Designer Tia Adeola debuts her Spring/Summer 2021 collection for her namesake label alongside a fashion film titled “Black is Beautiful” (Le Noir Est Beau), which stars R&B singer/ songwriter Paloma Ford, rapper and songwriter, Flo Milli & more.
A continued exploration into Renaissance art and historical studies, the film also showcases a heavy influence from Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film, Marie Antoinette, but reinterpreted to feature an all-Black female cast.
Paloma Ford had this to say exclusively to Vogue:
Black is Beautiful has many messages and inspiring undertones that can be highlighted. I love that even though the story showed a rivalry—a protagonist and antagonist—Tia was adamant in not showcasing a real victor. It wasn’t about that. In fact, you see us all come together at the end, which is the real message to women. We come together and we all win. She concludes this beautiful story by depicting strong Black, beautiful, confident women draped in elegant pieces—a literal depiction of style and grace. This is Tia’s brand messaging at its core, but she always finds another way to outdo herself.
“Black is Beautiful” was created as a celebration of Black women, Black culture, and Black fashion, fused with a classical art narrative that frequently leaves them out. Directed and produced through the lens of Renaissance epicureanism and indulgent luxury, “Black is Beautiful” serves as both a social commentary and fantastical escapism.
Le Noir Est Beau (Black is Beautiful) from Nina Meredith on Vimeo.