Standom State of Mind: Walmart’s Amplification of Black Artistry Can’t Be Ignored
We’ve all been there—holding tattered tickets from our first concert or screenshotting yet another obscure creative reference ripe for future musing. Without our stash of memorabilia, both tangible and intangible, we wouldn’t have proof of what makes us true, diehard stans for our cherished communities. So, in an era where entire subcultures are being pushed to the margins, the stakes are heightened when it comes to supporting burgeoning trailblazers behind today’s thriving creative movements and future ‘standom’.
Harnessing the transformational essence of Black artistry, Walmart debuts a capsule of band tees that commemorates unwavering ingenuity. Celebrating contemporary chart-toppers like Tyla and Nipsey Hussle, along with legendary acts Outkast and Jimi Hendrix, the latest collection is a symbol of unfettered expression. To personify these sentiments, Walmart enlisted NYC-based creatives Caitlyn Martinez and Rich Fazo to share their respective creative processes and how personal style fuels every facet of their craft.
A message this potent can’t be contained, though. In a similar fashion to the electrifying energy of the timeless musicians traveling through the airwaves of generations, Walmart traversed the streets of NYC to make sure these new-age voices were heard loud, clear, and in 4K. Orchestrating a pilgrimage that spanned over 10 miles through the Big Apple, the brand introduced the two dynamic visionaries using a souped-up moving billboard, ensuring that this bold statement wasn’t ignored. The displays inundated the city—from the industrious Hudson Yards to the bustling streets of SoHo, over the Manhattan Bridge, and into culture-rich hubs like Flatbush, turning heads and stopping traffic at every corner, further championing the power that Black artistry yields.
From the screens to the streets, the tour-de-force touched iconic New York City landmarks, ending its route in the center of it all: Times Square. If you were under a rock and missed it, fret not, the takeover extends beyond the avenues of the concrete jungle and has gone beneath the surface—underground, to be exact. The monumental campaign featuring Fazo and Martinez emblazons the displays of Brooklyn’s busiest subway stations, appearing on over thirty digital screens.
More than just a t-shirt, Walmart’s specialty collection is an ode to a community that has been overlooked and silenced for decades—and serves as an unofficial call to action for the next generation of creatives to raise their voices even louder.
Click here to discover the collection of band tees and a curated selection of Black-founded products.
