Today we’d like to introduce you to Junny Hibbert.
Hi Junny, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I discovered my passion for designing after getting downsized from ESPN more than seven years ago. Inspired by my mother who was a seamstress, I have created collections which are bold, creatively exuberant, and size-inclusive, drawing on the vibrancy of my Harlem and Jamaican cultural roots.
I made my debut on the official New York Fashion Week stage in September 2021 with the critically acclaimed collection, Mama. I then followed up with the collection Kingston 7 Yaad, which was digitally released during NYFW in February 2022.
I was a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund semi-finalist for 2022 and a Fashion Group International Rising Start finalist for Womenswear in 2022. The brand was also chosen by Visa for its 2022 inaugural “She’s Next in Fashion” program. Readers can explore more at junny.nyc or by following me on Instagram at @iamjhibby.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I chuckle at this question. I now work a 9-5 to fund my brand. It’s the story of so many Designers of Color. We do it all. We still try to show up in the right rooms, build a team while working and scaling our brand. People ask me how I do it. I am not sure! the sacrifices are tremendous, so you see, it’s quite the ride, equal part, Joy + Pain.
The greatest barrier is access to capital and mentorship. This is a story shared by many brilliant Designers of Color. It’s not enough to have talent. Most of us burn out. It’s hard to show up season after season without the support needed to scale up. Even with a sound vision, a great team is needed to break through. Building a team requires capital. As women of color entrepreneurs, we wear many hats, in fact, all of the hats. Imagine trying to secure major press coverage for your Collection without the sponsorships required. With the exception of a few breakthrough brands, Black Designers continue to toil in the dark.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Well, I am known for my unique sense of style. My caftans are worn by men and women all over the world. I incorporate African textiles mixed with luxe fabrics and patterns into every Collection. I up-cycle and use a lot of dead-stock in every collection.
Let’s talk about the latest Collection. PAUSE; the brand’s latest collection celebrates the intersection of creativity, determination, and perseverance and was unveiled— digitally on CFDA Runway360 and across NYFW.com and its partner channels.
Filmed against a backdrop of African tribal art at the Tambaran Gallery, the digital showcase features Alexandra Hutchinson and Derek Brockington of the Dance Theatre of Harlem as well as music composed by Bradley Harris. The collection blends warm neutrals and African fabrics with luxe wool, silk, and pleated cotton knits. The careful craftsmanship, unexpected color combinations, and use of up-cycled fabrics create a body of work that’s both elegant and playful.
“The clothing in this collection represents the human experience of taking a step back to PAUSE…to refuel ourselves…to revive ourselves. Our renewal lives in those defining moments.”
I leveraged the language of fashion to explore how we create and preserve, with equal parts of joy and pain. The parachute caftan is the pièce de résistance of the collection, paired with ballet tights to highlight the hardness-softness dichotomy that encapsulates the complexities of the human condition. The luxe silk piece is up-cycled from past collection scraps as a nod to the philosophy and movement of sustainability. The sportswear-inspired mesh pieces are sleek and refined. The overskirt in African fabric, which is paired with a dance unitard, represents the glimpses of glamour that accompany the transition of seasons. Altogether, the pieces in the collection are thought-provoking, trans-seasonal, and genderless.
The collection’s release comes on the heels of my being awarded the prestigious Visa 2022 “She’s Next in Fashion” grant. As a part of the program, a pop-up shop in Hudson Yards on Manhattan’s West Side took place on September 17 and 18.
The PAUSE; visual presentation is dedicated to the memory of all those who could not pause. It is Executive Produced by Anthony Jones and JUNNY®. To illuminate the fabrics and shapes featured in the collection, I partnered with SUN & SELENE — a jewelry brand founded by Brittanny DeRaffele, a Richmond-based designer with Caribbean roots.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Mentorship is hard. As entrepreneurs and women of color designers, we balance so much.
Find someone who understands your journey and is willing to support you through the ups and downs. Of course, any partnership is a two-way street, so make sure that you also bring value to the partnership.
I look for mentors in different areas, ones who can support my dreams, provide sound advice but I also look for mentors who can provide good mental balance away from the grind and noise.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://junny.nyc
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjhibby
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamjhibby/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/junnyannhibbert
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOYa59k07i3wouKa2L9ZM7Q
Image Credits
JUNNY
Max Twitty
PAUSE
Anthony Jone
@iamjhibby
Jason Gomez
Lavanya Pulijala
Ceylon Wallace
Alexandra Hutchinson
Derek Brockington
@makeupby_jira
‘Wander’ Cello Quartet
Bradley Harris
Tambaran Gallery
Lawayne Sharpe Design
Karema Deodato Millinery
Sun and Selene
Gabriel Charles Tyler
Eric Sams
