In February, brand Abercrombie & Fitch launched a new clothing line, co-designed with a native Tulsan and Los Angeles-based fashion designer: Marshall Danzy Taulbert. Taulbert says getting to this milestone was an experience he didn’t see coming.
In November of 2023, Taulbert learned that Abercrombie might consider him for a new collaboration – but it wasn’t until March of 2024 that he knew he had about two weeks to pitch a collection.
“I didn’t pitch them clothing,” says Taulbert. “I wanted to pitch them a world first, the world of Danzy Estates, and the clothes people would wear there. It’s about the world that people would be part of when they purchase this collection.”
The Abercrombie team was, of course, enamored. Taulbert was designing the collection by May, flying back and forth between LA and Abercrombie’s corporate offices in Ohio.
Taulbert, who anchors his designs in real or imagined places, says the line, Abercrombie x Danzy Design Studio, a.k.a Danzy Estates, reflects “what I believe [downtown Tulsa’s] Black Wall Street would be if it were still around, like some kind of subdivision that would be there,” he shares.
Danzy Estates is a collection of smart staples with a nod to retro sportswear, Taulbert says – a 26-piece collection that is mostly mix-and-match, unisex (except for a few dresses, skirts and tank tops), in classic, preppy and tailored styles. Think polo collars, rugby stripes and collegiate looks in hunter green, navy, gray and white. Each piece is marked with “Danzy Estates,” “D.,” and “1981” – his birth year.
Taulbert envisions a day in his line: The morning routine might involve coffee, and perhaps a workout class, while wearing a gray pair of sweats or fleece shorts. Then, there’s a change of clothing for transitioning to work – whether working from home and connecting to employees via Zoom meetings or heading to the workplace. No matter the situation, Taulbert has everyone ready with rugby shirts, V-neck cable knit sweaters, blue slacks, varsity bomber jackets and a double breasted blazer. A third portion of the line involves clothing for after-work plans.
Danzy Estates is part of the Abercrombie Vol. 28 recurring clothing collection designed to amplify Black voices and culture, featuring clothing inspired by Black artists and style. Taulbert’s inspiration includes several photos of his parents, who still live in the south Tulsa home where he grew up.
“Both my parents are very classily dressed people,” he says. “There’s a picture of my mom in the ’90s, wearing a bright red, double breasted blazer with gold buttons. And a picture of my dad wearing a navy blazer with a pair of old Levi jeans and cowboy boots. That’s where I got the idea of a double breasted blazer.”
Taulbert’s own Danzy Design Studio in LA produces clothing labeled with his creative ‘South Tulsa, California,’ moniker.
“That is my overall city,” he says. “But I’ve created subdivisions within that, and Danzy Estates, for Abercrombie, is one of those – like Utica Square.”
Looking towards the future, Taulbert is prepping for New York Fashion Week in September.
“People can expect to see a little bit more tailoring from Danzy,” he shares. “Right now, I’m a little more known for the casual and the sweat brand. But they’ll start to see the maturation within my brand.”
