Category: Upcomers

Usman Khalid, a Political Investigator at Upcomers, ensures that the organization remains committed to its ethical and social impact goals. His efforts contribute to Upcomers’ dedication to creating positive change within the communities it serves.

The Synergy Symposium, an event that explored the intersection of the creative industry and technology. Yelissa Lopez, a senior majoring in Applied Physics at Columbia University and the founder of Upcomers, led the event at NYU in partnership with Niouma Semega, the founder of Semegachange.

Upcomers is an organization with a mission to bring resources and exposure to black/minority-owned clothing brands, fostering wealth reallocation into inner-city communities. Yelissa’s journey from the inception of Upcomers to hosting the Synergy Symposium reflects her commitment to driving positive change in the creative industry. Semegachange is a developing empire of Black & Women of Color cultivating change through the intersectionality of their identity and passion for STEM for environmental and societal change.

The Synergy Symposium featured a diverse lineup of panelists and exhibitors. The mission of the symposium was to explore and unify the creative industry and technology, empowering the future generation to think beyond their current spheres.Through exhibitors, panel discussions, and a communal dinner, the symposium aimed to explore the intersection of the creative industry and technology, making connections, and empowering the future generation to think beyond their current spheres.

The event featured clothing brands and technical projects, including model rocketry, a hydrogen car, desktop lap, and video games developed by the exhibitors. Some of the panelists were Kaia, a brand owner and a technologist intern; Lily a games and anime fan artist and studying game design; Muhammad who modeled for notable brands and a recent graduate in computer engineering; Safa, a R&B singer and an audio engineer; and Jwalt who a recording artist and published author. There were also performances from Malik Fountain and Lucas Hunter. Malik is a saxophonist and studies mechanical engineering while Lucas Hunter is a singer and is working on a project called Project IMORA which explores the intersection of music and computer science. At the end, guests participated in a trivia contest and with the help of the exhibitors/panelists were able to win prizes as well as expand their network.

The Synergy Symposium broke the division between the arts and engineering, fostering collaboration between creatives and engineers. This transformative event, which aspires to become an annual gathering that bridges the gap between two dynamic industries, received positive feedback from attendees.
Author: Usman Khalid, Editor: Yelissa Lopez

The Women’s Suffrage Movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries was a pivotal moment in history, as women fought tirelessly for their right to vote. This movement, characterized by its strength, resilience, and unity, was about more than just political change. It was a social revolution that paved the way for women’s rights and empowerment in various aspects of life, and, intriguingly, fashion played a significant role in promoting longevity and unity within this movement.

 

One of the most iconic symbols of the suffragist movement was the use of color, particularly white, purple, and gold. Each of these colors held a distinct meaning. White represents purity and virtue, purple symbolizes loyalty and dignity, and gold was a sign of hope and light. By wearing these colors, suffragists not only created a unified aesthetic but also conveyed their values and aspirations to a wider audience. The use of these colors was a statement of peaceful protest, challenging traditional gender norms. The suffragists adopted white clothing to emphasize their commitment to non-violent activism. In doing so, they were able to promote a sense of unity and solidarity among suffragists, regardless of their background, as well as appealing to the broader public.

 

Suffragist fashion also reflected their dedication to their cause. Sashes, pins, and buttons with slogans like “Votes for Women” and “Votes for Suffrage” became a common sight at suffragist gatherings and events. These items not only served as a visual reminder of their mission but also as conversation starters, allowing suffragists to engage with others and spread their message.

 

The Women’s Suffrage Movement was characterized by its diversity, with women from various social, economic, and cultural backgrounds coming together for a common cause. Fashion played a crucial role in forging this unity. Regardless of their individual backgrounds, suffragists shared a sense of belonging when they wore the signature white, purple, and gold attire, reinforcing their shared values and objectives. This not only signaled their dedication to the cause but also created a collective and powerful visual impact.

 

Fashion may not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering the Women’s Suffrage Movement, but it played an integral role in promoting longevity and unity within the movement. The use of colors and symbolism, the rejection of constricting clothing, and the adoption of suffrage-themed attire all contributed to a powerful and unifying image.

 

The suffragists’ fashion choices were a testament to their commitment to equality and their ability to adapt and change the narrative. As the suffragists demonstrated, fashion can be a powerful medium for self-expression, unity, and, ultimately, social change. It is a reminder that the fight for women’s rights was not only about political reform but also was for cultural and social revolution that changed the world.

