Laya Banks, a sophomore fashion merchandising and design program student, talks on camera for “Fashion Forward,” an HBCU Week documentary airing on PBS North Carolina.


The fashion merchandising and design program at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is taking its turn on the red carpet this month as PBS-North Carolina airs a documentary, “Fashion Forward,” highlighting the impact of Black fashion on culture.

Featuring the fashion programs at N.C. A&T and North Carolina Central University, “Fashion Forward” is available for viewing on the Black Issues Forum web page and will appear on the HBCU Week NOW YouTube Channel @HBCUWeekNOW. The documentary first appeared on the Black Issues Forum program Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. on PBS NC and the PBS app.

The presentation is part of HBCU Week, a public media partnership that offers content about the history, legacy, cultural heritage and degree programs offered by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the nation.

Filmmaker Torrance Hill, founder and owner of Noir Prism Studios and a graduate of Howard University, found N.C. A&T’s fashion program while looking for a new way to highlight an art program from a North Carolina HBCU for the PBS event.

“I aimed to avoid clichés, such as marching bands or gospel choirs, as those programs are well-known for their excellence,” he said. “What stood out to me about this program was its dual emphasis on both fashion design and merchandising. It equips students with the necessary skills to become significant players in the fashion industry, including the financial aspects.”

Hill also learned that fashion merchandising and design professor Devona Dixon, Ph.D. was the 2024 recipient of the UNC Board of Governors Teaching Excellence Award and is well-versed in the role fashion plays at Black colleges.

“Having taught the history of fashion for over a decade, and as an HBCU alumna myself, I have witnessed how fashion on these campuses embodies cultural pride, self-expression and innovation,” she said. “HBCU fashion is deeply rooted in heritage and shapes broader style movements, from campus traditions to the global influence of streetwear.”

A woman in a green tank top and denim shorts poses outdoors while a man wearing a Films That Inspire shirt photographs her on a college campus with trees and students in the background.

Haleigh Aldridge, who is the current president of the fashion merchandising and design program’s student club Fashion Xcetera, shares her thoughts about HBCU fashion for the documentary.

The short documentary also features two N.C. A&T students, junior fashion merchandising and design major Tyler Cozart, who started his own clothing line, Walking Ticket, during the pandemic; and Haleigh Aldridge, a fashion merchandising and political science major who is serving as president of student club Fashion X-Cetera.

N.C. Central University’s fashion program is also featured. Tukii Tucker, an NCCU alumnus, won a fashion competition using shirts designed by the late André Leon Talley, which earned him a feature in Ebony magazine. He is currently working on designs for the business Local Style Chips in Chicago.

“Fashion has great significance at historically Black colleges and universities, and the fashions we embrace are often reflected in other areas, particularly television and film,” Hill said. “Its influence extends far beyond campus. It shapes culture and style on a global scale.”

Gallery

A photographer films a man posing in front of a yellow perforated railing, while several people stand and watch on the stairs above in a modern, brightly lit building.

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Three stylish young adults pose indoors at a crowded event. The woman in the center wears a black top and patterned skirt, while the men on either side wear casual, trendy outfits. People in school uniforms are seen in the background.

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A photographer films a young man posing against a bright yellow stairway while several people walk upstairs in the background. The scene appears energetic and casual.

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Five young people stand together outdoors on a campus, posing for a photo. They wear varied, colorful outfits and accessories, and look happy. Other students and buildings are visible in the background.

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A photographer films a young man posing in front of a bright yellow wall, while a group of people stands and chats at the top of the stairs behind them.

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A photographer takes a picture of a man posing near a yellow railing indoors while people line up on the ramp behind them. The floor and wall are bright yellow, creating a vibrant setting.

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A young woman with long braided hair wears a black top, layered pearl necklaces, and a black-and-white checkered ruffle skirt. She has red sunglasses clipped to her skirt and stands in front of a yellow perforated wall.

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A woman with long braids smiles while standing indoors near a blue couch. She wears a white shirt, a vest made of various neckties, black shorts, and sneakers, holding a drink in one hand. Rolling luggage is beside her.

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A man in a red cap, blue jacket, graphic T-shirt, and camo shorts stands indoors by a yellow perforated wall, holding a pink leash with a small brown object, wearing colorful sneakers and glasses.

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A young man wearing glasses, a graphic shirt, camouflage shorts, and sneakers stands indoors with a backpack. Behind him, people sit on chairs and benches near yellow railings and a modern interior.

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Two smiling women pose together indoors. One wears a striped top with yellow pants and a yellow purse; the other wears a red plaid skirt, white shirt, red tie, black jacket, and black heels. Both look happy and stylish.

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Two young people stand indoors, smiling. The girl wears glasses, a colorful sleeveless top, and shorts. The boy wears a pink jacket, white shirt, tie, camo shorts, and pink sneakers. Others gather in the background.

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