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BET.com’s THE GLAM GAP is a weekly video collection spotlighting Black entrepreneurs and influencers within the magnificence, style, and way of life area.
Neishea Lemle is seldom seen with out the rings that spell out her nickname, “Shay,” on her left hand. She does it for 2 causes: as a result of folks generally have hassle announcing her full first identify (appears like ‘knee-shay’), and since they’ve develop into a part of her signature type, which she describes as “prissy tomboy stylish, with an edge.”
The superstar stylist and costume designer’s 11-year style profession started along with her working in company. Nevertheless, when her pal, Nefertiti Nguru, who’d at all times admired her private type, started directing a movie, she requested Lemle to be the costume designer. That venture helped her notice her true calling, and he or she started helping extra skilled stylists and costume designers. Ultimately, she moved to Los Angeles to hone her abilities, construct contacts, and achieve extra entry to Hollywood tasks.
Since then, Lemle has styled musicians and actors, together with Luke James, Amanda Seales, and Eris Baker of “That is Us” fame. She’s additionally labored on reveals and films equivalent to “Grown-ish,” “BlackAF,” “Empire,” and Hidden Figures. Nevertheless, her most affirming second thus far got here when she styled Baker for the 2019 Emmy Awards in an ethereal robe with a headpiece that she’d personalized herself. That look landed Baker on a number of best-dressed lists, catapulting her into the teenager style-star stratosphere.
“It was a really proud second that made me imagine in myself extra, like, ‘I can truly do that for actual,’” she says.
Lemle is worked up to see extra Black creatives getting high-profile alternatives and seats at key tables the place selections are made. Nevertheless, she realizes that’s solely the start. “I really feel like we’re getting a bit little bit of footing, nevertheless it could possibly be extra,” she says. “We have now to rent extra Black folks, extra Black creatives. We have to assist Black entrepreneurs. We want to verify there’s entry for Black folks to have extra alternatives.”
The type skilled additionally realizes how a lot expertise goes untapped in underserved communities, particularly these with predominantly Black populations. Usually, these people are shut off from entry to internships, mentors, and different conduits that may result in success in style and different artistic pursuits. To that finish, Lemle hopes to see extra assets, scholarships, and enrichment applications made out there to them quickly.
Lemle additionally believes that manufacturers ought to rent extra various artistic groups, and that Black creatives must “forged down their buckets,” as Booker T. Washington as soon as stated.
“As Black folks begin creating extra of their very own content material, let’s rent our personal folks. Let’s train them. Let’s get them in and practice them. With that, extra alternative will come up.”
Extra Black folks in decision-making positions can solely profit the style trade as a complete, in line with Lemle. “Black tradition has at all times been on the forefront of style… All the pieces that we begin, you see it development in excessive style magazines or in white areas. Once they say it’s nice, then it turns into a factor. However we’ve been doing it for years.”
To show her level, she recollects the story of favor innovator and visionary designer, Dapper Dan, who was as soon as shunned by luxurious designer homes, together with Gucci, however who now has a Harlem-based atelier, in partnership with that model. Lemle additionally notes that sure traits, equivalent to bamboo earrings, which had been as soon as thought of “ghetto” or “low class,” are actually on designer runways, on the pages of excessive style magazines, and are embraced by celebrities of all races.
It might’t be denied that Black type and hip-hop tradition affect the plenty. The garments, sneakers, and equipment now seen in shops would seemingly be of a very completely different taste had been it not for the inspiration of Black type. For that motive, Lemle says, “I believe black tradition is style.”
Observe Neishea Lemle on Instagram @neishea and watch THE GLAM GAP episode under!
(Picture: Neishea Lemle/ BET)