Kutula – First Take PR

November 27, 2025November 27, 2025

AGENDA Debuts ‘Age of Power’ Collector’s Issue #4 by Kaylene Peoples, honoring cultural icons and fashion masters; dedicated to co-founder Lee L. Peoples

AGENDA-COLLECTORS-ISSUE-4-AGE-OF-POWER-COVER

For Immediate Release:

Los Angeles, CA | 11/27/2025

Featuring a cover story by Shahada Karim and runway photography by Arun Nevader, the issue unfolds through full fashion features led by Kevan Hall’s 2026 Look Book, an editorial on Epperson (Project Runway alum) and Black Design Collective’s Kutula. Cultural spotlights include Kim Novak’s art, Lisa Lu, and Lana Ogilvie, alongside explorations of Mature Runway and the influence of fashion icons Iris Apfel and Lyn Slater (Accidental Icon). Reflections on influence from Anna Wintour and Michael Feinstein align with the closing Fashion Archives tribute, honoring designers we lost too soon—from Vivienne Westwood to Giorgio Armani.

Los Angeles, CA, November 27, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ —

AGENDA announces the release of its landmark ‘Age of Power’ Collector’s Issue #4, a masterfully curated print edition exploring the evolution of influence across fashion, culture, legacy, and visionary leadership. Edited and published by Kaylene Peoples, a multi-award-winning creative known across music, publishing, and visual/editorial arts, and founder of KL Publishing Group, the issue represents her latest large-scale editorial achievement, continuing the legacy of AGENDA’s landmark editions including Issue 8 “Savage Beauty,” Issue 15 “A Mid-Summer’s Dream,” Collector’s Issue #3 “Changemakers,” and Special Edition #3 “Untraditional Bride.” Peoples was recently named among MSN’s “Top Ten Trailblazing Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2025” (Microsoft), further solidifying her position as a leader in modern media (Link).

“The Age of Power issue reflects not simply triumph or status, but the silent authority that comes from perseverance, integrity, and vision,” says Kaylene Peoples. “It is a study of creators and changemakers who did not merely rise to prominence—they defined it. This issue was built to last.” – Kaylene Peoples

The cover story, ‘Age of Power,’ is authored by Shahada Karim, AGENDA’s Beauty Editor, whose narrative direction establishes the issue’s central perspective, focusing on women over 40 who sustain high markers of health through evidence-based nutrition and consistent fitness practices. The oldest participant providing testimony is in her late 60s and in the best physical condition of her life. The stars of this feature include Shahada Karim, Marie Kazadi, Marcia Burke, Marla Adelman, Synovia Jones, and Jackie Benavente, wearing Kevan Hall gowns and Karim’s athleticwear line, Habibi Sport. Shahada Karim also writes an exclusive product review of HIKOTA, a breakthrough Japanese skincare formulation known for bio-stabilization technology and cellular renewal performance.

“Movement is essential. Nourish the body, stay active, and let the natural release of endorphins guide clarity and purpose. Your body is a gift—don’t take it for granted.” — Shahada Karim

Interviewed by Sheryl Aronson, Walk of Fame inductee Lisa Lu (THE JOY LUCK CLUB, CRAZY RICH ASIANS) reflects on her early career, including her breakout performance opposite James Stewart, and on becoming one of the first Asian actresses to secure leading roles in Hollywood. Across her seven-decade career, she has helped open doors for future generations, using her artistry to advocate for visibility and representation on screen.

