ComplexCon has uploaded its “Women in Streetwear” panel, an event that took place in November 2018 in Long Beach, California, and included singer/songwriter Teyana Taylor, HLZBLZ founder Lanie Alabanza-Barcena, Union L.A. and Bephie founder Beth Gibbs, designer Melody Ehsani and RSVP Gallery and KNC owner Kristen Noel Crawley. The panel was hosted by Miss Info and Karizza Sanchez, who covered the many challenges of operating in a male dominated space.
One of the more poignant statements was made by Crawley, who detailed her fatigue with a lack of recognition for her contributions.
Crawley explained, “When you’re a woman doing things, it’s like everyone knows Don [Crawley], everyone knows Chris [Gibbs], but it just really sucks that we have to tell everyone what we do. With the dudes, you know, you do your research. But with us, I hate having to tell people, ‘I’m also an owner in RSVP and I also do creative direction for Just Don and I also have kids and a beauty business.’ Y’all know every other detail about the guys, but we’re constantly having to prove ourselves. And it’s just lame and it’s getting tiring. So I’m at a point where if you know, you know, cool. If you fuck with me, you fuck with me, awesome, if you don’t…”
Pointing to Ehsani, who operates two boutiques in Los Angeles and New York, Crawley added, “Melody’s been in this game for so long, created so many pieces I’ve seen brands knock off, year after year, time after time. Real people know Melody. Real people known Teyana has always done this. It’s never been a trend for her. Real girls know about HLZBLZ and Married to the Mob. It’s kind of like, we have to stop, I think, trying to prove ourselves to people that who don’t know.”
Check out the exchange below.
