Denim Tears' 10ft Tall Jeans Take Over the Streets of NYC
Inspired by the Moko Jumbie tradition of the African diaspora, Denim Tears launched its SS26 denim collection with a surreal in-person happening.
Summary
- Denim Tears SS26 celebrates the Caribbean Moko Jumbie tradition, featuring stilt-walkers in bespoke, extra-long cotton wreath jeans through SoHo’s streets.
- Dropping April 17, Tremaine Emory’s collection reclaims denim as a vessel for Black history, linking “Americana” to West African spirits and the diaspora.
For the SS26 launch of its in-house denim line, Denim Tears Denim by Denim Tears, the label took to the busy streets of SoHo, NYC, for a spectacle inspired by the African diaspora.
Embedded in the DNA of the label since its inception, Tremaine Emory‘s investigation of Africa’s cultural diaspora continues to take new forms. This time, the Moko Jumbie tradition that arose from the Caribbean is the main focus, characterized by its larger-than-life stilts, some standing more than 10ft tall.
For the Moko Jumbies of Kaisokah Moko Jumbies USA, the brand produced bespoke extra-long jeans to bring the performance to life. With different denim washes and cotton wreath prints, the Kaisokah Moko Jumbies turned heads as they made their way from Orchard Street to 176 Spring St. at African Diaspora Goods.
While practised throughout the African diaspora, Moko Jumbie finds its origin in West African stilt-walking practices. It was the Enslaved African communities that fused the tradition with carnival culture, first documented in 1791, according to the label. “Moko” represents a West African term for healer, while “Jumbie” is a Caribbean term for spirit (with ties to the Kongo word “zumbi”).
In an exclusive interview with Hypebeast from December, Emory explained denim’s intimate connection with the African diaspora: “Denim is directly connected to Black history and the diaspora, yet that story is seldom told by heritage brands.” ” It’s about viewing something seen as ‘Americana’ and imbuing it with a history that hasn’t been recognized by the Western world. Denim jeans come from slavery”, he added.
Denim Tears Denim by Denim Tears SS26 is to drop on April 17 at the Denim Tears webstore and physical shop.
