Posted by Actively Black
on September 25, 2026
ESSENCE covered Actively Black, the Black-owned athleisure brand founded by Lanny Smith in 2020, in “Actively Black Shines at NYFW: Gender Reveal, Black Love, and Black Business Make History,” its report on our New York Fashion Week show at Sony Hall. Titled “This Is Not a Fashion Show” and presented with Mielle Organics, the evening brought civil rights icons, legacy families and Black women leaders to the runway. It closed with a moment the Tribe will not forget: Lanny Smith and Bianca Winslow revealed they are expecting their first child, a baby boy.
Key takeaways
- ESSENCE reported that Actively Black staged “This Is Not a Fashion Show” at Sony Hall during New York Fashion Week, with Mielle Organics as presenting partner.
- According to ESSENCE, Dr. Bernice A. King and Ilyasah Shabazz wore collaborative pieces, and civil rights figures Cecil J. Williams and Ruby Bridges appeared in the show.
- ESSENCE reported that the show paid tribute to Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos, featured a Basquiat capsule presented by Lisane Basquiat and a Bob Marley collaboration represented by Sara Marley, and honored the Harlem Globetrotters.
- A “Black Women Are Superheroes” segment featured Valeisha Butterfield Jones, T’ea Cooper, Deja Kelly, Bozoma Saint John, Cari Champion and Monica McNutt, according to ESSENCE.
- ESSENCE reported that Lanny Smith and Bianca Winslow announced they are expecting their first child, due in December 2025, and revealed it is a boy.
- Attendees named by ESSENCE included Lauryn Hill, Dapper Dan, Tyrese and Ghostface Killah.
In Lanny’s words
“Me being pro-Black doesn’t mean I’m anti-anything else.”
— Lanny Smith, to ESSENCE
“our stories, our innovation, and our style are indispensable to the global culture.”
— Lanny Smith, to ESSENCE
Why it matters
This was never meant to be only a runway. Putting Ruby Bridges, Cecil J. Williams, Dr. Bernice A. King and Ilyasah Shabazz in the same room as our collections connects the clothes to the people who made our freedom possible. Lanny told ESSENCE the night was about honoring our ancestors and uplifting our communities, and that is exactly how we see every collaboration: pay homage to the ones who paved the way while building something we own.
ESSENCE framed the evening around Black love and Black business, and both are part of the mission. A Black-owned brand, a Black-owned beauty partner, Black women celebrated as superheroes and a growing family announced on stage: that is what building our own table looks like. The clothes are the uniform for the movement, and this show made the movement visible.
Shop the story
Shop the runway in the NYFW 2025 Collection, honor legacy in the Bob Marley x Actively Black Collection, and wear the words of our leaders in the Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X collections.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Actively Black?
Actively Black was founded in 2020 by Lanny Smith, a former professional basketball player who played at the University of Houston.
Is Actively Black Black-owned?
Yes. Actively Black is a Black-owned athleisure brand whose mission is to celebrate Black culture and reinvest in the Black community.
What did ESSENCE say about Actively Black’s NYFW show?
ESSENCE reported that the Sony Hall show, “This Is Not a Fashion Show,” presented with Mielle Organics, featured civil rights icons, legacy collaborations and a gender reveal by Lanny Smith and Bianca Winslow.
Who walked in Actively Black’s NYFW show at Sony Hall?
ESSENCE reported appearances by Dr. Bernice A. King, Ilyasah Shabazz, Cecil J. Williams and Ruby Bridges, plus a “Black Women Are Superheroes” segment with leaders including Bozoma Saint John, Cari Champion and Monica McNutt.
Read the full feature: Actively Black Shines at NYFW: Gender Reveal, Black Love, and Black Business Make History, ESSENCE (September 2025)
