Who is Telfar Clemens?

Liberian-American designer, Telfar Clemens was born in Queens, New York, then moved back to Liberia, and again back to the states during the Liberian civil war.

Telfar began to design and model at the age of 15, and decided to move to New York to pursue modeling at just age 18.

In 2003, Telfar began selling deconstructed and reconstructed garments in the Lower East Side and Soho boutiques. By 2004, Clemens’ self-titled clothing line, TELFAR, was established. TELFAR initially was known for his unisex designs and comfortable sportswear that has been dubbed as ‘simplexity’.

Clemens on pricing the Telfar Shopping Bag, “I basically priced the bag on what I would get paid for DJing a night in a club. And basically pricing it in away that it’s accessible to people like me. Because it’s really hard to be a young person and to also be able to be stylish and also be able to pay rent...It’s been able to reach the right people.”

“My core group of friends and people I consider family come from all different backgrounds and sexual identities.”

Telfar has been a beacon for the Gay community and the Black community respectively. The bags to the clothes to runway to TELFAR TV, Clemens is not just trying to leave a mark in fashion, but in culture as a whole.

Clemens has always been about building community. The Telfar company Instagram page consistently posts their customers and they always remain engaged with their audience. But as much as we love the clothes and accessories, we must recognize the face and brain behind the operation.

A Black, Gay man is on top of fashion.