Telfar state of mind
Erykah wears jacket, trousers, hat and snood TELFAR and shoes TIMBERLAND X TELFAR
Since launching his namesake label in 2005, Telfar Clemens has broken and remade every fashion rule in the book. He’s still not done. Here, he gathers his nearest and dearest to share in his world. Want to join them?
Style
Photography: Eric Johnson
Styling: Avena Gallagher
Erykah Badu styled by: Erykah Badu
All clothing: Telfar Fall Winter 2025
Taken from the autumn 25 issue of THE FACE. Get your copy here.
On its 20th anniversary, New York label Telfar has become the most culturally significant Black-owned fashion company in history by breaking every rule and formula for success. With no stockists, investors or relation to the fashion calendar – instead creating its own world via a Manhattan flagship store, TV channel and a customer distinct from the fashion market – it’s hard to say whether founder Telfar Clemens made it into the fashion industry, or made it out. To celebrate, the designer gathers a cast of his creative idols – led by the inimitable Erykah Badu – to share their thoughts on staying culturally independent in an increasingly commodified world. This is their Telfar state of mind.
Erykah wears jacket, snood and earrings TELFAR and hat and rings talent’s own
Erykah Badu, musician
Erykah wears jacket, trousers and snood TELFAR, shoes TIMBERLAND X TELFAR and rings talent’s own
“What am I rebelling against? Penitentiary philosophy. A one-life-fits-all philosophy. I rebel against dream killers”
Ferg, musician
Ferg wears jacket, shirt, trousers and hat TELFAR, shoes TIMBERLAND X TELFAR and earrings and grillz talent’s own
Ferg wears jacket, shirt, trousers and hat TELFAR, shoes TIMBERLAND X TELFAR and earrings and grillz talent’s own
“You either working for them or you working for you. And if you working for them, you can’t be working for you”
Angie Martinez, radio personality and former musician
Angie wears jacket and skirt TELFAR, shoes TIMBERLAND X TELFAR and hat and sunglasses talent’s own
“I think when you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing, you get little signs. You can just feel it”
Aya Brown, artist and Telfar TV host
Aya wears jacket, top, trousers, underwear and hat TELFAR, shoes TIMBERLAND X TELFAR and necklace talent’s own
“I was like, ‘Grandma, I’m gay.’ And she said, ‘Ha ha ha ha. Joke’s on you. You always was dressing like a boy’”
KeiyaA, musician
Keiyaa wears jacket and skirt TELFAR and bag TIMBERLAND X TELFAR
Keiyaa wears jacket and skirt TELFAR and bag TIMBERLAND X TELFAR
“We can’t dismantle the master’s house with the master’s tools. We have a right to violence. It’s really inspiring that artists are down to use their voice and be on the right side to fight…”
Ian Isiah, musician and Telfar TV host
Ian (left) wears jacket, trousers and hat TELFAR, shoes TIMBERLAND X TELFAR and jewellery talent’s own
Gitoo (right) wears jacket and trousers TELFAR and shoes TIMBERLAND X TELFAR
Aya (centre) wears jacket, top, trousers, underwear and hat TELFAR, shoes TIMBERLAND X TELFAR and necklace talent’s own
“We’re in a fucking war”
Junglepussy, musician
Junglepussy wears top and trousers TELFAR and shoes TIMBERLAND x TELFAR
“I get that you don’t have the balls to do what I’m doing but, like, I really don’t give a fuck, in the best way. I care so much that I don’t care”
Tommy Wright III, Memphis rap progenitor
Tommy wears jacket, shirt, trousers and belt TELFAR and shoes TIMBERLAND X TELFAR
Tommy wears jacket, shirt, trousers and belt TELFAR and shoes TIMBERLAND X TELFAR
“Being original, man, it’s a motherfucker. It lasts forever”
Kembra Pfahler, artist and pioneer of the Cinema of Transgression
Kembra wears jacket and trousers TELFAR
Kembra wears jacket and trousers TELFAR
“I’m an availablist. Making the best use of what’s available is making yourself unavailable to commerce abuse”
Carrie Stacks, London club scene stalwart
Serenity wears jacket, tunic and leggings TELFAR and shoes TIMBERLAND x TELFAR
Carrie wears jacket, dress and hat TELFAR, shoes TIMBERLAND X TELFAR and jewellery PATRICIA VON MUSULIN
“A middle finger up to the whole thing. It’s not original. The ethos you get from community and from home – you’re not just gonna do what somebody else does. You are you.”
Deem Spencer, musician
Deem wears tops, trousers and hat TELFAR and shoes and bag TIMBERLAND X TELFAR
Deem wears tops, trousers and hat TELFAR and shoes and bag TIMBERLAND X TELFAR
“I knew I couldn’t focus on my dream and a back-up. I just stood in my path, despite the fact that I wasn’t gaining anything outside of artistic fulfillment”
CREDITS
CASTING Gitoo Wright HAIR Jadis Jolie at E.D.M.A GROOMER Tav Kinard MAKEUP Raisa Flowers at E.D.M.A NAILS Dawn Sterling at E.D.M.A PRODUCTION TELFAR TV TELFAR STYLING TEAM Katiuscia Gregoire, Kadeem Lamorell, Yetunde Ayinmide, Filmon Abraham, Gregory Miller, William Morgan IV POST PRODUCTION Asger Carlsen
