One of the most recognizable symbols associated with Denim Tears is the cotton wreath, often featured prominently on hoodies, jeans, and T-shirts. This motif is not chosen for style alone. It directly references the role of cotton in the transatlantic slave trade and the forced labor of Black Americans. By placing it at the center of his designs, Emory confronts consumers with an uncomfortable truth: much of the Western world’s wealth, including the fashion industry, was built on the exploitation of enslaved people.