Are Telfar Bags the new Birkins?!

In the world’s current social climate, there has been an influx of support when it comes to supporting black-owned businesses. Through many of the social injustices that have occurred, the black community created a sense of unity and almost formed a pact to help each other. The black dollar is powerful; by unifying, it will make us a force to be reckoned with!

 

Within the fashion industry, many black designers are receiving an outpour of support from the black community. Designers such as Anifa Mvuemba, founder of the fashion label Hanifa, was set to hold her first runway show at New York Fashion Week. However, coronavirus caused many large gatherings and events to be canceled. Anifa shook the internet and created a 3D fashion show via Instagram. This type of innovation was a game-changer because she was able to use her tech background and infused it with fashion.

 

Recently there has been a handbag that has the internet in shambles! Telfar is a luxury handbag created by a Liberian-American fashion designer, Telfar Clemens; he founded the unisex fashion brand back in 2005. Not only does his brand consist of handbags, but also clothing.  The Telfar handbag so unique is because it is black-owned and, most importantly, it’s affordable, ranging from $140 to $240, coming in three different sizes and colors. According to Dazed, this was expressed regarding the brand:

 

“The Telfar bag represents a shift in fashion and in black culture. The CFDA win said to many black and brown boys and girls that you can exist here, too. For me, it’s important that I support black designers and that we continue to do so – (the thread) stood as further proof that if the product exists, we will buy it – in all the sizes.”

 

For many weeks the Telfar bag has been sold out; this had many consumers preparing for the next restock. The hype surrounding this bag was like a Jordan release for some! After so much anticipation, the restock was finally on its way. Thursday left many people so disappointed because once again, Telfar sold out! Some got lucky; however, due to the bag being in high demand, the hypebeasts got a hold of them.

A Twitter user who’s affiliated with Hypernova Group tweeted:

@HypernovaGroup ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED THE TELFAR RESTOCKS. NOT DOING MATH BUT WE TOOK OVER 60% OF STOCK.”

 

Telfar Clemons’s goal he kept in mind was to create an affordable luxury brand, and when these resellers get ahold it,  items are usually sold for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. This left so many twitter users upset because the majority of the bags were not purchased with the intent to support the black business but for one’s financial gain.

Luckily the brand got word of this happening and shut down their online shop and is password protected. Telfar stated Instagram stories stating, “Telfar is for the people. Not bots. Stores on ice while we root them out.”

Though there was a lot of talk surrounding the Telfar bag, it is refreshing to hear that a queer, Liberian-American, can see success and an outpour of support by many, the black community in particular. Black creatives need to be uplifted and create affordable, luxury fashion items.