Be yourself; that’s the mantra of Evans King. That’s far easier to say than to do. “Be yourself” means to embrace the vulnerability and transform it into confidence. This is a concept that most of us fail to comprehend, let alone make it a way of life. For Evans, it’s literally manifested in his outward demeanor and appearance, convincing huge entities like Walmart, Nordstrom Rack, Marshalls, Roots, Volkswagen, and many others to place him in their advertisements to communicate his luminous positivity. There’s only one Evans King and he knows it. Yet he’d be the very first person to prompt you to seek out what it is about yourself that shines brightly. This is the wonderment that is Evans King; he projects the light that is possible in everyone. Designer Orlando Dugi was captivated by this quality and enlisted Evans to appear in his indigenous futurism fashion show which was published on Vogue Magazine (US), Native Magazine, and The Autry website.
Held at The Getty Museum’s Garden Terrace in Los Angeles, the Indigenous Fashion runway show is a prime example of art and fashion increasing social awareness. Fusing indigenous knowledge with cutting-edge design while pushing the boundaries of American style, this showcase was an idyllic moment in emphasizing how to reimagine such influences in the modern age. Walking for the show at this event was impactful for Evans King as a native of Ghana who spent years growing up in Canada prior to his time in America. He comments, “I have always been an advocate for stepping out the box, being innovative, and challenging the status quo. Embodying indigenous futurism required me to be bold in reclaiming and reshaping the fashion world for new generations. I felt empowered to walk fiercely and to be unapologetic in holding that space. In university, I took an indigenous course and have deeply admired their traditions and customs. It was an honor and I wanted my walk to be just that; honouring the great designer Orlando Dugi’s clothes, taking my time and walking to show every detail of the garments, and striking a fierce pose to embody the boldness and great tenacity many indigenous people. It was a time of celebration and innovation and I’m very happy to have been a part of.”
The design that Evans wore at this prestigious event included a Tencel high-waisted wide-leg trouser with a three-inch waistband, double front pleats, back flap pockets, and side inseam pockets. Orlando Dugi has named this trouser “Damel.” Mr. King also presented the “Naldo” which is a silk charmeuse button up shirt with a custom black arrowhead print, fit cut with back darts, straight sleeves, and a natural shell button. Completing the look was black low-cut boots to complement the garments. As a first-generation immigrant, Evans feels highly connected to how people communicate their sense of heritage. He notes, “I was very honored to be a part of such an event like this and represent Orlando Dugi’s garments to the best of my abilities. Having that level of trust to bring his pieces to life made me feel over the moon. Seeing different Indigenous designers like Orlando Dugi bringing their pieces to life and looking at their perspective on what futurism indigenous garments looks like was outstanding. Showcasing extraordinary Indigenous people and their stories through garments is remarkable. The fashion show celebrated the artists’ blend of innovative couture, ancestral knowledge, and future-forward style.”
Continuing his activist mindedness, Evans King will present a live talk with Afro in the Diaspora in Spring 2025 to discuss being a first generation African native and his personal path to success in the fashion world. He will also continue his work with Youth of The People for their campaign in 2025.
Writer : Basil Thomson
Ayushi Saini