“Today, at 98 years old, I embrace the star as a testament to resilience and perseverance. I am deeply honored to stand in support of the next generation of rising Asian actors, whose paths I hope will shine even brighter.” — Lisa Lu

The 2025 Collector’s Issue honors visionaries who transformed fashion through conviction, craftsmanship, and cultural influence. The closing Fashion Archives feature, “A Tribute to the Masters We Lost,” reflects on the legacies of Alber Elbaz, Thierry Mugler, Virgil Abloh, Issey Miyake, Valentin Yudashkin, Roberto Cavalli, Vivienne Westwood, and, finally, Giorgio Armani, whose quiet power and continuing refinement conclude the issue. Kevan Hall appears in an in-depth feature with an exclusive preview of his 2026 Look Book, Bloom, with full fashion reviews included inside the issue. “What unites Bloom is Hall’s unwavering control over detail and proportion. From racer dresses to embroidered gowns, every piece holds its own authority, each one infused with Mediterranean softness yet rooted in disciplined construction.” —AGENDA

The Collector’s Issue also includes an editorial review of celebrity designer and former Project Runway alum EPPERSON, whose Spring/Summer 2026 presentation, ‘The Romance of Self,’ was shown. “Harlem designer EPPERSON frames romance as self-love in his Spring/Summer 2026 collection—a poetic statement of resilience, rooted in community and rendered with ruffles, tiers, and ease.”

Additional features include Kaylene Peoples’ Fashion Talk essays, “Anna Wintour: The End of an Era” and “Silver Foxes: A New Aesthetic — Seniors Ruling the Runway,” which examine how maturity, wisdom, and presence are reclaiming the fashion conversation. These pieces explore aging not as limitation but as cultural leverage, redefining visibility and authority on the runway and beyond. The issue also highlights the influence of fashion icons Iris Apfel and Lyn Slater (Accidental Icon), whose careers exemplify longevity, independence, and style without compromise.

Additional highlights feature Ty-Ron Mayes, Fashion Whisperer columnist and Fashion Editor, whose “STYLE EVOLUTION – From Runway to Real Life” examines fashion’s transition from spectacle to personal expression. His editorial direction includes the feature on supermodel and entrepreneur Lana Ogilvie, photographed by Ezequiel de la Rosa, reflecting the evolution of influence from runway to enterprise—an embodiment of power in motion. The section is further supported by AGENDA’s Haute Off the Rack, as well as John Mayes’s photography exhibition UP CLOSE!, which explores identity through proximity, revealing how image shifts when seen without distance or pretense.

AGENDA welcomes back acclaimed photographer Arun Nevader (former live event photographer and Managing Editor of AGENDA 2007–2015), whose runway work continues to define the pacing and visual strength of fashion coverage across multiple seasons. His photography spans Paris, New York, and Vancouver Fashion Weeks, capturing collections with precision and editorial clarity. Recent highlights include mature model Erin Leigh at Paris Fashion Week walking for Sheng Tang Peony, Patrycja Plesiak, Sabokbar, and The Toé (Maison des Métallos, Paris; photography by Arun Nevader/Getty Images, September 25–26, 2024). Coverage extends to New York Fashion Week Powered by Art Hearts Fashion at The Angel Orensanz Foundation (February 6, 2025), featuring Electric Circus NYC, Bad Sisters, Mr. Triple X, Haus of Harleen, and Matilda Couture, alongside Carlos Pineda, Maribel Julcahuanca, Diana Couture, and Pia Bolte. Also featured is Chandra V’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection, Spring Blooms, photographed by Nevader at Vancouver Fashion Week. Each show is presented with full fashion analysis and designer reviews.

Curated by Debbie Lee, the Black Design Collective features include the Upcycle Denim Project 2025—presented at Art Hearts Fashion Los Angeles Spring/Summer 2026—which proved that discarded denim could become a canvas for both artistry and activism. With each stitch, pleat, and patchwork detail, designers transformed pre-loved denim into couture-level garments that tell stories of resilience, culture, and sustainability. “This project isn’t just about fashion,” says TJ Walker. “It’s about reimagining what we already have… creating beauty while honoring the craft.”

Kutula, a standout of the Collective, has dressed politicians, musicians, actors, and families and found its way onto the biggest stage in Hollywood: Marvel’s BLACK PANTHER. Yet for all the sparkle of red carpets and film premieres, Kutula’s heartbeat has always been the same. It is about family. It is about honoring roots. And it is about showing the world what Black excellence looks like when translated through fabric. This interview is insightful and deeply resonant as fans mourned the passing of Chadwick Boseman. “Fashion is not just fabric; it’s culture, identity, memory,” Myumbo said. “Chadwick helped change the imagery of what Black excellence looks like on screen. We’re proud to have played even a small part in that.”

