How BLK MKT Vintage Is Recontextualizing History Through Rare Cultural Relics

The shop’s coveted heirlooms shed an authentic light on Black American life.

HYPEBEAST Features - Go in-depth and learn more about the culture. HYPEBEAST Features July 03, 2020 How BLK MKT Vintage Is Recontextualizing History Through Rare Cultural Relics The shop’s coveted heirlooms shed an authentic light on Black American life. Blk Mkt Vintage How does one become a purveyor of a specific culture? For starters, by living in it. That’s not to say that one can’t trade and sell certain cultural items simply because they aren’t of that community (sure, they can), but it is undeniable that a first-hand perspective cements a particular authenticity that can’t be learned. That perspective becomes all the more important during a pandemic — and not just one, but what some would consider two, what with the global health crisis brought on by the coronavirus and the far-reaching racial justice uprising. Moments like these have historically presented a breeding ground for the media to perpetuate biased perceptions of Black people, solidifying the need for more authentic stories to be told by the community themselves. Enter BLK MKT Vintage: the self-described “curators of a collection of Black curiosities, heirlooms and collectibles,” which began as an online marketplace five years ago and recently opened a brick-and-mortar shop in Brooklyn (though the store remains temporarily closed amid COVID-19 regulations). Blk Mkt Vintage “The great thing is we have a lot of inventory and some things that have never seen the light of day,” said co-founder Jannah Handy in response to the sweeping business changes presented by the virus. “Our basement, showroom floor, the basement of the showroom floor — we have things we can filter in and keep people excited about while being mindful of not exposing ourselves and not knowing when people are going to be coming back.” “How do we recontextualize being American but also being oppressed?” It’s not that Handy and co-founder Kiyanna Stewart are the only ones doing what they do per se. But they are some of the few, especially in that they have a reputation for preserving the culture with tender hands. The store even caught the eye of Insecure costume designer and stylist Shiona Turini, landing its pieces several appearances throughout Season 4 of the HBO series. And not only is BLK MKT Vintage’s collection of clothing, literature, music, art and the like stylish and rare (sorry The Last Dance fans, but those Michael Jordan centerfold ads aren’t for sale), but those pieces aren’t divorced from their historical context. READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON HYPEBEAST → More HYPEBEAST Features AUTOMOTIVE How to Drive a Manual Transmission Car GAMING Next Level: Kevin Angeloni Only Collects The Games That Marked His Generation Get The App Free on iOS and Android Follow 2020 HYPEBEAST Limited. All Rights Reserved Manage Subscriptions You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to HYPEBEAST's marketing emails. You can unsubscribe from us any time by clicking here. It may take 48 hours to complete the unsubscribe process. Contact subscription@hypebeast.com for assistance on any enquiries. Our Mailing Address: HYPEBEAST, 10F, KC 100, 100 Kwai Cheong Road, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong