Black Panther Costume Designer Ruth Carter Launches H&M Fashion Line

Designer Ruth Carter is launching her first fashion line right before Valentine’s Day through a partnership with H&M, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Academy Award-winning costume designer, who became the first black woman to win an Oscar last year for the designs and work she did on Marvel’s Black Panther, will debut the fashion collection on Thursday, Feb. 13.

“People think that I got into costume design because of fashion, but it was really the vivid stories that I was reading by poets and playwrights that made me want to get into storytelling through costume design,” Carter tells The Hollywood Reporter. 

“Fashion was not on my radar. I was, rather, introduced to fashion through costume design. I started to understand how to use color and fashion and direct it to character.“

The Ruth Carter x H&M collection consists of tops, two hoodies, shorts, joggers, and a bucket hat ($12.99 to $39.99 at hm.com and in select stores). She announced the collection via her Twitter account: “With the accessibility of H&M I intend to spread some love and inspiration to all who want to express themselves creatively.”

This Black History Month I’m super excited to announce my collaboration with @hm.

With the accessibility of H&M I intend to spread some love and inspiration to all who want to express themselves creatively.

The collection launches on February 13th online and in select stores. pic.twitter.com/QcLxgNoYyl

— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 4, 2020

Carter tells The Hollywood Reporter she had to think about doing a partnership with H&M, “I didn’t want to all of a sudden be considered a fashion designer; I still wanted to be a costume designer, inserting myself into the fashion world, so I really had to think about how I wanted to communicate that.”

“I’ve always been drawn to the Afro future,” Carter said. “It’s been called different things throughout the years; back in the ’90s it was ‘neo-soul’ and there was a lot of interest in colors of the liberation flag (red, black and green) and color-blocking. It’s made a comeback today, which is exciting, because I was always inspired by the messaging that the liberation colors represented—being independent and strong, knowing about the authenticity of your culture.”

She continues: “I am reintroducing the big, strong, saturated liberation colors and the idea of learning to trust my voice as an African American woman who went the distance creatively. I feel very strongly that trusting my voice is what got me to the Dolby stage to win the Oscar.”

Carter, who has been doing her thing for more than 35 years, was also nominated for the costume design Oscar for her work on Spike Lee’s Malcom X (1992) and Stephen Spielberg’s Amistad (1997). Her latest work will be seen in the upcoming Eddie Murphy/Arsenio Hall sequel, Coming 2 America, slated for a December release.

from Black Enterprise https://ift.tt/31xRvl2

Date set for Kobe Bryant and Gigi’s public memorial service at Staples Center

A public memorial service in honor of NBA legend, Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, will take place on Feb. 24.

The event will take place at the Staples Center, according to E! News. In addition, Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, and the Mamba Academy are helping to support the other seven passengers who died in the Jan. 26 Calabasas helicopter crash as well. Late last month, Vanessa announced the launch of the MambaOnThree Fund, created to “honor and support loved ones of the seven other victims involved in the tragedy.”

READ MORE: Sports Illustrated releases today a special edition 100-page book honoring Kobe Bryant

The MambaOnThree Fund will give all donations to the seven families. In addition, huge donations from friends, including Shaquille O’Neal, will also go to the victims, as well as initiatives backed by the fallen star.

Vanessa worked with the Lakers organization, the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Department and civic leaders to put together the memorial. The LA Clippers have a 7:30 p.m. game at Staples later that evening against the Memphis Grizzlies, reported ESPN.

E! News reported that it is unknown whether Los Angeles will set up other sites for Bryant fans to pay their respects or view the Staples Center program.

READ MORE: Black men’s support group offering healing after Kobe Bryant death

Mayor Eric Garcetti previously noted that he wants the public memorial to be open to everyone. “We are one city that believes in each other, believes in something bigger than ourselves and we will absolutely do everything to make sure that this is done so that everybody can come to it,” Garcetti said, according to E! News.

Since the fatal crash, many tributes and makeshift memorials in honor of Bryant have poured in across LA and around the world. On Wednesday, Gigi’s basketball jersey number 2 was retired at her Newport Beach, California Harbor Day School. At the ceremony, her teammates, friends, teachers, basketball coaches, and school administrators took turns remembering her as a humble and beautiful person.

The post Date set for Kobe Bryant and Gigi’s public memorial service at Staples Center appeared first on TheGrio.

from TheGrio https://ift.tt/3bkeAfO

Black Panther Costume Designer Ruth Carter Launches H&M Fashion Line

Designer Ruth Carter is launching her first fashion line right before Valentine’s Day through a partnership with H&M, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Academy Award-winning costume designer, who became the first black woman to win an Oscar last year for the designs and work she did on Marvel’s Black Panther, will debut the fashion collection on Thursday, Feb. 13.

“People think that I got into costume design because of fashion, but it was really the vivid stories that I was reading by poets and playwrights that made me want to get into storytelling through costume design,” Carter tells The Hollywood Reporter. 

“Fashion was not on my radar. I was, rather, introduced to fashion through costume design. I started to understand how to use color and fashion and direct it to character.“

The Ruth Carter x H&M collection consists of tops, two hoodies, shorts, joggers, and a bucket hat ($12.99 to $39.99 at hm.com and in select stores). She announced the collection via her Twitter account: “With the accessibility of H&M I intend to spread some love and inspiration to all who want to express themselves creatively.”

This Black History Month I’m super excited to announce my collaboration with @hm.

With the accessibility of H&M I intend to spread some love and inspiration to all who want to express themselves creatively.

