Telfar: A Profile

Written by: Isabella Diaz-Kelly| Photo collage: Isabella Diaz-Kelly

Telfar Clemens has proven himself to be a Black innovator in the fashion industry with his unisex designer brand.

My favorite part about styling fashion and putting together outfits is accessories. Totes, fanny packs, purses, sick sunglasses, jewelry, statement shoes — all of the above! As a child, I would sneak into my mother’s closet and swipe all my favorite purses. By the time I was 10, I was known as the “bag lady.” I had all the bags from my mother’s closet secured. But the next bag that I think we all need to secure is a Telfar! When I see someone wearing a Telfar bag on the street, I can’t lie; I always do a double-take and smile. Telfar shopping totes, in all colors, have flooded the streets and ushered in a new age of pride. If you’re unfamiliar with the brand and all the hype it’s garnered, here’s why you should be excited about Telfar, too!

Established in 2005 by Telfar Clemens, the brand sat in the backseat until 2020. Fifteen years of rejection did not discourage Clemens; it only pushed him to break boundaries in fashion as a queer man of color, creating an empire of genderless, contemporary fashion tapping into the growing market of unisex designer apparel. In 2020, Telfar made its way to Oprah, The New York Times, GQ, Vogue, and beyond.  

The brand’s most well-recognized bag, the Telfar Shopping Tote, also referred to as the “Bushwick Birkin’’ features clean monochrome designs and a sleek raised surface logo. Coming in a wide variety of pastels, neutrals, and metallic tones, these totes are the ultimate eye candy! The iconic tote also comes in three sizes: the party mini bag, the everyday bag, and the weekend trip bag. 

The Telfar Shopping Tote was launched through the “Bag Security Program.” Clemens created this security program as a pre-order website to allow customers a more accessible way to order. The Bag Security Program is a presale event where customers can secure a bag of their choice. During the first launch, 3,000+ bags sold out in minutes.  

Clemens, of course, will continue to innovate his designs, but I’m confident that the iconic Telfar Shopping Tote will never go out of style. The brand is adorable, universal, and speaks volumes. A huge part of why I admire Telfar Clemens and his designs are his status as a Black and queer designer — and a successful one at that. It’s one thing to purchase a product and represent that product every time you wear it, but it’s a whole new and exciting experience when the product also represents you.

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