31 Stylish People at AfroPunk 2019 on What Punk Means To Them
This past weekend, Afropunk marked its 15th year as an arts and music festival dedicated to showcasing black talent, initially within the punk subculture, but has since expanded its horizons to including black creativity at large. Beyond the music lineups that are typically the pull to the festival, (this year's performers included Tierra Whack, Junglepussy FKA Twigs, Death Grips, and more) Afropunk has solidified itself as a fashion epicenter. Much of the excitement and the build-up that surrounds the idea of attending Afropunk is being able to experience and observe that art of dressing.
Today, it’s really hard to define punk style as monolithically as it has been defined in the past (white male working-class rage), especially when it pertains to black folks and other people of color taking the aesthetic and building off of it based on their lived experiences. At Afropunk, you’ll see everything from interpretations of Afro-Futurism to Banjee Girls, Death Metal Mamas, awe-inspiring takes on gender-bending, and larger than life cosplay-esque ensembles. Among the overflow of afros, braids, neons, chainmail, kaftans, dashikis (the list actually goes on) is a sense of camaraderie, respect, and belonging-- shared and recognized among festival-goers. This year, the theme of the festival was “WE SEE YOU,” a declaration that Afropunk organizers say, "brings together Afropunk ideology and the people who support it, under the banner of acknowledgment, in resistance to those who strive to oppress." What better way to be “seen” than the most obvious form of self-expression itself? Fashion, of course. To say that festival-goers wreaked havoc on their wardrobes could be an understatement, but that, combined with the right treatment of an outfit is destined to be a win-win. And we witnessed lots of wins over the weekend, fashion home-runs to be exact!
Teen Vogue spoke to some of the best-dressed Afropunk attendees to learn what “punk” meant to them and of the many ways style can help you live your life as authentically as possible.
Darrel Hunter1/31Jasmine Fuego
What does punk mean to you?
Punk to me is to express oneself in the most authentic form without needing to consult society.What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk? T The style here is special because people are here to express themselves in their freest and the loudest form. There’s an “idea” of what punk looks like and to me, if you’re just coming out as your full self, that’s punk.
What inspired your look today?
I was inspired by the Yoruba goddess, Yemaya. The goddess of the ocean.Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
Black culture is everything
Darrel Hunter2/31Tiffany Fomby
What does punk mean to you?
Punk means resistance, it means going up against the system and being able to confidently say "I’m here and you can’t do anything about it".What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
It’s a cool space where people are able to just be themselves in whatever form they choose. Being able to share that with other black people is just a beautiful thing to have.What inspired your look today?
With the hair, I wanted it just to be big and to take up space.Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
Black Culture is everything
Darrel Hunter3/31Neila The Alien
What does punk mean to you?
Punk is a way of expression. I view my style as like space punk and edgy, kind of raw--hard core. And that’s what punk means to me.What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
The style here is everything. You get all types of styles. Nothing is a one-way street it’s a creation of everything.What inspired your look today?
I love rainbows and every year that I go to Afropunk it’s always rainbow-themed whether it’s my hair or my ‘fit.Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
Black culture is excellence. Creators of everything.
Darrel Hunter4/31Tai Campbell
What does punk mean to you?
Kind of just going against the grain. Like inherently punk has sort of been subversive--like going against the “man” or the government or whoever you wanna go against.
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
Because it’s subversive and people are showing off something they wouldn’t wear on the street because they feel like this is a safe space. No one's gonna judge you for what you’re wearing or what you’re doing.
What inspired your look today?
Comfort, I guess. I’m coming into my own and trying new things.Finish the sentence, “Black culture is..."
“Black culture is...Power
Darrel Hunter5/31Jada Morris
What does punk mean to you?
Punk is a style for me, it’s all these different colors used in unconventional ways. It’s expanding your creativity in ways that aren’t usually done.
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
It’s exhibiting a whole culture and you see so many different cultures and styles and creativity all over this place.
What inspired your look today?
My makeup was inspired by Euphoria, and I wanted to splurge on my outfit this year so I bought this from Instagram. I was scouring the internet to find the right pieces and I’m really happy I got to wear them today
Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
Black culture is beautiful.
Darrel Hunter6/31Kyemah McEntyre
What does punk mean to you?
