For every trend found in a collection, there is a source of inspiration. Some designers may cite a trip to Paris or a desire to revisit ’90s sensibilities. But there’s always an underlying influence that hasn’t always had the respect it deserves: streetwear. Long before everyone wore leggings or wondered what sneaker trends were going to explode, a group of trend setters were championing streetwear. Of course, it should be noted that streetwear’s rise to the mainstream also dates back to black stylists, black designers and black artists who, from the 90s to the 2000s, paved the way for athleisure as we know him today.

Streetwear wouldn’t be what it is today without titans like the late Virgil Abloh, who fused high fashion and sportswear throughout his tenure as artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection and founder of ‘Off-White, and musicians like Lil Kim, who dared to don a tracksuit on the red carpet before every celebrity was spotted in Juicy Couture’s velvet ensemble. But the biggest influencers were multi-hyphenates like June Ambrose, who successfully fused music, fashion and film through more than 30 years of work. Ambrose is a legend in himself. She’s the costume designer behind iconic movies (like Stomach) and music videos (like Missy Elliott’s “The Rain” and Beyoncé’s “Black Is King”). She was named Creative Director of Puma in 2020 and has since helped launch the brand’s first-ever women’s basketball collection.

Basically, she’s one of the driving forces behind what streetwear is today, so naturally, we jumped at the chance to interview her. Ahead, you’ll hear Ambrose talk about her career, her style, and the trends she’s backing for spring.