We’re big fans of local designer Whitney Manney, who graced the cover of our Makers issue in November. Now, her work is going to be seen by a national audience.
Back in September, Whitney Manney sent garments and accessories to the costume department for characters on the new Peacock original series Bel-Air, which is a gritty dramatic reboot of the goofy 90s Fresh Prince sitcom starring Will Smith. She just got word that her designs will indeed be featured in the series, which will premier this Sunday, February 13, after the Super Bowl.
Manney was connected to the new show through its creator Morgan Cooper, who is also a Kansas City native. The project started as a DIY short and captured the imagination of not only fans, getting 7 million views, but also of Hollywood—Will Smith’s production company called just twelve hours after it was uploaded.
“This has been a dream opportunity to even have my work be considered to be a part of costuming for a network [show],” Manney says.
Manney’s clothing translates street art and cultural movements into wearable art. Her work is heavily inspired by the stories and cultural shifts of our time and often mixes bold hues, textures and patterns in fresh and innovative ways.
This is the first time Manney’s designs will be featured on television, but we don’t anticipate it being the last.