The designer&rsquo;s absence&mdash;and his Instagram protest&mdash;sparked conversation about the commodification of Black art and the politics of fashion&rsquo;s biggest night.

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/best-dressed-celebrities-met-gala-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The 2025 Met Gala</a> was a celebration of &ldquo;Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,&rdquo; an ambitious theme honoring the legacy of Black fashion, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/black-dandyism-met-gala-style" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dandyism</a>, and sartorial rebellion. With Colman Domingo, A$AP Rocky, Lewis Hamilton, and Pharrell Williams serving as <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/all-the-celebrities-red-carpet-looks-met-gala-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">co-chairs</a>, and designers like <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/laquan-smith-met-gala-2025-ciara-halle-berry-dresses-interview" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LaQuan Smith</a> and Grace Wales Bonner making high-profile appearances, it seemed like the night would serve as a rightful spotlight on the culture-shaping work of Black designers. But one notable absence left fashion lovers and cultural critics alike with raised eyebrows: Telfar Clemens.
The designer, known for his radically inclusive vision and the cult-favorite <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/telfar-nyc-store-opening-free-shopping-bags-competition" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telfar shopping bag</a>, did not walk the steps of the Met this year&mdash;and he made it clear it wasn&rsquo;t due to a scheduling conflict. On the brand&rsquo;s Instagram, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/telfar-clemens-live-price-redefining-luxury-shopping-fashion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Clemens</a> posted a short video in which he introduces himself plainly on camera before saying firmly, &ldquo;I will not be attending the Met Gala.&rdquo; The rest of the video captures street protests outside the event, where activists spoke out against what they saw as hypocrisy in the Gala&rsquo;s messaging.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no Black liberation without Palestinian liberation,&rdquo; one protester said. Another added, &ldquo;They are co-opting Black gifts and our Black art.&rdquo;

Clemens&rsquo; absence&mdash;and the choice to center protest in his response&mdash;served as a pointed critique of how some events will tokenize Black creatives while failing to support true systemic change. Though the theme may have promised a celebration of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/doechii-louis-vuitton-suit-afro-met-gala-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black fashion</a>, and many were very satisfied with the night's outcome, Clemens&rsquo; video suggests he feels otherwise.&nbsp;
By refusing to participate, Clemens sparked a conversation about who gets to benefit from <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/black-dandyism-met-gala-style" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black style</a>&mdash;and at what cost.&nbsp;

Getty Images.

Why Telfar Clemens Didn't Accept His Invitation to the 2025 Met Gala

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Why Telfar Clemens Didn't Accept His Invitation to the 2025 Met Gala

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