Spotify and Saturday Morning Launch ‘Wear Black History’ Merch Collection
On Saturday, February 23, Spotify launched a limited edition merch collection in partnership with black curators and creatives across the diaspora to celebrate the rich history and influence of black music. The collection titled “Wear Black History”, is a part of Spotify’s Black History is Happening Now.
The collection was designed by Joy Miessi and Brandan ‘bmike’ Odums and inspired by six moments in black music history. Spotify collaborated with black music historian and researcher Naima Cochrane and Dr. Dwandalyn R. Reece, curator of music and performing arts, from the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture to source the stories behind each piece.
These moments are:
- The Sacred Music Of Survival
- The Chitlin Circuit
- Afro-Latinx Roots in Hip Hop
- Rosetta Tharpe The GodMother of Rock n Roll
- The Legend of Sylvester
- The Harlem Cultural Festival
This project is the latest instalment of Black History Is Happening Now, an ongoing program created in partnership with creative collective Saturday Morning, to celebrate and amplify the voices of Black creators.
In teaming up with creatives who are masters of storytelling through clothing, art and design, Spotify is aiming to bring attention to some of the many under-celebrated moments in Black history that deserve to be amplified and celebrated beyond the month of February.
The designers, Joy Miessi and Brandan “bmike” Odums, took them through their thought process when creating these works and what this project meant to them. Joy explained: “Clothing is definitely a way to communicate your message. It’s a way to express Black pride” and bmike said, “When we create, when we move, when we break rules—we’re making Black history.”
Photo Credit: Noam Galai/Getty Images
