Yosh Dafney interview with Rene Knott on Channel 5 News KSDK October 9 , 2024 . He talks about his story and what inspires him.
Watch the full video on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ggY6g-IzPs
St. Louis Fashion Fund hosts panel to discuss the impact of African Americans in fashion
St. Louis Public Radio | By Andrea Y. Henderson
Yosh Dafney styles a model in clothing from his Dafney.Co fall/winter 2024 collection.
African American designers make up just 7.3% of the nation’s fashion industry, despite the heavy influence Black culture has on it. The St. Louis Fashion Fund is trying to shed more light on Black designers from the region through the “Black In Fashion” panel discussion at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at Hearth and Soul fashion boutique.
Yosh Dafney, who started Dafney.Co in 2021, said as a young Black designer he needs more networks in St. Louis that could help with finding affordable manufacturers in the area and with business strategy and investment.
“It’s important to have someone to help you … do your taxes, all those small things when you start making money and how to manage it,” he said. “A lot of young Black people don't know how to do that.”
When Dafney was 15 years old, he found himself drawing designs on a shirt in detention for being late to class at Jennings High School. He later sold a few of those shirts in a store in the St. Louis Galleria, but it was not until he had a near-death experience three years ago that he felt pushed to start his own clothing line.
“It was raining hard and my car hydroplaned, two cars swerved on the side of my car and a semi-truck came toward the car head-on and I thought I was going to die,” Dafney said. “I always think, what if I passed away at that time, what would I think of my life and I would have been disappointed … so after that, I started my brand.”
Read the full story here:
https://www.stlpr.org/race-identity-and-faith/2024-10-04/st-louis-fashion-fund-panel-discuss-impact-african-americans