Masking culture incorporates everything from Yoruba spiritual symbols to Ghanaian Adinkra patterns, Haitian Vodou iconography, and Egyptian motifs—a material anthology of Black diasporic history. Young’s work now illuminates marginalized histories, like his 2024 Lost Tribes of Florida suits in royal purple. “There’s enough killing going on in the world,” says Young. “I try not to promote that through my suits.” Queens like Cherice Harrison-Nelson bead family histories into their suits, including stories of ancestors who were enslaved. In 2020, Queen Tiara Horton of the 9th Ward Black Hatchet created a Black Lives Matter suit featuring Sandra Bland, Trayvon Martin, and the Obamas, proving that this centuries-old tradition remains a vital medium for contemporary expression.
“These ceremonial roles serve more than pageantry,” explains Nigerian American stylist Alexander-Julian Gibbson. “They are about healing, protection from the unknown, and communion with the spirits. The suits they craft tell stories—of history, of survival, of the here and now. Their narratives honor the past while claiming space in the present. Each design is a declaration of identity and a testament to artistry and pride.” (Drawn to these rich cultural tapestries and the stories behind them, Gibbson traveled to New Orleans to style this shoot.)
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