 

Author: Usman Khalid, Editor: Yelissa Lopez

AI’s positive impact on the fashion industry is multifaceted and far-reaching. It enhances design processes by rapidly analyzing extensive data, enabling designers to create collections that precisely cater to customer preferences and emerging trends. This heightened efficiency also extends to personalized shopping experiences, where AI-driven recommendation engines offer customers tailored product suggestions based on their preferences. Additionally, AI’s virtual try-on technologies enable shoppers to virtually test clothing items, removing the necessity for physical fitting rooms and aligning seamlessly with online shopping.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to create designs and provide creatives with invaluable support by creating original styles, but it has its drawbacks. AI’s impact on the fashion industry is a double-edged sword for those deeply passionate and its creative aspects. AI threatens the conventional values of the fashion industry while also bringing efficiency and creativity. AI’s automation of design and manufacturing processes threatens the handmade, handcrafted quality of the fashion process. The uniqueness and self-expression that designers bring to their work may be obsolete by the influence of AI-driven trend analyses and design tools. Furthermore, an abundance of copycat designs could result from AI’s ability to imitate popular fashion trends. This could lessen the uniqueness and creativity that are necessary for the fashion industry. The industry’s sustainability and ethical standards may be jeopardized by AI-optimized production procedures promoting fast fashion that makes for unethical labor practices to make clothing. Essentially, industry enthusiasts for fashion face the difficulty of striking a balance between the benefits of AI-driven innovation and the preservation of the aesthetic and emotional elements that contribute to fashion’s status as a profoundly personal and cultural form of expression.

Thorough testing and regulation are necessary to address any potential biases and discrimination in AI systems and make sure that algorithms do not support preconceptions or discriminate against people with darker skin tones. In order to ensure that the needs and viewpoints of black and minority communities are taken into account when developing AI-powered artistic tools, efforts should also be made to promote diversity and representation within AI development. Through regulatory measures, diversity programs, fair access, and cultural awareness, the arts may fully utilize AI while maintaining the principles of inclusivity and dignity for all people. To address these challenges and ensure that AI serves as a force for inclusivity and cultural preservation, it is imperative to implement a comprehensive set of policies and regulations:

1. AI-Generated Plagiarism Act

For minority communities, strengthening anti-plagiarism procedures for AI-generated material is crucial since it is a potent instrument for preserving their cultural expressions, promoting diversity, and elevating marginalized voices. Traditional art forms, languages, folklore, and other cultural heritage are protected from unlawful duplication or copying by AI by maintaining the originality of minority cultural productions. Additionally, by enabling artists to profit monetarily from their creative creations, they support minority populations’ economic development. Furthermore, through promoting greater public understanding and appreciation of minority populations’ cultural history, these legislative protections send a strong message of respect for the artistic contributions made by these communities. In the end, stronger anti-plagiarism laws serve as a deterrent against cultural appropriation, challenging prejudices and promoting positive narratives while eventually creating an environment conducive to the success of up-and-coming talent from minority backgrounds. In the end, these actions help to develop a more just and equitable creative environment where minority views are valued and honored.

2. Data Privacy and Consent Act

The intersections of data privacy, informed consent, and minority communities highlight how crucial it is to protect these communities’ rights, identities, and cultural diversity. It is predicated on a strong dedication to cultural sensitivity and respect, realizing the close ties between personal and cultural information and the complex fabric of minority cultures. In this situation, informed consent serves as a safeguard against dehumanizing generalizations and exploitative practices, guaranteeing that AI-generated content accurately captures the complexity and diversity of these communities. In addition, it provides a means of empowering people by giving them authority over how their data influences how they are portrayed in AI-generated works. Creating an environment where data privacy and informed consent not only meet legal requirements but also uphold the values of respect, equity, and cultural celebration, promoting inclusivity and authentic representation in the creative industries, by involving community leaders and advocates, fostering ethical AI development, and establishing strong legal protections.

3. AI Transparency and Disclosure Act

Building trust, respect, and empowerment among minority communities requires transparency and disclosure in AI-generated material. Transparency would make minority communities more equipped to make educated decisions about the content they interact with, which fosters digital literacy and improves their ability to successfully traverse the digital environment. It is also an effective instrument for reducing bias, promoting moral AI research— which helps create a more just and inclusive digital environment that values the diversity and viewpoints of marginalized people. In the end, disclosure and transparency are moral requirements that promote a digital environment in which all views are acknowledged, valued, and accurately reflected.

