Oakland In Fashion: D.I.Y., Self-Made, QTPOC, and Killing the Game - The ARMOR Visual Arts Feature
Guerrilla Davis for Color Bloq Visual Arts
Homelessness. Tech. Gentrification. Fashion isn't usually the first word we hear when we talk about the Bay Area, but when it comes to Arts and Culture, Oakland has always been at the epicenter. From studios and galleries, to the streets and freeway underpasses, art is everywhere. The creatives here are relentless. And they go hard, forever pushing the boundaries and redefining our culture. Oakland is one of the most diverse cities in America, known for its legacy as a mecca for art and social justice. It is a place where poor queer and trans communities of color gather, organize, build and create. What we've been allowed to see in the mainstream is just a taste of Oakland’s creative wealth that has been growing and thriving for decades in the underground. The “D.I.Y.” vibe, also known as Do It Yourself, is the one thread that ties Oakland’s artist communities together. Oakland's D.I.Y. artists can be defined by their originality, vision, dignity, and hustle — radically rooted in anti-capitalism, resourcefulness, sustainability, and ingenuity.
For this Visual Arts feature, we teamed up with three Oakland-based artists breaking ground in the local and international fashion scene. From street protests and basement studios, to New York Fashion Week and Vogue Italia — these three artists are hella D.I.Y.: 100% self-made, 100% QTPOC, and 100% killing the game. Read their stories. This is how they're doing it.
