Pyer Moss Integrates ‘Sankofa’ prints in a collection with Reebok

Pyer Moss – A men and womenswear fashion brand founded in 2013. A New York-based label concerned with building a narrative that speaks about heritage and activism.

Kerby Jean-Raymond – a Haitian-American designer who was recently named the creative director of sportswear giant; Reebok, founded the company. However, this would not be the first time Kerby Jean-Raymond would be working with Reebok.

Before his appointment, Pyer Moss already had a collaboration with Reebok called; “American Also”. A very successful venture for both brands, as they have released up to 4 collections since inception. Reebok by Pyer Moss is here with Collection 3.5 – the final chapter of “American, Also“. Likewise, it will continue to explore the human condition and bring light to forgotten stories. Marginalized people reclaiming their history and narrative is the primary principle of “American, Also.”

Pyer Moss’ Use Of Sankofa

In the latest collection, the concept of Sankofa is a major theme. What is Sankofa? It’s a word in the Twi language of Ghana that translates to “Go back and get it“. Its symbol is a bird with its head turned backward and feet faced forward carrying a precious egg in its mouth. Sankofa is often associated with the proverb, “Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi.” Which translates to: “It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten.”

The Sankofa bird is an important symbol in the African and African-American communities. It represents the need to reflect on the past to build a successful future. Now, it’s clearer to see why Pyer Moss would intergate these prints into it’s “American, Also” collection. In addition to being used on cloth in Ghana, the Sankofa heart is a common design on gates in the United States, particularly in New York City. In Brooklyn, the Sankofa heart is commonly upside down on gates to Brownstone residential buildings.