“For Kim Novak’s appearance at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where she received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, she wore a Kevan Hall matte jersey gown with hand-painted silk organza accents by artist Ellen Forbes. The silhouette and palette reflected the season’s quiet drama,” Hall noted. “Every moment with Kim was a story.”

As discussed in the issue, Novak has spoken of turning to art not as departure, but as survival. Critics note the unguarded honesty of her work . . . so unlike the perfected screen persona of her youth. Following the loss of her husband, Robert Malloy, in 2020, she reflected, “I didn’t want to be Kim Novak, movie star. I wanted to be Kim Novak, alive.” The issue also includes artistic features on Susan Steinbarth (clay and mosaics) and Meryl Toan (oil painting), alongside a career retrospective and an interview with business leader and runway model Dr. Cindy Banton. A special exploration into generational identity is revealed through the Family Search interview.

Also featured is Wise Remedies, authored by Melanie Wise. In “Lost Anatomy: Rediscovering the Body Beyond the Visible,” Wise examines how modern medicine has increasingly disconnected from the body’s natural intelligence, referencing a time when healing was rooted in energy, balance, and generational knowledge. She notes that for centuries, practitioners of traditional herbal medicine, homeopathy, and faith or energy-based healing achieved proven results by understanding the body beyond its physical form. “Long before clinical diagnostics, true healing came from recognizing the body’s innate wisdom and treating the unseen as carefully as the visible,” says Wise.

The ‘Books to Film’ column by Zac Baldwin, examines adaptations that continue to shape cinematic culture, ranging from GONE WITH THE WIND to JAMES BOND, exploring what worked and what didn’t, unknown facts about the conversions, and great reviews of the successful books-to-movies that we all love.

Another highlight features Michael Feinstein, interviewed by Sheryl Aronson, Arting Around, who discusses his approach to songwriting and production, particularly in GERSHWIN COUNTRY. In the album, he revisits the music of George and Ira Gershwin through the voices of country artists such as Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, Brad Paisley, and Rosanne Cash. The result is not nostalgia, but transformation.

Printed in full bleed, the 200+ page volume sets a new benchmark for independent luxury press. Every spread is designed with archival standards, with a hardcover edition in development for extended distribution. More than a milestone in independent publishing, this issue holds personal significance. The Collector’s Issue also serves as a tribute to Lee L. Peoples (1940–2025), founding Executive Editor at KL Publishing Group, whose editorial structure helped shape the magazine since its transition to print in 2014. Her legacy remains permanently inscribed on the masthead.

“This issue is deeply important to me. My mother, Lee, co-founded both AGENDA and KL Publishing Group. She helped shape this magazine from the very beginning: first as copy editor, proofreader, book reviewer, and writer of the ‘Syntax Me!’ column, and later as a consultant offering invaluable guidance. Though I am deeply saddened by her passing, I’m comforted, knowing her influence lives on in every page. AGENDA would not be what it is today without her.” — Kaylene Peoples

Available now through Amazon worldwide and select retailers, the ‘Age of Power’ Collector’s Issue #4 maintains uncompromising production standards, with a hardcover adaptation currently in development.

