DENIM TEARS X UGG
Through Denim Tears, Tremaine Emory delves into his family’s roots and heritage, in part in an effort to broaden popular culture’s image and idea of black Americans and other people from the African diaspora, and, essentially, to celebrate it so it can be remembered. In parallel with his subsequent work (the pan-African flag coloured Converse Chucks, the Black Jesus capsule, etc.), Emory’s latest collaboration with UGG tells a story. Now, UGG’s Classic and Tasman styles serve as the canvas for his great-grandmother Onia’s Black Seminole heritage.
“My grandmother is 95 years old. Once my grandmother goes, that’s it. There's no one else for me to talk to in my family about my great-grandmother. She's the last living person on Earth who knew my great-grandmother. How much more time does she have? Or do any of us have? So, this is my attempt to try to cement some history so that, maybe one day, five kids or the rest of my family know the history.”
With the convergence of Indigenous and Black American aesthetic at the core of Emory’s storytelling, the tan suede and sheepskin Classic UGG is now adorned with embroidery and beading throughout, serving as a representation of Black Seminole’s dual cultures. Meanwhile the Tasman model features beaded floral patterns in hues of white, yellow and green, and are finished with whipstitch detailing around the collar.
To learn more and shop the collection, check out Denim Tears’ website.
