BlackMarketWares Releases Toussaint Louverture Liberator T-Shirt
More than Two-Hundred years after his death in France, Toussaint Louverture is not only inspiring books, but fashion. Cultural marketing guru Marc Maxis and Theod Elien of the lifestyle community organization BlackMarketWares—worked together for a year to create The Liberator T-shirt. The creative duo contend that they wanted to honor the trail-blazing leader, and they wanted to do so with a fashion tribute, and they sought out Queens-based painter Theo the Mighty for the visuals. Maxis and Elien were born born in Haiti and spent their early years there before moving to the United States at the age of seven. In addition to fashion endeavors, the entrepreneurs hold a youth basketball tournament through their program I Am Peace, held at Jackie Robinson Park annually and designed to spread and prevent gun violence in Brooklyn.
Kreyolicious: Why Toussaint L’Ouverture?
Toussaint L’Ouverture is one of the most under-appreciated revolutionaries of all time. He led the first and only successful slave rebellion. He showed blacks all over the world that freedom was possible. He was far ahead of his time in terms of his leadership approach as well as his progressive ideas.
Kreyolicious: Will you be adding additional pieces?
At the moment, we’re not slated to release any additional heritage-inspired pieces.
Kreyolicious: Why do you think heritage-inspired clothing is popular?
The popularity of heritage-inspired clothing is due to the fact that the consciousness of the black masses is growing. People have the resources to learn about their own history. When you learn about the history of your people, you begin to have pride in it. That pride then manifests itself into your fashion choices.