To understand the significance of the Denim Tears shirt, one must first understand the brand’s ethos. Denim Tears was founded in 2019 by Tremaine Emory, a visionary creative director and designer who has worked with some of the most influential names in fashion and music—including Kanye West, Frank Ocean, and Virgil Abloh. Emory, who would later become the first Black creative director at Supreme, created Denim Tears to serve as a platform to explore and express the Black experience, particularly in the United States.