Tremaine Emory launched Denim Tears with a clear vision: to explore and reflect on the Black experience in America, particularly its roots in slavery, systemic racism, and the enduring struggle for identity and freedom. Emory, who had worked with Kanye West, Virgil Abloh, and served as Supreme’s creative director, saw a glaring absence in the fashion industry—a failure to confront the deep cultural and historical forces that shape Black identity. Denim Tears was born to fill that gap, merging art, activism, and fashion into a cohesive and thought-provoking narrative.