Punk for me is reframing, redefining, and questioning the rules. It’s asking what and why. It definitely stems from a place of being fearless.
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
All the outliers can feel like outliers, but they can also feel safe here. You feel like an outlier, but there’s also a sense of togetherness.
What inspired your look today?
I took on the approach of the blue-collar, reframing it, and I patched together a whole bunch of blue collar shirts that I found at the thrift store.
Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
Black Culture is undefinable. It’s revolutionary and it’s evolutionary. We don’t even know what it’s about to be!
Darrel Hunter7/31Yves Jeffcoat
What does punk mean to you?
Punk means being whatever the hell you want and being loud and proud about who you are. Living in your truth.
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
Everybody is not afraid to be themselves. That’s not just outward appearance, that’s on the inside as well.
What inspired your look today?
I love jumpsuits, they’re very convenient.
Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
Black Culture is dope!
Darrel Hunter8/31Bryan
What does punk mean to you?
Punk means being authentic, being real, being raw, pure, and honest with yourself.
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
It’s going back to the roots of underappreciated people, people that weren’t ever built up in the mainstream. It’s about everyone being included
What inspired your look today?
I’m random, I’m spontaneous. Anything with colors, that’s where I go. These are pants that I have as a scarf. I just use whatever!
Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
Black culture Important, brave, beautiful and bright!
Darrel Hunter9/31Lulama Xalip
What does punk mean to you?
Punk is expression. It’s individuality. It’s culture. It’s art.
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
It’s a merge of people of color coming from everywhere and expressing their individuality.
What inspired your look today?
I live in London, so the whole polka-dot monochrome look is very big right now. I thought today I would bring out a monochrome look with a stylish hat.
Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
Black culture is the one.
Darrel Hunter10/31Marcus Branch
What does punk mean to you?
Punk means liberation. Freedom and expression. It’s limitless, it has no bounds, if it did, it wouldn’t be punk!
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
It’s all cultivated magic in one place. You get to see everyone at the highest level of themselves in terms of how they show you what their spirit looks like.What inspired your look today?
Today I wanted to play with gender performance in terms of the “norm” being that men shouldn’t wear ruffles and laces and corsets, but in reality, I can wear whatever the hell fits my body. That’s what it’s about.Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
Black culture is necessary, exclamation point!
Darrel Hunter11/31Leah
What does punk mean to you?
Punk means freedom, being confident, being yourself, black girl magic, and showing off!What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
It’s special because everyone gets to dress up and be themselves or be whoever they want to be.What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
What inspired my outfit today was being colorful and loud. I wanted to show the glitter and the roughness of my hair and that it’s beautiful. I wanted to express my personality through my outfit.Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
Black culture is not giving a fuck.
Darrel Hunter12/31BYHAZE
What does punk mean to you?
Punk is freedom, it’s expression, it’s really just going against the grain. We’re really just fighting the norm and being out authentic selves.
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
I think it’s just an unapologetic expression of blackness. We are the originators, we started this style thing. I love that men can kind of bend the gender norm as well. It’s a free safe space for style.
What inspired your look today?
It’s about duality. I have a lot of feminine energy and masculine energy so I wanted to show both sides of that. I have cowry shells in my hair and a cowry shell vest that represents wealth. In older African culture cowry shells were used as currency, so I wanted to represent the wealth of culture and the wealth of knowledge
Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
Black culture is everything and more, everybody wants it but they can’t have it if you’re not black! PERIOD!!
Darrel Hunter13/31Maga Moura
What does punk mean to you?
You know, punk is a way of life, to be free of everything. Just to be yourself, love yourself and to feel powerful.
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
Personality, authenticity, and I think everyone puts a lot of that in their clothes. You can really feel the energy of the people.
What inspired your look today?
I like to have candy colors in my hair and in my clothes. I designed this and my mom made it for me. Pink is my favorite color which is why I have this hair!
Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
Black culture is art, love, and pride.
Darrel Hunter14/31Venance Chiepodeu
What does punk mean to you?
Punk means being yourself, being bold, and being the best version of yourself.
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
The fashion here is just incredible! I love the colors and everyone is so different and every single person’s outfit tells a story.
What inspired your look today?
