Yesterday afternoon, Kerby-Jean Raymond made history as the first black American designer to present a couture collection for his label, Pyer Moss, as a guest designer for the Haute Couture Mode Federation He made his mark on history as the first black American designer to present a couture collection under his own label, Pyer Moss. Unlike most designers who presented their collections in Paris, the original show was scheduled to take place on July 8 at Villa Lewaldo in Irvington, NY, but was postponed due to inclement weather caused by Hurricane Elsa. Invited guests, including Aurora James, creative director of Brother Velize and founder of the 15 Percent Pledge (opens in new tab), Hanifa designer Anifa Mbuemba, and actress Kiki Layne, gathered again at the same venue. The location was of cultural significance as it was owned by Madame C.J. Walker, America's first female self-employed millionaire, who made her fortune as an entrepreneur with a line of black hair care products, as recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The show opened with an address to the audience by Elaine Brown, former Black Panther chairwoman, prison activist, author, and singer. Moments later, the models walked out to a live performance by 22GZ, backed by a live orchestra; the collection, called WAT U IZ, was an ode to black inventions, from hot rollers to chess boards to magnetic letters "BUT WHO INVENTED BLACK TRAUMA" to a refrigerator spelled out in magnetic letters, the collection consisted of 25 fashionable and surreal items.

See some of our favorite looks below: