michael Jackson, John Legend, Lady Gaga, Chris Brown, and Kendrick Lamar, to name a few. Born William Adams, will.i.am grew up in Los Angeles, CA. He has always been encouraged to pursue music and stand out. His music career began in the eighth grade, performing with a group around the city. After becoming the Black Eyed Peas, their recognition continued to soar, which landed the group a contract with Interscope Records. The Black Eyed Peas released their first studio album, “Behind The Front” in 1998. With over 25 years in the music industry, will.i.am decided to expand...
Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH) has sold Off-White LLC to brand management company Bluestar Alliance, marking a significant transition for the luxury fashion brand Virgil Abloh founded in 2012. Women’s Wear Daily reported that while the financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed, Bluestar CEO Joey Gabbay emphasized the company’s commitment to honoring Abloh’s legacy, fostering innovation, and embracing diversity. “Virgil was a creative pioneer who had a profound impact on the global fashion industry and creative community,” said Gabbay. “Acquiring Off-White represents a unique opportunity for Bluestar Alliance to honor and build upon the enduring legacy of Virgil Abloh.” Originally called “PYREX VISION” in 2012, Off-White — Abloh’s first official fashion venture — launched in 2013 and quickly became known for its unique blend of influences and signature designs. The brand was shortlisted for the LVMH Prize in 2015. Abloh died of cancer at the age of 41 in 2021. When the deal...
Today’s young adults had no shortage of dolls to play with in childhood, from Barbie and her fabulous friends to the always stylish Bratz crew. There was Polly Pocket and MyScene too, but it wasn’t until late 2016 that the girls of L.O.L. (Lil Outrageous Littles) Surprise! entered the chat. The miniature dolls come from MGA Entertainment Inc., which founder Isaac Larian has an 82% stake in. Interestingly, the remaining 18% belongs to his family. While they quickly became a hit among young fashionistas , the L.O.L. Surprise! dolls have faced some controversies over the past decade, which have caused a noticeable cut in quality and quantity. Now that rapper T.I. and his vocalist wife, Tiny, have successfully won a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against MGA, it’s unclear what the future holds for L.O.L. What Exactly Are L.O.L. Surprise! Dolls? Photo Credit: Dan Kitwood Not long after the L.O.L. Surprise! line debuted, it became America’s No. 1 toy for most of 2017. The next year, MGA...
Former Division 1 track-and-field athlete Jes Christian is leveraging her background to create cutting-edge footwear for today’s athletes. Christian is behind the sports footwear company Hypsole, created thanks to her time as a track star at the University of Notre Dame. She remembers being “hyper-aware” of both the advantages and shortcomings of her shoes’ performance while running. “I understood the purpose of each shoe, how they were different, how they impacted my movements, and how they helped me perform [or didn’t],” she told AFROTECH™. “I had a shoe for almost everything — so where performance was missing was more apparent to me than it might’ve been for a non-track athlete — and it was missing the minute I stepped off the field.” She continued, “The on-field/off-field dance is also amplified in track because track meets can last all day and multiple days. Track athletes are constantly moving on and off the field, changing footwear, and adjusting to a dynamic meet schedule....
Earlier this year, G.O.A.T. Fuel Co-Founder Jaqui Rice Gold told AFROTECH™ that the energy drink company had plans for reaching new heights. Holding true to the statement, G.O.A.T. Fuel — also co-founded by her father, NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, and her husband, Trevion Gold — is growing its wings within the WNBA. According to a press release shared with AFROTECH™, the brand has partnered with the Chicago Sky — making it the WNBA team’s first official energy drink. The partnership follows the company becoming the Los Angeles Lakers’ energy drink of choice. “Working with the Chicago Sky is a dream for the G.O.A.T. Fuel brand,” Rice Gold shared in a press statement. “As a childhood basketball player, I always admired the excellence, hard work, and determination of those who made it to the WNBA. In addition, as a female CEO, I’m proud to partner with the Chicago SKY, a natural alignment as we share the same values.” Rice added, “Becoming the official energy drink of the Chicago Sky...