“Power begins with meaning. Use language with purpose; speak clearly, think precisely, and let every word carry intent.” — Lee Peoples, Co-Founder of AGENDA

EDITORIAL TEAM & CONTRIBUTORS

• Kaylene Peoples – Founder, Editor-in-Chief, Creative Director, & Senior Fashion Editor & Writer
• Lee L. Peoples (1940–2025) – Co-Founder & Executive Editor
• First Take PR Photography – Front Cover Art Design and Graphics
• Ezequiel de la Rosa, Photographer – Back Cover
• Ash Gupta (Joel Wicecarver Asst.)– Lead Photographer, “Age of Power” Feature
• Shahada Karim – Journalist, Cover Story Author & Beauty Editor
• Ty-Ron Mayes – Columnist & Fashion Editor
• Arun Nevader – Runway Photography Lead
• Debbie Lee – Curator, Black Design Collective Feature
• Melanie Wise – Wellness & Cultural Contributor
• Sheryl Aronson – Columnist & Interviewer
• Zac Baldwin – Literary & Film Review Columnist

The late Lee L. Peoples, co-founder of both AGENDA and KL Publishing Group, consulted on this issue and remained a vital guiding force until her passing.

ABOUT:

KL Publishing Group, founded by multi-award-winning composer, publisher, and creative visionary Kaylene Peoples, is the parent company of AGENDA magazine, VIRTUOSO BASS, SCHMOOZE JAZZ, THE PERFORMING ARTIST, and JAZZ INFLUENCERS. As one of the first independent publishers to successfully deploy full-bleed print capabilities on Amazon, KLPG continues to redefine media innovation across fashion, culture, and music with over 22 titles in development. Peoples was named among MSN’s “Top Ten Trailblazing Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2025.”

Release written by: First Take PR

Media Contact

Sean McKenzieAGENDA Magazine1 (213) 576-9946 press@agendamag.com https://www.agendamag.com

Zac Baldwin

SOURCE AGENDA Magazine

February 28, 2023September 28, 2023

Black Design Collective Designers Make an Impact with “Images: Fashion Moments in Time” at the 54th NAACP Image Awards.

Kevan Hall, Cross Colours, Kutula, In Earnest by Byron Lars & Sheila Gray, Harbison, House of Aama, & Kenneth Nicholson show their collections at the NAACP Image Awards, honoring the glam community.

March 1, 2023 – Los Angeles, CA

On Thursday, February 23, 2023, the NAACP hosted a fashion show luncheon, presenting the newest addition to the Image Awards, honoring hairstyling, make-up, and costume design. The Black Design Collective (BDC) followed the awards and wowed the audience with their most recent collections. NAACP president, Derrick Johnson, set the tone as he spoke about art and all its forms as a significant influence on the next generation. “There’s still protest in creativity, whether it is in the roles that we choose, the scripts that we write, or directions you give when you step out on the catwalk.” He continues, “So today, I want us to honor the accomplishments of the designers and nominees, because we recognize that it is very competitive in this environment. But I also want to challenge you to go further. We are here to celebrate Black essence, and let’s be proud of what we have accomplished in our journey in this country. Johnson concludes, “The fashion show was a new addition last year, because we want to make sure we embrace all of our creativity.” —Derrick Johnson, NAACP President

Karen Boykin-Towns followed up with these sentiments. “For the first time, we are recognizing the glam community with awards and their significant impact in the industry. It is an honor to celebrate all of you, because at one time, and even still often times our features, our body shapes, our hair, and even our style are harshly criticized. Yet, those very same characteristics are inspired for whole trends. Don’t they know you can’t mimic style? We set the culture.” —Karen Boykin-Towns, Vice Chair, NAACP National Board of Directors

Last year, the NAACP reached out to Kevan Hall about showcasing Black Design Collective talent on their runway for the Image Awards, which proved to be a huge success. The show featured top talent from the rapidly growing community’s hand-picked assemblage of designers, and was appreciated by a distinguished audience of celebrities, fashionistas, and influencers. Designers came from New York, Cincinnati, and Los Angeles as they wowed the crowd. And BDC returned for this year’s NAACP Image Awards.

Fashion Designer and President & Co-Founder of Black Design Collective Kevan Hall: “We’re thrilled to partner with NAACP for its second year to shine the spotlight on our talented Black fashion designers. ‘Images: Fashion Moments in Time’ presents Black fashion throughout history—Harlem Renaissance, hip hop, Motown, and more. NAACP recognizes the importance of showcasing this illustrious group of designers and bringing them to the forefront of American fashion.”

