Kerby Jean-Raymond

Kerby Jean-Raymond is a Haitian-American fashion designer and founder of the menswear label Pyer Moss. Jean-Raymond began his design career freelancing for brands including Theory, Marc Jacobs, Badgley Mischka, and Kenneth Cole before establishing Pyer Moss. The label is named after his late mother, Vania Moss Pierre. Jean-Raymond is known for merging high fashion with social commentary, engaging with the Black American experience through personal storytelling and provocative runway presentations.

Jean-Raymond gained national attention with the presentation of Pyer Moss' Spring 2016 Menswear Collection during New York Fashion Week. At a time when the fashion industry was often seen as insular and apolitical, he staged a show that highlighted police brutality and referenced the Black Lives Matter movement through a combination of video, street art, and fashion. He has spoken publicly about his experiences as a teenage victim of racial profiling, adding context to his collections. The "Double Bind" collection, styled in collaboration with R&B singer and activist Erykah Badu, further established Jean-Raymond as a designer at the intersection of culture, art, and activism.

Pyer Moss has received recognition from the fashion industry, including the FGI Rising Star Award in menswear and inclusion on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. The brand was nominated for the CFDA's Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent, won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, and Jean-Raymond received Collaboration of the Year at the Footwear News Achievement Awards for his work with Reebok. He was named Global Creative Director of Reebok and Pyer Moss was awarded the top prize at the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund awards.

Jean-Raymond made history as the first Black designer listed on Paris' official haute couture schedule and one of only three Americans ever invited with their own house. Pyer Moss became the first Black American fashion house invited to show by Paris' Chambre Syndicale. The debut couture collection, "Wat U Iz," paid tribute to 25 Black inventions, and the show was staged at Villa Lewaro, the estate of Madame C.J. Walker. Jean-Raymond built ateliers in Los Angeles and collaborated with costume designers and seamstresses to meet the standards of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode in Paris.

Beyond his own label, Jean-Raymond partnered with Kering to launch Your Friends in New York, a platform designed to incubate emerging talents across fashion, music, art, and philanthropy. He has spoken about his mission to create self-sustaining Black economies and narratives, aiming to support creative entrepreneurship and representation in the fashion industry. Through his runway presentations, couture debut, and advocacy for emerging creatives, Jean-Raymond has established an enduring influence in fashion and culture.