Samantha Black Channels Her Roots For NYFW

By: Natalia Finnis-Smart

Samantha Black wearing the “Jade Geo Long Sleeve Crop Top” from her clothing brand, SammyB. Photo: @samanthablacknyc

Samantha Black isn’t afraid to showcase her roots and make her heritage known, and she did just that during this year’s NYFW x Black in Fashion Council. The Project Runway (and Project Runway All Stars) alum’s Spring/Summer 2022 collection “Small But We Tallawah,” is an ode to her background as a Jamaican American and native New Yorker. The phrase, stemming from the Jamaican proverb “likkle but we Tallawah” conveys an expression of strength despite being perceived as minute. This collection, like her others, accentuates her brand, SammyB’s, esthetic: multifaceted femininity. Samantha’s pieces have been notably donned by celebrities including Beyoncé, Halle Berry, Gabrielle Union, and more.

During an interview with HelloBeautiful, Black opened up about life before launching her brand and being a contestant on Project Runway’s Season 11 and its All-Star competition for Season 4. Prior to her time on the series, she majored in fashion design at New York City’s Pratt Institute. After graduation, she rolled in designer Alexander McQueen’s London design studio. “I did that for about 6 months before returning to the states and designing for corporate fashion brands. Eventually, I ventured out on my own. Two years after mainly doing very specific designs and celebrity outfits, and building my brand I made it onto Project Runway,” she shared with the publication.

Kingston Bodycon dress from Sammy B’s Spring/Summer 2022 collection “Small But We Tallawah.”

Her new collection personifies cultural individuality and Caribbean fusion, with an urban fringe. The line’s origins started when traveling to her great-grandmother’s homeland: Jamaica’s Portland parish. “This is the beginning of a continuous love story to my culture and where I live,” she stated when describing her assemblage to NYFW The Shows.

The line’s vibrant hues of fuchsia, neon green, and cherry red along with the national flag of Jamaica’s tri-colors black, green, and gold emphasize the collection’s cultural representation and the ready-to-wear brand’s overall radiance.

You can view the full collection here.