Kendra Duplantier, endorsed by Beyoncé's Black Parade, became an overnight success during the pandemic

In The Know by Yahoo

Kendra Duplantier is one of 16 designers being featured in the Black In Fashion Councils showroom during NYFW. We talked about her creative process and words to live by in this week's episode of In The Know Style.

Video Transcript

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KENDRA DUPLANTIER: I like to think about my customers as like, my friends, you know, my girls. Whenever I'm designing my pieces, it's like I want it to be like, effortless. I want you to wear the clothes and like, bring life to the clothes through your body or just your confidence.

I am Kendra Duplantier, and I am a women's wear designer. I was speaking to one of my friends, and I told her I had designed this entire collection. She's like, girl, this is good. Like, what are you doing? I was like, I know, but I don't have the money. I don't have a studio.

And she was like, girl, you need to do what you can with what you have. Those few words did so much for me. I just started shooting my shot. I like, went to different places. I showed them my collection. I said, hey, would you be willing to work with me? Found a model, found a photographer, got a shot, put my little website together, and I was in business.

With everything that's gone on with the movements of supporting Black designers, I think the good thing that's come out of this is I had no idea there were so many of us, super like, talented designers and creatives creating our own industry. Shop ups. Like, here we are.

My advice to young creators would be do what you can with what you have. Don't stop creating. Don't compare yourself to anyone. Remember why you started.

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