The collection launches on February 13th online and in select stores. pic.twitter.com/QcLxgNoYyl

— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 4, 2020

Carter tells The Hollywood Reporter she had to think about doing a partnership with H&M, “I didn’t want to all of a sudden be considered a fashion designer; I still wanted to be a costume designer, inserting myself into the fashion world, so I really had to think about how I wanted to communicate that.”

“I’ve always been drawn to the Afro future,” Carter said. “It’s been called different things throughout the years; back in the ’90s it was ‘neo-soul’ and there was a lot of interest in colors of the liberation flag (red, black and green) and color-blocking. It’s made a comeback today, which is exciting, because I was always inspired by the messaging that the liberation colors represented—being independent and strong, knowing about the authenticity of your culture.”

She continues: “I am reintroducing the big, strong, saturated liberation colors and the idea of learning to trust my voice as an African American woman who went the distance creatively. I feel very strongly that trusting my voice is what got me to the Dolby stage to win the Oscar.”

Carter, who has been doing her thing for more than 35 years, was also nominated for the costume design Oscar for her work on Spike Lee’s Malcom X (1992) and Stephen Spielberg’s Amistad (1997). Her latest work will be seen in the upcoming Eddie Murphy/Arsenio Hall sequel, Coming 2 America, slated for a December release.

from Black Enterprise https://ift.tt/31xRvl2

White CEO Fired After Racial Verbal Attack On Black Uber Driver Caught On Tape

The white former CEO of organic fertilizer company Agroplasma USA, based in Tempe, Arizona, has been fired after being caught on camera racially abusing a black Uber driver.

The altercation started when Uber driver Randy Clarke told the former CEO, Hans Berglund, that he had a policy of passengers not sitting in the front seat of his car unless there are three passengers or more. That’s when Berglund, originally from Sweden, insisted he sit in the front. According to ABC15.com, Berglund then said, “Are you f***ing serious with me? Is it because I’m White? And you’re a f****ing N******? You are a f***ing idiot.”

Clarke, 25, said “I was in a state of shock, I almost wanted to laugh. Some people need to be educated about people who don’t look like them. But in this case, the fact that he blatantly said the N-word, I just couldn’t let that go,” Clarke told 12 News.

The video showed Clarke asking Berglund to sit in the back seat and if he did not agree to it, Clarke would initiate a refund. They both agreed to cancel the ride and when Clarke asked Berglund to leave his car, that’s when Berglund used the N-word.

Agroplasma released a statement to ABC15, saying the company was firing Berglund as CEO.

“In light of the events of this past Friday, Agroplasma CEO Hans Berglund has been relieved of his duties while the company performs a full internal investigation. The incident is not at all reflective of Agroplasma’s values and ethics. Our relationships with our employees, customers and the community are the cornerstones of our success, and we are doing everything in our power to rebuild their trust and repair the harm that has resulted from this incident,” the statement read, adding that Jeffrey Ziehmer was being appointed as interim CEO.

After the incident, Berglund told ABC15, “I deeply regret and apologize for the hurtful and derogatory language I used during the altercation with Mr. Clarke. I firmly believe that there is no excuse for the use of racial slurs under any circumstance, so I will not offer any. It is my sincere hope that Mr. Clarke hears and accepts my apology and believes me when I say it is honest and heartfelt.”

Uber responded to ABC15 by saying, “Discrimination has no place on the Uber app or anywhere. What’s been described is a clear violation of our Community Guidelines and we launched an investigation as soon as we learned of it.”

from Black Enterprise https://ift.tt/2SpNew6

White CEO Fired After Racial Verbal Attack On Black Uber Driver Caught On Tape

The white former CEO of organic fertilizer company Agroplasma USA, based in Tempe, Arizona, has been fired after being caught on camera racially abusing a black Uber driver.

The altercation started when Uber driver Randy Clarke told the former CEO, Hans Berglund, that he had a policy of passengers not sitting in the front seat of his car unless there are three passengers or more. That’s when Berglund, originally from Sweden, insisted he sit in the front. According to ABC15.com, Berglund then said, “Are you f***ing serious with me? Is it because I’m White? And you’re a f****ing N******? You are a f***ing idiot.”

Clarke, 25, said “I was in a state of shock, I almost wanted to laugh. Some people need to be educated about people who don’t look like them. But in this case, the fact that he blatantly said the N-word, I just couldn’t let that go,” Clarke told 12 News.

The video showed Clarke asking Berglund to sit in the back seat and if he did not agree to it, Clarke would initiate a refund. They both agreed to cancel the ride and when Clarke asked Berglund to leave his car, that’s when Berglund used the N-word.

Agroplasma released a statement to ABC15, saying the company was firing Berglund as CEO.

“In light of the events of this past Friday, Agroplasma CEO Hans Berglund has been relieved of his duties while the company performs a full internal investigation. The incident is not at all reflective of Agroplasma’s values and ethics. Our relationships with our employees, customers and the community are the cornerstones of our success, and we are doing everything in our power to rebuild their trust and repair the harm that has resulted from this incident,” the statement read, adding that Jeffrey Ziehmer was being appointed as interim CEO.

After the incident, Berglund told ABC15, “I deeply regret and apologize for the hurtful and derogatory language I used during the altercation with Mr. Clarke. I firmly believe that there is no excuse for the use of racial slurs under any circumstance, so I will not offer any. It is my sincere hope that Mr. Clarke hears and accepts my apology and believes me when I say it is honest and heartfelt.”

Uber responded to ABC15 by saying, “Discrimination has no place on the Uber app or anywhere. What’s been described is a clear violation of our Community Guidelines and we launched an investigation as soon as we learned of it.”

from Black Enterprise https://ift.tt/2SpNew6