The After Met

I know most of us tuned in for the red carpet and not the actual fundraising—but Superfine: Black Tailoring Styles made history by raising a record-breaking $31 million, the most ever in the 77 years of the Met Gala’s existence!

We saw sharp tailoring, extravagant details, and bold, colorful expressions. But if you're like me, you were seated—eyes peeled—waiting to see how the roots of the theme would be honored.

Even before the Met officially began, Colman Domingo set the tone at the press conference, dressed in none other than Ozwald Boateng.

And that was just the beginning. African designers and Black artistry were center stage:

• Ozwald Boateng: Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Tems, Issa Rae, Ncuti Gatwa, Henry Golding, Jaden Smith, Omar Sey

• Diana Ross: In Eleven Sixteen

• Taraji P. Henson: In Post-Imperial

• Brian Tyree Henry: In Orange Culture

• Kendall Jenner: In Toisheju

• Aurora James: In Thebe Magugu

• Aimee Lou Wood and Gabby Thomas: In Ahluwalia

• Savannah James: In Hanifa

Since the rise of Black Lives Matter, we’ve seen powerful platforms reshaping how we shop, think, and engage. Consumers are more intentional than ever, seeking out Black designers, Black-owned brands, and businesses that reflect their values.

Then came the global shakeup of COVID, which only deepened the demand for transparency and pushed e-commerce into overdrive.

I share all of this because I truly believe this year’s Met Gala theme wasn’t a coincidence. Just like Afrobeats and other sounds from the continent making their way into the global spotlight, African influence is becoming increasingly recognized and celebrated.

And while it’s uplifting to see iconic events like the Met Gala honoring Black tailoring and craftsmanship, I hope we remember that our creativity and design excellence have always mattered. Black design, Black art and creativity have always been it and more long before the spotlight arrived.

Let’s keep looking inward and take pride our brilliance. We can build global demand, shape culture, and sustain success right here from within the continent, for the world to see.