“Black Design Collective was built on the premise that our actions do in fact speak much louder than our words. Of greater worth is both the amplification and consistency of the symbiotic voices between the Black Design Collective and the NAACP as we drive the changes that are essential to our cultural and economic empowerment. Thank you for a spectacular event, and as always, we look forward to what the future holds.” –Designer TJ Walker, Co-Founder of Black Design Collective

Each runway show had pre-taped highlights that shared inspirations of this year’s designers’ most recent collections that served as PSAs for the Black diaspora. Each collection carried with it the spirit of American Black culture and it’s varied experiences.

The Designers . . .

Harbison:

“During covid, I found a renewed sense of connection to nature. I’m opening the scope of my life in Los Angeles in a way that I hadn’t since arriving here. For Spring/Summer 2023, I wanted the feel of open space. I wanted to optimize florals, the sky, and the rainbow through these clothes. And I really feel like we did that. The great thing about Black style is that it’s understanding the empowerment that Black people experience through style, through affecting a different reality for themselves through their dressing that they may not be experiencing in society. It’s nice that the NAACP understands its importance and wants to reinforce that, even through this modern era. That’s exciting for all of us.”—Designer Charles Harbison (harbison.studio)

Images: Fashion Moments in Time — Models walk the runway wearing Harbison designs for the 54th Annual NAACP Image Awards Fashion Show

Kutula by Africana

“At Kutula, we design clothes for the international business person and the very savvy fashionista who want pieces that stand for and celebrate the tribal beauty of Africa and its authentic nature. Most of our fabrics come directly from artisans and from all over Africa. We take those fabrics that are primarily adire and mud cloths and fuse them with cottons and silks to make every garment beautiful. Collectively, we try to elevate the culture for our clients to express themselves wherever they may be going in the world that most describes this line. What we’re trying to evoke is the ‘woo too’—the very raw nature of just being pure. All the designs are authentically sourced, and are ‘lifetime’ pieces. For Black fashion, what we really see is a rise to excellence where each of us are able to express ourselves with our unique backgrounds and our perspectives. –Bo Anuluoha of Kutula by Africana (shopkutula.com)

House of Aama (A Mother/Daughter Design Team):

“Our mission is to explore the folkways of the Black experience by shining light on nuance histories and unpacking family narratives. The garments are a vehicle for the stories that we tell. Our Bloodroot Heritage collection is the storytelling narrative centered on my family’s maternal lineage coming out of Louisiana, so it’s a Creole story. In this collection (and in our brand in general), we focus on the post-fallen South where you’re going to continually see at our core, silhouettes [with] touches of that. We’re also showing SALT WATER—a collection that pays homage to the seafaring legacy and water deities that come out of West Africa, but also to the lost but not forgotten resort communities that live in the Americas, specifically Oak Bluff, Idyllwild, etc. We are an Americana brand, focusing on specific themes dealing with the West. We consider ourselves to be filling our white cities and Americana fashion with these unexplored stories coming from the Black experience that are part of the fabric of America, not just fashion, but also part of the fabric of the country.” –Designer Rebecca Henry, House of Aama (houseofaama.com)

Cross Colours (Carl Jones and TJ Walker):

“Fashion always started with our communities. If they’re not willing to wear it, to push it, to style it, to rock it, then it’s not fashion. We wanted to make the statement very clear. It’s clothing without prejudice, but this is where it starts. When we relaunched the brand six years ago, it was mostly sweatshirts and sweatpants going back to the roots. We added some newer military looks as well.” –Carl Jones, Cross Colours Co-Founder

“It became very clear to us that hip hop was the huge influence of the brand, because it is so influential in the culture. And it’s a lifestyle. Hip hop brings a lot of things to it that many people don’t even understand. It was also important that we made sure that it was represented by us. All the advertisement, all the promotion were people of color.” –TJ Walker, Cross Colours Co-Founder (crosscolours.com)

In Earnest (Byron Lars & Sheila Gray):

