Unable to travel to Ferguson, Miss. as protestors took to the streets of the St. Louis suburb over the shooting death of Michael Brown 13 months ago, the co-owner of a Philadelphia-based clothing company decided to use the confusion and distress he was feeling to inspire his latest apparel line. All of the products sold will dedicate a portion of the sales to after school programs in North Philadelphia.
"When I came up with Black Like Water, I wanted to go out there to protest and speak my mind," said Anthony Quinn Coleman, who runs the Cult Classic brand with partner Joe Pitts. "It is based on the feelings and ideas that I think will help a society looking for words and inspiration."
The name – similar to the hashtag, #BlackLivesMatter that trended for weeks following Brown's death – has yet to be seen by anyone aside from Coleman, Pitts and the manufacturers. Even several artists, whose work will be part of the Friday night launch event at the James Oliver Gallery at 723 Chestnut St., didn't get a sneak peak at the clothes.
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