Fashion house Wales Bonner has unveiled Howard Universal, a new publication that explores the rich history and culture of Howard University through an evocative blend of archival imagery and contemporary photography. Released as part of the brand’s ongoing research project Between Critique and Hope, the publication captures the essence of Howard’s legacy, celebrating generations of students, artists, and intellectuals who have shaped its identity.

Compiled with archival yearbook reprints spanning from 1947 to 2011, the book also features newly commissioned photographs taken on campus by D’Andre Williams. The project includes contributions from celebrated artist Laraaji, acclaimed cinematographer Bradford Young, and noted stylist Marcus Paul. Select writings from the late Toni Morrison—one of Howard’s most influential literary figures—further anchor the publication in the university’s intellectual lineage.

In addition to its written and visual storytelling, Howard Universal features work from a diverse group of photographers, including Brock Fetch, Kenneth Bachor, Micheal Scholis, Keni O’Neal, and Maiz Lawson, whose images collectively capture the essence of Howard’s past and present.

Designer and Wales Bonner founder Grace Wales Bonner reflects on Howard’s significance, stating, “At Howard University, I felt the presence of an impressive intellectual lineage, one I had long been drawn to from afar. Writers, artists, poets, together on the hilltop. The campus as haven, as a shining reflection of black light.”

Howard Universal is available for free on the Howard University campus at Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, as well as select libraries and archives, including the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (New York), For Keeps Books (Atlanta), Reference Point (London), and the Stuart Hall Library (London).

For those interested in Wales Bonner’s fashion collections, the brand is available for purchase at Somewhere, located in Washington, D.C.’s Union Market and Navy Yard, as well as online at somewhereofficial.com.

Designed by Pablo Jomaron, the publication stands as a testament to Howard University’s lasting cultural impact, offering a visual and literary journey through The Mecca’s past and present.

For more information, visit Wales Bonner’s Instagram.