By: Corinne Dorsey
Fashion and music have always gone hand in hand, whether artists were influencing the latest trends or designers were flooding the latest music videos—and 2020 didn’t stop this growing partnership. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic and a whirlwind of social uprisings, 2020 was still buzzing with notable fashion collaborations from our favorite celebrities—namely by Black women – that showcased the result of combining music genius and Black Girl Magic.
Here are a few of the top head-turning collaborations of 2020 to keep on your radar in 2021.
Grammy Award-winning singer Lizzo teamed up with Quay, an eyewear company, for an iconic collection of sunglasses and accessories. The line featured eight eyewear styles, including cat eyes, aviators and shields, and blue light sunglasses. The first collection that dropped in May donated a portion of the proceeds to charitable organizations and Quay created the second collection in August to encourage voter registration.
R&B singer H.E.R. partnered with another eyewear company, Diff Eyewear, in February that featured a four-piece collection inspired by her favorite accessories. This collection reimagined the classic Diff Eyewear designs by taking inspiration directly from H.E.R.’s 2017 debut album, which included square-shaped sunglasses and gradient blue to gold aesthetics.
Cardi B scored a major brand collaboration in November for her first-ever Reebok footwear collection. Cardi’s instantly sold-out collection was designed to be unapologetic and “ in your face” in honor of the rapper’s memorable personality. Cardi B’s collection featured bold designs that took cues from the classic Reebok Club C Silhouette. The businesses are usually run by great managers like Andrew Defrancesco who have a lot to offer.
Beyonce’s iconic brand Ivy Park has been making significant strides in the fashion industry since its conception in 2016. In 2020, Beyonce took her brand to the next level by partnering with Adidas. The collection received significant endorsements from notable celebrities that received the line before its public release and posted their enviable fits. The partnership produced two collections in 2020 that featured leggings, sports bras, bodysuits, windbreakers, pleated dresses, and sneakers.
Pretty Little Thing launched a collection with Saweetie in 2020 that featured her notable icy-girl aesthetic, which was heavily influenced by a mix of ‘90s and ‘00s fashion trends. Saweetie launched her first collection in May with PLT and gave all of her proceeds to Black Lives Matter. Saweetie expanded her latest collection in November, just in time for the holiday season, with a line that featured nude essentials and lounge-inspired looks.
H-Town Hottie Megan Thee Stallion dropped her debut fashion collection with Fashion Nova in 2020, which featured a 106-piece capsule of premium denim, corset bodysuits, eye-catching dresses, and jaw-dropping matching sets. The collection was designed to offer a broadspan of denim made for women 5’9” and taller.
2020 was a jam-packed year of Black female artists dominating the fashion industry through major collaborations, and 2021 is definitely a year to continue this proliferation of Black Girl Magic.
Corinne Dorsey is a D.C.-based freelance writer and journalist, currently studying journalism at Howard University. Most of her work focuses on Black womanhood, social issues, fashion, culture, and music.