WHY TELFAR FEELS LIKE IT IS EXCLUSIVELY FOR POC.
Their signature Shopping bag is everywhere. It comes in many colors and textures thanks to fun collaborations with brands like Ugg and Eastpak. It was labeled the “Bushwick Birken” due to becoming the new IT bag based out of New York, where Telfar Clemmons, the creative director and founder of Telfar, grew up. While the brands tagline is “Not for you, for everyone”, they push representation of every shade and shape of POC under the sun.
Seemingly over night, every black fashionista was trying to get their hands on the vegan leather bags. Yet, with their exclusive message, there seems to be a lot of white folk carrying the bag. I took a trip to New York for NYFW where I saw more white women with the bag then I saw black folk. The bag has become a staple piece in the Black LGBTQ+ Community and even a talking piece. I see a Black person carrying the bag and automatically think ‘Oh, that is someone from my community or someone who supports the community'“ so to see so many white women carrying a bag that sends a message of support to Black Queers, it is unsettling after continuing to hear story after story of a “Karen” disrespecting that same community.
It’s widely known that sneaker culture was developed in Black America. Jordans were and continue to be a phenomenon in not only the hood, but for Black people across the country. My own father told me when he was in high school, he wanted a pair of Jordans so bad but my Grandmother always said no. The demand got to peoples heads, leading to kids getting jumped for their footwear and my grandmother was not taking that risk. One day, my father found a pair of clean Jordan 4’s for only $100 yet they were a half size too small. He bought them anyways and wore the hell out of them till his feet hurt. This high demand for sneakers also led to the resell business. Those who can afford it will buy multiple pairs of the sneakers and selling them at a huge markup to profit off the demand. While many POC tried to keep up, white people quickly took over the reselling game as they historically have more money to afford such luxuries. The same has happened with the Telfar bags. While they are not particularly expensive, with the largest bag running for $257, someone with the funds could purchase mutiple at a time to then flip for a profit at resell brick-n-mortar stores, online stores or from their own socials. I can think of one streetwear store at Short Pump Mall called Laces that is owned by a white man. He currently has 2 medium Telfars in stock that are priced at $350 when the retail price is $202. It’s a huge markup that does not support our community in anyway, Telfar is not getting the money nor is any Queer person who values what it means to carry a Telfar bag.
While I understand Telfar’s whole message is about including everybody, I personally feel that the popularity is a win for the Queer community but it should stay within the POC community.
