PHOTOS BY KITOKO CHARGOIS AND TYLER HO

Embracing her Blackness and love for sustainable fashion, Imani Batts is offering Pittsburgh an opportunity to learn, connect and celebrate Black History Month through her upcoming show “Get Ready with Me.” 

Batts, the creator of Catherine Trendz, says the models at her show on Feb. 24 at the Velum Fermentation Center in the South Side will brilliantly empower and express the Black community with their hair and the unique inclusions of supplies from beauty stores and thrifted textiles in her fashion statements. 

“I get stuff for a beauty supply store and turn it into an outfit or clothing or article of clothing that makes something special that represents my personal hair journey and other Black women and Black men that grew up in the beauty supply store,” says Batts, currently a resident artist at Brew House Arts in the South Side.

More than that, she says her show is “a whole experience.” The event will also showcase performing arts groups who will dance, drum and read poetry to connect and showcase the many Black creators in Pittsburgh.

Batts started her career in fashion in the West Mifflin by shopping at thrift stores and reselling vintage clothing. 

“Growing up made me realize that I have to be resourceful, especially in the Black community,” Batts says. “We see something like, you know what, that’s not just one thing, we can change this one thing to 1,000 things.” It wasn’t until she was older that she recognized her resourcefulness for what else it is, sustainability. 

She faced the intimidating process of learning to use a sewing machine and started upcycling clothes. “I first started doing Adidas pants and made them into like, two pieces,” Batts says. “Blankets, bedsheets, anything I can get my hands on that I can give it a new life.”

She creates personal and relatable pieces using common Black jewelry, hair accessories and styles from local Pittsburgh beauty stores that are nostalgic to her.

Batts previously lived in Washington, D.C., and says she felt her Blackness was more embraced there than in Pittsburgh. 

“Pittsburgh opened my eyes to how far we have come, but still how much farther that we need to go,” Batts says. “Sometimes we can feel suppressed, or we feel like we have to dim our light.

“Discrimination is a big thing in the professional work environment. Some people are getting hired, fired, getting requested to cut their hair just because of their hairstyle.” 

In July, Pennsylvania legislators passed the CROWN Act, which outlaws discrimination in Pennsylvania based on hair type, hair texture or hairstyle. The CROWN Act has not been passed on a national level.

This will be Batts’ fourth Catherine Trendz fashion show. Admission is donation-based and will raise money for kids to have their hair styled for Easter at Knights Barbershop in Homestead. VIP tickets are $50.