“In Earnest is not just our name, but it’s also our mantra.” States Sheila Gray. Byron Lars adds, “Our point of view is women’s advocacy through the product itself, because no matter the theme, we never forget about her. There’s a lot of texture, lots of strong shoulders, really feminine shapes when people had a joy in dressing and dressed up. It’s about texture and color, pattern mixing. Harlem’s like the ham hock that flavored the whole pot American style.” Gray adds, “and that’s where Black culture . . . how it all started. Lars concludes: “We work and walk around Harlem every day and feel that history, so that’s what this collection evokes. When you think about Black fashion, it is fashion seen through a Black lens. And so often, Black people have had to go without, and have had to get extra inventive. And I think that is really the crucible of what makes us so fabulous!” (inearnestofficial.com)

Kenneth Nicholson:

“Growing up in Texas, I have found that it’s difficult to find pockets of community that are inspiring. One thing [in particular] is toxic masculinity. So, to me, the fully expressed man just means having more choices and more options to express a full sense of self. For instance, the red carpet . . . for the longest time, I would really only see women embracing and enjoying different silhouettes that are in color as it relates to fashion. As I began my work, I really wanted men to be able to engage in fashion in a way that felt enriching and exciting. With this collection, “From Grandmother’s Couch,” which was about sitting on your grandmother’s couch, and from that perspective, what did you see? Maybe a beaded lamp or a printed curtain or a ratchet rug, then taking all of these collage-like elements and making them exist harmoniously. This collection did invoke Sunday dinners, another sense of Black tradition. There’s a lot of love involved. I think it’s important to continue to tell these stories. And it’s very important to continue to highlight the work of Black Americans and our contributions, not only to American creativity, but to America as a whole.” –Designer Kenneth Nicholson (kennethnicholson.us)

Kevan Hall closes the show:

“My point of view as a fashion designer is to create clothes that are classic, beautiful, and made with the finest fabrics. I create designs that evoke a wonderful feeling of exuberance and excitement for women to wear throughout her day and night that become a part of her lifestyle. Growing up in the 60s and 70s, I looked back to my beginnings in Detroit with Motown, Diana Ross and the Supremes and Martha Reeves and The Vandellas. I was inspired by the glamour of these icons dressed in sequins, feathers and dramatic silhouettes.” –Kevan Hall, Creative Director for Kevan Hall. (kevanhalldesigns.com)

The Inaugural Award-Winners:

Outstanding Costume Design (Television or Film) Ruth E. Carter – BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (Marvel Studios); Outstanding Make-up (Television or Film) Debi Young, Sandra Linn, Ngozi Olandu Young, Gina Bateman –WE OWN THIS CITY (HBO Max); Outstanding Hairstyling (Television or Film) Camille Friend –BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (Marvel Studios); and the Vanguard Award Recipient Bethann Hardison (naacpimageawards.net)

“The act of not being inclusive, no matter what your intentions, the results are the same. Starting Bethann Management is a joy that I have out in the fashion industry. Fashion is no longer just on a little tiny island that nobody knows about. Now it’s part of popular culture. Now it’s influencing young people. It’s beginning to show people what things should look like. It’s giving you the idea of what we see, how we act when it comes down to race. You never can take your foot off the gas!”—NAACP Vanguard Award Recipient Bethann Hardison (Model and activist)

In-kind Sponsor: Beauty brand Black Radiance celebrates 30 years of uplifting the inner beauty and the outer allure of women of color. (blackradiancebeauty.com)

About the Black Design Collective:

Founded in 2018, the Black Design Collective is comprised of accomplished fashion industry professionals-of-color who seek to amplify the influence of and create opportunities for the community of Black apparel and accessory designers and costume designers within the US and abroad. The BDC mission is rooted in the promotion of Scholarship, Mentorship, and Entrepreneurship within emerging generations of Black fashion design talent. Through this work, the BDC aims at ultimately fostering an independent and self-sustaining Black fashion community. (blackdesigncollective.com)

By First Take PR, Sean McKenzie