STREETLIGHTS
FALL/WINTER 2024

The luxury streetwear brand, CHELSEA GRAYS, continues its tradition of using fashion as a medium to highlight identity, community, and belonging with the launch of its highly anticipated Streetlights Collection. As the fourth collection in the brand’s portfolio, Streetlights represents a groundbreaking moment in CHELSEA GRAYS' history—introducing its first-ever womenswear line, an empowering addition that broadens the brand's reach and inclusivity.

Rooted in the childhood memories of founder and designer Chelsea Grays, the collection draws inspiration from her upbringing in Cleveland, Ohio. For Chelsea, streetlights symbolized more than just the end of playtime; they were a guiding light, signaling the safety and comfort of home. Reflecting on these moments, she shares, “The idea is wherever you are in life, you have a place to go that is home.” This sentiment forms the heart of the collection, emphasizing the role of community in shaping identity, no matter how far time and distance may carry us.

The Streetlights Collection remains true to the brand's signature style—politically and socially charged, with designs that provoke thought and spark dialogue. Chelsea’s family’s military background weaves seamlessly into the collection’s aesthetic, incorporating utilitarian themes and a palette of navy blues, greens, tans, oranges, and grays. These hues, paired with the durability and functionality inspired by her father’s time in the Navy, bring depth and purpose to the designs.

In a review for Essence Magazine, Kerane Marcellus highlighted the collection's distinct appeal: "Chelsea Grays followed with classic remixed garments and neutral tones throughout their respective show. The models walked in tank tops with extended fabrics in the front, textured tops, and silky trains. The luxury fashion brand’s designs are made to raise awareness of social issues." These elements exemplify how the label elevates fashion as a tool for societal dialogue and self-expression.

The collection showcases sustainable fabrics like wool and cotton, while maintaining a bold, modern edge through oversized silhouettes, intricate pleating, weaving, and striking embroidery. With a commitment to ethical practices, CHELSEA GRAYS not only delivers artistry but also aligns with its mission to create fashion that matters.

Under the warm glow of a streetlight, this collection is a beacon of solidarity and unity. It invites you to explore the transformative power of fashion as a tool for connection and self-expression.

INVITED TO THE COOKOUT
SPRING/SUMMER 2022

Chelsea Grays, known for her innovative menswear and textured storytelling, continues to push boundaries with her Spring/Summer 2022 collection, “Invited to the Cookout.” This season marks a pivotal transition for CHELSEA GRAYS, blending celebration and optimism with a rediscovery of Black culture.

Inspired by her return to Cleveland, Grays found creativity at family cookouts, where resourceful layering and bold pairings reflected the beauty of everyday Black ingenuity. “When I came back, I was going to family cookouts, and I really got inspired by cookouts,” Grays shared in No Kill Magazine. “I wanted to give people a peek into what it’s like to be a part of the culture and invited to the cookout.”

Her collection radiates energy and inclusivity. Modeled joyfully to upbeat music, the presentation amplified the designs’ deeper meanings. Earthy tones, smooth linens, and warped screenprints—an homage to mentor Simon Ungless—capture a “warped euphoria,” symbolizing the evolution of society and the brand.

Grays’ signature craftsmanship shines through mixed denim jackets, flowing silhouettes, and tailored brocade pieces. As she describes it: “It was created out of a place of trying to rediscover what it is to be Black in America and also to create a bridge between different cultures.”

Fresh off PROJECT Las Vegas and with features in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, CHELSEA GRAYS continues to inspire, redefining menswear as a canvas for community, creativity, and cultural dialogue.

HOMAGE TO 2020
Fall/Winter 2021

“Homage to 2020” is a bold and reflective statement on the trials of a pivotal year. The 10-look collection blends historical references with modern struggles, capturing themes of resilience, protest, and transformation. Developed during her time in Paris, Grays’ work channels the juxtaposition of looking at the United States from afar while staying connected through conversations with family and media.

“Homage to 2020” pays tribute to the upheavals of that year—police brutality, protests, the global health crisis, and election challenges—especially for marginalized communities. As ESSENCE noted, “The collection embodies an intentional elevated ruggedness, featuring patchwork that feels ripped and worn, splattered prints, and raw edges, all which can be interpreted to represent the physical and emotional struggles 2020 brought on for many.”

Grays’ use of fabric manipulations and contrasting materials underscores these themes. From utilitarian wool and cotton to luxurious silk and satin, her designs strike a balance between the rugged and the refined. The pieces incorporate artistic screen printing, layered patterns, and distressed textures, reflecting the anger, confusion, and hope that marked the year. Draped silhouettes paired with structured elements showcase the contrasts of 2020, while utilitarian details suggest a militant aura—a nod to resilience and resistance.

One of the most striking influences for this collection is deeply personal. As highlighted in Vogue, a key inspiration was Grays’ grandfather, a soldier. His legacy, strength, and sacrifice informed the powerful imagery behind the designs, particularly the vintage photograph of an American soldier flexing his muscles—a visual anchor for the collection. “Homage to 2020” extends this narrative by weaving together the struggles of a turbulent year with echoes of history.