There is so much beauty in making your dreams come true, and this former Target employee’s transition from team member to collaborator for its recent Future Collective collection is proof! Before launching her fashion brand, Jeneé Naylor began her Target career in 2012, quickly rising to the role of store director at stores across the Washington, D.C. area after several years of hard work and commitment. Now, 11 years later, the company has unveiled its latest Future Collective collaboration with Naylor and her brand, which features 70 new pieces designed with individuality in mind, according to Target’s company blog. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Target (@target) “From sketching designs in high school to working in retail, fashion has always been a passion of mine,” Naylor said. “It wasn’t until I was working full-time that I started posting my outfits on social media and gaining traction. Because my Target work schedule was so busy, I would create and batch...
Florida A&M University (FAMU) will be taking more strides to diversify student education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). According to the Tallahassee Democrat, the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) will be adding new graduate degrees in aerospace engineering beginning in fall 2025 . The decision was solidified during a virtual Academic and Student Affairs Committee meeting held on May 20, 2024, with the introduction of a master’s degree and a Ph.D. program in aerospace engineering through the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. The joint engineering college with Florida State University is the only shared school of its kind. The degree offerings will also support the mission to increase education and degrees in STEM fields at FAMU in accordance with the Florida Board of Governors. The hope is that students will be qualified to pursue careers in aerospace and defense, space missions, manufacturing, spacecraft operations, and architectural...
Black Girls Code (BGC) is living true to its name. The organization exists to ensure at least 1 million girls of color will establish a presence in the tech industry by 2040 by partnering with schools, individuals who share its mission, and other organizations, a press release mentions. Among its efforts to bolster career paths in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM) is providing computer programming education. In October 2023, the organization hired former Salesforce executive Cristina Jones as its CEO. Jones’ experience also includes having worked at Twentieth Century Fox, where she was able to gain further experience within the entertainment sector and technology. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Black Girls Code (@blackgirlscode) Now, in her latest role, the focus is on workforce development and fostering industry partnerships that will help to build the skills of its students and forge career pathways, as previously reported by...
You can’t place Anifa Mvuemba’s creativity in a box. Back in 2020, the Hanifa founder and fashion designer shook up the fashion world with a virtual 3D show on Instagram for her collection, Pink Label Congo, inspired by her home country of the Congo. From then on, Mvuemba continued to implement her self-taught tech skills into her work, as previously reported by AFROTECH™. Now, Mvuemba has taken her fashion expertise into new territory — the spirits industry. In February 2024, it was announced that she and Sergio Hudson are partnering with premium bourbon brand Woodford Reserve. During a New York Fashion Week (NYFW) dinner, Mvuemba spoke about previously feeling like she was approached by brands for their own gain and image, per WWD. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anifa M (@anifam) In an email interview with AFROTECH™, Mvuemba shared , “As a Black designer, navigating the barriers that come with being shortlisted for collaborations merely to fulfill a diversity...
Love it or hate it, fast fashion is here to stay. Once relegated to the budget-to-median priced stores category, fast fashion exploded in a major way thanks to online shopping . Fueled by constant trend chasing with a caveat for affordable clothing, fast fashion is a billion dollar industry , having earned $106.42 billion in 2022 alone. Experts expect it to reach $133.43 billion by 2026. While there are plenty of valid criticisms regarding the ethical and ecological implications of this retail segment, every year more brands pop up trying to cash in on the endless demand for cheap yet stylish digs. Most people point to more budget brands like Shein or Forever21, but even Swedish staple H&M and Spanish retailer Zara are included when discussing this category. But in the last year, an upstart by the name of Temu has taken the industry by storm and is quickly positioning itself as a potential competitor thanks to dirt cheap pricing and an endless string of available discounts. But how...
Black designers’ work is being stolen from day by day. On Aug. 29, Hanifa’s Anifa Mvuemba came forward with her own story. In a tweet, the founder and fashion designer voiced her frustration since one of her designs being stolen. “Only because this sample took me monthssss to perfect,” she wrote. “This is actually crazy. I’m not going to tag or mention them. But this is crazy.” Only because this sample took me monthssss to perfect. This is actually crazy. I’m not going to tag or mention them. But this is crazy. pic.twitter.com/GDZQg6vTBK — + (@AnifaM) August 29, 2022