My look was inspired by bohemian vibes and goddesses. My jewelry piece was made by True Face by Grace out of Washington DC, and it inspired the whole look
Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
Black culture is dope as fuck!
Darrel Hunter15/31Onye Bosco
What does punk mean to you?
Punk is aggressive in a cool way. Something different and unique for everyone.
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
The style is freedom for everyone and expressing who you are as a person.
What inspired your look today?
Yesterday I did more a dark, black more punk rock look, so today I wanted to give the same punk-esque vibe, but in a more girly fashion.
Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
Black culture is one of a kind!
Darrel Hunter16/31Ladene
What does punk mean to you?
-Punk is whatever you’re feeling in that moment.What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
-Everybody is free’s up and everybody does them no matter what.What inspired your look today?
-Today I was inspired by an old-school classic rock vibe.Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
-Black culture is everything
Darrel Hunter17/31Carl
What does punk mean to you?
Punk means rebel. It gives you the permission to be as liberated and as confident and as sure of yourself as you might not normally be in your everyday.
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
I think that it’s just a safe place for everybody. I really think it speaks to the core tenants of the festival and the people who participate speak to them as well. That’s what makes it special.
What inspired your look today?
I wanted to be comfortable, really free, I love bright colors, I love boots, and it just gives me a little more confidence and little more attitude
Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
Black culture is omnipotent. It’s everywhere.
Darrel Hunter18/31Assina Obela
What does punk mean to you?
-Punk means freedom. Just come the way you are, no matter where you come from.
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
-There are no limits! For example, you see me, I can’t walk this way on the streets!
What inspired your look today?
-I’m inspired by a Senegalese fairy tale that I really liked when I was a young girl because it showed afro hair. So I thought I’m going to represent this because it’s so beautiful.Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
-Black culture is amazing!
Darrel Hunter19/31Ozzie Henderson
What does punk mean to you?
Punk for me means to be a free black man.
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
I think it’s just the culture that they’ve created. They’ve consistently brought a high level of talent and when black people have a free space like this, the sky is the limit.
What inspired your look today?
I saw these pants at the African shop, and I do a little tailoring, so I spruced them up and thought they looked really festive and punky.”
Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
Black culture is ascending.
Darrel Hunter20/31Lila
What does punk mean to you?
-Punk means to be outrageous and to live out loud. To be outside of yourself, that’s how I feel about it.What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
-Afropunk fashion here is special because we get to as black people we get to speak out loud at a function that was made for us by us. And we can explore the different sides to being black.
What inspired your look today?
-Romance. I wanted to stay in the vibe of fall and the season changing and nature.Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
-Black culture is everything.
Darrel Hunter21/31Dakota Lee Watson
What does punk mean to you?
-Punk means free spirit, going against the grain, and finding your own place in the worldWhat do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
-Afropunk is the one time of year where people can wear their wildest dreams and not feel judged.What inspired your look today?
-My look is inspired by 70s hippies, free culture, very flower child meets Jimi Hendrix. That’s the vibe I was trying to go for.Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
-Black culture is perseverance.
Darrel Hunter22/31Aleckxis
What does punk mean to you?
-Punk means doing what makes you feel the most free and takes up the most space, authentically. Standing up for what you believe in, fighting for what you love.What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
-I love being in this space because you look around and there’s such a generalized idea of what punk looks like or what black looks like, but you come here had a different look and a different expression. It’s really grounding to know we’re all our own people. It’s a beautiful and intimate space to be inWhat inspired your look today?
-I felt like I wanted to something galactic and I didn’t want to do anything dark, so I went with yellow.
Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
-Black culture is all culture. In the sense that everyone looks to black culture. It’s --the original art form.
Darrel Hunter23/31Chavi St. Hill
What does punk mean to you?
Punk means alternative, different. Every single person carries it differently. It means so many different things, just being yourself.
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
To me, the style at Afropunk is so special because everyone here looks like they came out of a magazine. It’s either super “out-there” looks or people dressing down because they just want to have a good time. I love that the people of color here are not conforming to the normal outfits or the beauty standards that the world sets on us.
What inspired your look today?
I had a casting this morning and at castings, you’re supposed to wear all-black. I’m wearing a turtle neck and pajama pants right now, but I guess I still look cool!
Finish the sentence, “Black culture is..."