As the models walked to the solemn hum of Reggie’s “I don’t want to feel no more,” their movements illustrated the lives of urban youth and the perseverance of communities most affected by the year’s challenges. Grays noted her desire to bridge cultural gaps while rediscovering her identity as a designer and storyteller. “Each garment was made to represent the challenges we overcame in 2020, but with a historical approach,” she shared.

Through her signature mix of prints and innovative textile techniques, Chelsea Grays has crafted a collection that transcends fashion. “Homage to 2020” is not just clothing—it’s a commentary on survival, community, and the enduring power of art to capture the complexities of human experience.

FASHION IS OVERSATURATED
YEAR ROUND

When stepping into the world of CHELSEA GRAYS’ latest collection, you’re immediately immersed in a universe that feels both familiar and strikingly avant-garde. Titled "Fashion is Oversaturated," the collection channels the cluttered charm of living at Grandma’s house—an environment brimming with comfort, eccentricity, and bursts of color. But this is no mere nostalgic ode; it’s a bold statement about identity, sustainability, and the chaotic hope of our times.

The collection, created in Paris during quarantine, carries the unmistakable mark of Chelsea’s artistry. Known for using fashion as a canvas for storytelling, CHELSEA GRAYS transforms garments into expressive, multi-dimensional works of art. This season, the designer takes cues from a series of “super composition” paintings crafted from salvaged street signs—pieces that reflect the turmoil of contemporary America while clinging to a sense of uncharted optimism.

What stands out most in this collection is its incredible use of mixed media. Chelsea weaves, paints, and felts her way through every piece, creating garments that blur the lines between art and fashion. The textiles—recycled fabrics, upcycled thrift store finds, and even repurposed household items like bath rugs and comforters—speak to the designer’s commitment to sustainability.

Each look feels like a personal story: baggy, unisex silhouettes layered with textures and colors that suggest the fullness of a life lived with both chaos and care. There’s a tactile quality to the collection, with yarn manipulations and hand-painted details adding a handcrafted charm. The use of bold, saturated hues ties it all together, evoking a sense of hope amid disorder.

The atmosphere of the collection is as much a character as the garments themselves. It conjures the image of someone who thrives in an environment of excess—a creative soul surrounded by mismatched treasures and sentimental clutter. Wool, nylon, and cotton meet unexpected materials, creating a balance between the mundane and the extraordinary.

Even the accessories follow this theme, nodding to the mesh of clean and gritty, polished and rough. The result is a collection that feels as though it belongs in a gallery as much as on the street—a true embodiment of elevated streetwear.

Beyond its craftsmanship, "Fashion is Oversaturated" carries a deeper narrative. It challenges us to reflect on our differences and shared humanity, using garments as a vehicle for connection and expression. This is fashion that speaks, that asks questions, that makes you think about your place in the world and your responsibility to it.

Chelsea’s work has always been about more than just clothing—it’s about making a statement. Whether weaving societal chaos into her designs or creating beauty from discarded materials, CHELSEA GRAYS reminds us that fashion can be a powerful form of storytelling.

As someone who has been recognized by the CFDA and i-D Magazine as a designer to watch, Chelsea continues to push boundaries. With this collection, she proves that fashion doesn’t just mirror society—it reshapes it.

ORGANIZED CHAOS
FALL/WINTER 2019

A Street-Style Renaissance: Chelsea Grays’ Tenderloin-Inspired Collection

Chelsea Grays’ fashion collection is more than a showcase of garments; it’s a poignant narrative of resilience, community, and creativity drawn from the unique culture of San Francisco’s Tenderloin district. Inspired by the street styles of the homeless population in the area, Grays transforms the trials of limitation and resourcefulness into a striking commentary on individuality and adaptability in fashion.

Her undergraduate background in psychology serves as the backbone for her ability to translate conceptual inspiration into wearable art. Grays observed how the homeless blended contrasting fabrics and silhouettes, crafting ensembles that were both functional and expressive. What might initially seem haphazard revealed, to her, a deliberate artistry born from necessity. This juxtaposition of struggle and style forms the heartbeat of her collection, celebrating a new kind of sartorial innovation.

To honor her muses, Grays incorporated textural depth and layered compositions, achieving a raw yet cohesive aesthetic. Her collection features draped pants reminiscent of baggy jeans, oversized pieces symbolizing the familial exchange of clothing, and intricate mixed media elements. These design choices echo a shared lived experience of resourcefulness and connectedness—a theme Grays shares with the late Jean-Michel Basquiat, one of her inspirations.

The collection further showcases high-waisted men’s trousers, floor-length garments with waistline gatherings, and touches of femininity in the form of elegant necklines. Each piece is imbued with Grays’ meticulous craftsmanship: she developed every print, felted fabrics, and drafted patterns by hand. The result is a collection that’s powerful both as a cohesive narrative and through its individual pieces, each garment telling its own story of resilience and artistry.

Grays’ vision and skill have not gone unnoticed. She was selected as a finalist for the CFDA Geoffrey Beene Award in 2018 and participated in the CFDA Future Fashion Designers Showcase in 2019. These accolades affirm her status as a designer to watch—a creator who transforms the overlooked into the extraordinary, seamlessly weaving humanity and haute couture into her designs.

With this collection, Chelsea Grays proves that fashion is not just an aesthetic exercise but a vehicle for storytelling, one that challenges conventions and elevates voices from the margins.