Telfar Clemens cultural icon: “Not for you—for everyone”

Texas Southern University student inspired by Telfar Clemens brand.

Fashion enthusiasts of Texas Southern University, awe over the recent success of Telfar Clemens as the brand Telfar took off unexpectedly last year during the midst of a global pandemic and civil rights movement.

What may have seemed like an overnight success,in fact was 15 years in the making with the help of his business partner Babak Radoy.

Telfar was brought to life by Telfar Clemens in 2005 a gay, Liberian American, who grew up in LeFrak City, Queens. It took nine years for Telfar to land a show review from Vogue, and seven years to secure an order from Opening Ceremony, it’s first major stock list. What's crazy is the staple piece Telfar bag that went viral has been around for five years.

Before its newfound fame the signature Telfar bag was hot in the streets of Brooklyn and downtown Manhattan within the black, brown, and queer community of creatives. To be seen with a Telfar bag in Brooklyn was major. Jokingly earning the nickname: ‘the Bushwick Birkin’ stamped by makeup artist Xya Rachel who told The Cut, like a Birkin “but for those who don’t have Hermes kind of coins.”

Telfar was able to capture the hearts of many during an intense social climate.

Last year summer was one for the books as the Black Lives Matter Movement made sweeping headlines.With many fed up with the injustice system,racism,and police brutality. Consumers all over the nation were compelled to invest their hard-earned money into black entrepreneurs and businesses. Leading taglines #Shopblack and #Blackowned buzzing throughout every social media platform. Telfar caught the attention of several people which rapidly spread like wildfire.

People were in disbelief by the market price of Telfar, only $150 to $257. The Telfar bag with its trademark logo “T” in the center of the bag made with 100% vegan leather.

Ranging from every color one can possibly imagine became a viral sensation. Once word got out that it was black owned the rest was history. Telfar went from selling a thousand bags in 24 hours back in March. Now selling out instantly in minutes even causing the site to completely crash. New shopping bag colors are released the first Friday of every month.

Success with fashion never came easy for Mr. Clemens never received a fashion design education. Instead, he attended Pace University in Manhattan where he studied business management. Eventually he soon dropped out with the mindset of opening his own store and selling his own clothing.

Telfar told CBS news “I’m super proud of myself, '' he shared. “I was doing this with no reward, no like recognition, you know, but I was doing it because I wanted to do something I could actually look backon.”

TSU students say Telfar Clemens is an inspiration, and his success is well earned.

“I feel Telfar is a big step for the black culture being the recent tragedies that have happened in the black community have sparked revelations that higher end designers don’t care about the community as much,” said Quddus Olisa

Olisa is a current TSU student majoring in business finance but, his real passion is fashion. He owns his own clothing brand “Broke Boy” which is very popular within the Houston community of young creatives. He can identify and relate to many of the struggles Clemens went through as an up-and-coming designer.

“Telfar making pieces like designer durags shows he’s catering to the community he identifies with. Me being a designer, this inspires me to do the same that I must be on the same path as far as representing my community,” said Olisa

The significance of Telfar being a black owned luxury brand that is affordable for everyone is a game changer. TSU students say Telfar is a brand worth investing in and hope to see more black designers get recognition.