4. AI Ethics and Accountability Commission

The creation of a regulatory agency to monitor AI applications in creative industries has significant effects on minority communities’ representation and well-being. By establishing and upholding standards that forbid damaging stereotypes and biases, these organizations act as defenders of moral content production. They ensure that AI respects and appreciates the diverse expressions of minority cultures, which is vital in maintaining their cultural legacy. By supporting varied representation, enabling minority artists, and resolving inequalities in access to AI resources, regulatory oversight fosters diversity. In addition, these organizations are essential tools for settling disputes and worries about AI-generated material that can harm minority voices, promoting an equitable and welcoming creative community. Regulatory organizations would actively support the preservation of minority rights, cultural sensitivity, and equity within the ever-changing field of AI-enhanced creativity through advocacy, education, and international cooperation.

5. AI Preservation Act

This act would embody the dedication for respect, inclusivity, and historical significance by bridging the preservation of human-created art with the cultural legacy and representation of minority populations. This act protects the cultural integrity and authenticity of fashion by providing protection for fashion designs from minority populations and guaranteeing that they are not altered by AI. It would prevent the misuse or distortion of minority fashion designers’ creative expressions and, in addition to empowering them by safeguarding their fashion legacy. It also cultivates an atmosphere of cultural awareness and respect. These standards are beneficial to museums, galleries, and educational institutions because they encourage inclusivity and truthful portrayals of minority cultures in their collections and displays. The AI Preservation Act, emphasizes the significance of nurturing cultural awareness, protecting the rich tapestry of minority fashion, and adding to a fashion landscape that honors diversity and legacy.

 

Artificial intelligence presents both benefits and challenges for the creative arts, particularly fashion, where it has great potential. AI’s potential must be balanced with the preservation of creative integrity. Minority populations are affected by AI, which makes extensive regulations for inclusivity, cultural preservation, and ethical standards necessary. By taking these steps, we can make sure AI supports diversity and inclusivity while promoting the peaceful cohabitation of technology and creativity, resulting in a more equal creative environment.

Author: Usman Khalid, Editor: Yelissa Lopez

There once was a spirit abandoned by his mother in the woods for being “different.” He lived for years in the jungle among the bushes with no reminder of his family other than a mat given to him by his mother. It became a legend that whoever possessed it would get great wealth and that the only way to get the mat was to fight the spirit known as the Bush Boy. People would often come in search of this magical object and discard the spirit, abusing him and throwing him around. Little did they know that the Bush Boy would have given them the mat if they had simply asked. This Nigerian folk tale was one of the many elements of Nigerian culture that inspired Samuel Oni when he was just twenty years old to start his unique streetwear brand, Bush Boy, which incorporates traditional Nigerian fabric into the streetwear style. Being a Nigerian-American himself, he deeply resonates with the story. This tale really shows what being in the United States is like, feeling alone and only having a little bit left of your culture and family as a guide. “Bush Boy stands for generation 1.5, kind of like the generation of people brought to other places but ultimately were brought up in America and its meaning is to embody those aspects of ourselves that aren’t from here but stand out, it’s who we are,” says Oni. 

Being his first year in Upcomers, he feels less alone. Upcomers has helped him stay more focused on what a brand is capable of by giving him a community of people who understand what it’s like to run a brand.His journey all started three years ago when he was developing a fashion show for minority-owned brands. That is when he got the idea to start Bush Boy to tell his story about being Nigerian American while also incorporating his love of fashion. It wasn’t as easy as it seems though. His biggest challenge was learning self-reliance in order to save money. Instead of hiring someone to do the marketing and assembling for him, he does it himself. When he first started he didn’t know how to sew, so after some trial and error, he eventually learned with the help of his mother. Looking back on the start of his business he wishes that he would have known not to spend so much time planning, but more time doing, because that is how you learn and gain experience. 

“Being a designer is ultimately combining aspects of yourself with trends while not conforming,” Oni says that this is the key to keeping your brand consistent with its original vision, but still staying trendy to increase customer satisfaction. His background in both theater and marketing helps with consistency by being able to get his stories across using various visual forms. 

A few years from now, Oni hopes to focus more on keeping Bush Boy consistent and sustainable by getting a handle on his production quantity.  While still just a clothing brand, he wishes for Bush Boy to one day put a greater emphasis on visual messages so people can understand the culture, music, and story behind the brand. Whether it’s through a short story or a film, he hopes to retell the folktale and the story of “Bush People.” “I don’t just want them to commodify my product, I want them to very much be a Bush Boy” – Samuel Oni

 

Author: Alianny Vargas, Editor: Yelissa Lopez