Black Culture is everything that is cool.
Darrel Hunter24/31Awa Kaday
What does punk mean to you?
-Punk means being yourself.What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
-There’s no limits, there’s no boundaries. None!What inspired your look today?
-I went in my closet and the first thing I saw was this blazer, so I put it on and I said make it you.Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
-Black culture is IT. PERIOD!
Darrel Hunter25/31Ikira Peace
What does punk mean to you?
-Punk means all things. All things that make us wild. Being free, being all that is and not giving a damn!What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
-Everyone expressing themselves! A lot people show up to be true to who they are. Being here, being free as fuck!What inspired your look today?
-So the inspiration for me today is that I’m an oracle, a light being. I have a twin sister and she’s dressed as my other half, a fallen angel.Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
-Black culture is the ultimate infinity
Darrel Hunter26/31Weezy
What does punk mean to you?
When I think punk, I think spikes, I think black, I think outrageous and avant-gardeWhat do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
I think what makes it so special is that we don’t necessarily see black people wearing shit like this. I think Afropunk style is so important because it’s like “ghetto gothic!”What inspired your look today?
I wanted to keep my face inspired by the Yoruba tribe, but I wanted to keep is super rock’n’roll.Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
Black culture is necessary.
Darrel Hunter27/31Ni’ma Ford
What does punk mean to you?
-Punk means letting the rebel inside of you really shine
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
-It’s a space that we can really be ourselves. And instead of people looking down on you, people are embracing you
What inspired your look today?
-My watermelon top! I played off of it and made it something really simple and festive.
Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
-Black culture is the world.
Darrel Hunter28/31Lisa Hurley
What does punk mean to you?
-Punk means different, unique, marginal--but attempting to be mainstream. Taking over, ovwning your own space, and being authentic.
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
-It’s the one place you can truly be unique, be yourself, and be accepted. You will be stared at, but not in an “othering” sense.
What inspired your look today?
-I wanted to come as a goddess and be royal because that’s a part of being seen. So much of society tries to make us feel that we’re less than. This look says I’m gonna take up space and I’m gonna be larger than life, and I’m a queen no matter what you say.
Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
Black culture is everything.
Darrel Hunter29/31Sandflower
What does punk mean to you?
-Punk means complete self-expression, not being held back by anything, anyone, or what society tells you to be.
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
-It’s a real self-expression that stems from the Brooklyn scene and people from around the world have gravitated here because we’re really coming with our heart and souls to express what’s on the inside, on the outside.
What inspired your look today?
-My travels around the world recently have inspired my look, I want to represent women of color all around the world, so having a piece of Indonesia, a piece of Africa, a piece of Japan, a piece of India on my body reminds me that I’m connected to the rest of the world and that I have to fight for women around the world, not just myself.
Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
-Black culture is everything!
Darrel Hunter30/31Aaliyah
What does punk mean to you?
-Punk means just being my most radical self without fear of judgment
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
- I think it’s special because people don’t get to look like this on the regular. This is a day where everybody can come out looking as eccentric as they want. That’s beautiful to me!
What inspired your look today?
-This was pretty last minute, I had no idea what I was going to wear. I like to get the chance to express myself in the way that I want to more so than I can on the regular. The back of why jacket says “love” which is what we’re celebrating alongside being black.
Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
-Black culture is everything and it’s everywhere and it’s privilege and it’s pride. It’s everything.
Darrel Hunter31/31Ntombi Moyo
What does punk mean to you?
-Punk is a lifestyle for me, especially in terms of fashion. It’s definitely something I align with visually and it’s a mood in my wardrobe. It’s an external expression for me.
What do you think makes the style here so special at Afropunk?
-I think it’s so expressive. I walk around here and I don’t feel like someone that people will stare too much at, and if they do it’s out of love, whereas on the streets, some people don’t get it. I spend a lot of fo time in Australia and they don't’ get it!
What inspired your look today?
-I’m here with Asos! They gave me a chance to shop on their website. The shoes are Buffalo X Puma collab. The hair is by an amazing hairstylist that I met on a shoot the other day!
Finish the sentence, “Black culture is…”
-Black culture is ME! I feel like I embody every essence of black culture. We do everything and we do it well! I’m just so glad to be black, it’s a blessing.
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