The Best Emerging Brands To Shop From Beyoncé’s Black Is King

It's a visual feast unlike any other.

Updated on03 08 2020

Beyoncé’s just-dropped visual album, Black Is King, a musical tour de force, sure, but it's also a brilliant platform for showcasing design talent. Just as its locations span from Durban to Beverly Hills, Lagos to Arizona, the clothes come from emerging brands (as well as big-hitters such as Burberry, Valentino and Balmain) all over the world, from Senegal’s Tongoro to Israel's Alon Livne. Here are 12 emerging brands spotlighted by Black Is King’s costume designer, Zerina Akers, and Queen Bey.

Alon Livne

Isreali bridalwear designer, Alon Livne, contributed several high-octane looks to Black Is King, with the extravagant shoulders on this minidress, curling like an upside down set of ram’s horns, being a highlight. Complete with a coordinating headdress, it’s the perfect ensemble to wander through a wild flower garden, no?

5:31 Jerome

Another awe-inspiring headdress, this time from 5:31 Jérôme, a luxury streetwear label from New York's Jerome Lamaar that specialises in ‘street glam’. Made from turquoise-coloured, hand-beaded Nigerian lace, the headdress (not to mention the silk trench-jumpsuit hybrid) looks like a moving swimming pool.

Mia Vesper

New York designer Mia Vesper uses vintage and deadstock fabrics (as well as new ones from emerging markets like Russia) - and pleasingly original design techniques - to make her eye-catching creations. Speaking toVogue, she described the rather unusual process behind that headdress. ‘There were about 20 different headpieces we made. I was putting traffic cones on my head and draping fabric across them and putting shoeboxes, and putting planters on my head. It grew from there.’ The dress itself, made from a rayon lurex material sourced in Russia and reminiscent of Monet's paintings, is spectacular.

Keama

The utterly fabulous one-shouldered, marine-coloured tulle explosion is from Keama, a African-American fashion house, according to Instagram, from New York designer Keama Garett.

Area

New York-based Area provided this bling-tastic poncho, hairpiece and earrings combo, as well as the crystal-embellished chokers that drip from Beyoncé’s neck in several scenes.

Alessandra Rich

An A-list go-to for wedding guest outfits (see Abigail Spencer at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s nuptials), London-based Alessandra Rich’s lace catsuit is a ‘wow’ moment.

Confetti

Beyoncé wearing a dollar bill-printed duster robe. Could anything be more iconic? Designed by New York's Duckie Confetti, whose fan club also includes the Kardashians, the ‘Benjamin’ robe is a major ker-ching moment.

Poppy Lissiman

Beyoncé’s sunglasses wardrobe is seriously on-point. Poppy Lissiman, an Australian opticals designer, provided several pairs, including the Crystal Beth (pictured), the Huntsman Luxe and the Skinny Demon.

Laurel Dewitt

Who else could pull off a metallic halo but Beyoncé? This one’s from New York designer Laurel Dewitt, a chain and metallic specialist who dresses the gold standard of musical genius (Beyoncé, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B) and crafted crowns, crystal turbans, rope neckpieces and hip adornments (yes, they’re a thing) for the Black Is King accessories line-up.

Tongoro

Founded by Sarah Diouf, who designs and produces from Dakar, Senegal, Tongoro is dedicated to bringing economic and social growth to Western African. Supporting artisanal workers and local tailors, its clothes, like the three custom-made outfits for Black Is King, are statement-making stuff.

Wendy Nichol

In the opening scene of Black Is King, the camera swoops across the sea, a beach and finally Beyoncé, who appears wearing an organza gown that flutters in the wind. Its designer, Wendy Nichol, is a New York-based artist whose label launched in 2007.

Marta Jakubowski

Another hair-raising hat moment, this time courtesy of womenswear designer Marta Jakubowski, who was born in Poland, studied in Germany and founded her eponymous label in London, and milliner Jo Miller.