Teyana Taylor has never been one to blend into the background on a red carpet, but at the 2026 Billboard Women in Music event, she delivered a fashion statement that had the internet buzzing for days. The singer, dancer, and actress arrived at the Los Angeles ceremony on April 29 wearing a striking Ashi Studio Spring/Summer 2026 Haute Couture gown that featured an unexpected material woven into its design: real human hair. The look immediately sparked conversation across social media, with fans and fashion critics alike split between admiration for its artistry and surprise at its unconventional materials.
The event marked a major milestone for Taylor, who was honored with the Visionary Award at the ceremony. In true Teyana fashion, she matched the significance of the moment with a gown that blurred the lines between fashion, art, and history.
The Ashi Studio Creation: How the Hair Corset Gown Was Made
The gown, designed by Beirut-based luxury house Ashi Studio, featured a strapless ivory corset bodice that was embroidered with swirling coils of dark brown hair. The hair was curled, shaped, and secured into ornamental patterns across the corset, creating a textured, sculptural effect that appeared almost like intricate threadwork from a distance. Upon closer inspection, however, the true nature of the material became strikingly clear.
According to Harper's Bazaar, the piece was crafted using 18th-century techniques. The bodice was made from aged cloth and hand-painted for historical accuracy before the hair embroidery was applied. The voluminous skirt was crafted from layers of tulle that were also hand-painted, giving them a deliberately rusted, unraveling appearance that added to the gown's antique, timeworn aesthetic.
Perhaps most telling was the back of the dress, where a full braid was visibly woven into the corset's ties, leaving no doubt about the material used. Taylor completed the look with a long black shawl draped elegantly from one shoulder and a pair of ballet-style flat boots, grounding the dramatic ensemble with an unexpected touch of comfort and practicality.
The Victorian Mourning Tradition Behind the Hair Embroidery
While the use of hair in fashion may seem shocking to modern audiences, the design drew directly from a deeply meaningful 19th-century practice. During the Victorian era, it was common for survivors to keep locks of hair from deceased loved ones as a form of remembrance. This hair was often woven into jewelry, locked inside brooches or lockets, or incorporated into decorative wreaths and framed art pieces kept in the home.
Ashi Studio's creative director, Ashi, transformed this somber tradition into a wearable art form. Rather than using hair as a hidden keepsake, the house placed it front and center on the corset, making the memorial practice visible and bold. The swirling hair motifs on Taylor's gown echoed the ornamental patterns found in Victorian hair jewelry, reimagined for the red carpet.
This was not the first time the Victorian mourning tradition has influenced high fashion. Designers like Alexander McQueen and John Galliano have previously drawn on similar themes, using hair or hair-like embellishments in their collections. However, Ashi Studio's approach was particularly literal, using actual hair rather than synthetic substitutes, which added to both the authenticity and the shock value of the piece.
Why the Look Divided the Internet
Within hours of Taylor's appearance, social media erupted with reactions ranging from awe to discomfort. On BuzzFeed, one commenter wrote, "The idea of a hair fringe skirt just made me shudder involuntarily," while others praised the look as "pure fashion artistry." The divided response highlighted a broader conversation about the boundaries of fashion and the materials designers use to push those boundaries.
Fashion critics largely praised the gown's craftsmanship and conceptual depth. WWD noted that Taylor "led a curl-aissance" at the event, while InStyle called it one of her "most daring fashion statements to date." The discourse reflected a common tension in avant-garde fashion: work that challenges conventions often provokes strong reactions, and that tension is frequently exactly what makes it memorable.
Taylor's Ongoing Collaboration with Ashi Studio
The hair corset gown was the latest in a series of standout looks Ashi Studio has created for Taylor throughout 2026. The fashion house has dressed the star for multiple high-profile events, including the New York City premiere of Netflix's The Rip in January, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in February, and the NAACP Image Awards in March. Each look has pushed boundaries in its own way, but the Billboard Women in Music gown marked a particularly dramatic departure from traditional red carpet fare.
The partnership has proven to be a creative meeting of minds, with Taylor's willingness to take risks perfectly aligned with Ashi Studio's avant-garde aesthetic. The house, founded by designer Mohammed Ashi in 2007, has built a reputation for sculptural silhouettes, intricate handcraftsmanship, and designs that challenge conventional notions of luxury fashion.
The Visionary Award and an Unforgettable Night
The hair-embroidered gown set the tone for what would become an eventful evening for Taylor. During her acceptance speech for the Visionary Award, the teleprompter experienced a technical malfunction, forcing Taylor to deliver an impromptu address. She handled the moment with characteristic grace, speaking from the heart about her journey in the music industry. Later in the night, she revealed that she had changed into sweatpants, a move that endeared her to fans and underscored her down-to-earth personality.
How to Interpret Fashion's Hair Trend
For those inspired by Taylor's bold fashion choice but wondering how to incorporate similar elements into their own style, there are several more accessible approaches. Hair-inspired textures have appeared in mainstream fashion through pieces like fringe-trimmed jackets, feathered accessories, and textured knits that mimic the organic movement of hair. Designers have also experimented with hair-embellished accessories, such as handbags and shoes with hair-like fringe or fur-like materials.
The key to making any avant-garde trend wearable is subtlety. A hair-textured clutch, a fringe-trimmed scarf, or a piece of jewelry that references the Victorian hair tradition in a more abstract way can capture the spirit of Taylor's look without the full commitment of a couture gown. For those drawn to the historical aspect, vintage Victorian hair jewelry can still be found through antique dealers and specialized collectors, offering a direct connection to the tradition that inspired the look.
The Bottom Line: Key Points to Remember
- Teyana Taylor wore an Ashi Studio SS26 Couture gown with real hair embroidered into the corset at the 2026 Billboard Women in Music event, where she received the Visionary Award
- The hair embroidery referenced the Victorian mourning tradition of keeping locks of hair from deceased loved ones, a practice commonly seen in jewelry and keepsakes during the 19th century
- The gown was crafted using 18th-century techniques with hand-painted aged cloth and tulle, and the back of the corset featured a visible braid woven into the ties
- The look sparked divided reactions online, with many praising its artistry while others found the use of hair unsettling
- Taylor's ongoing collaboration with Ashi Studio has produced multiple memorable red carpet moments throughout 2026
