The Black in Fashion Council Will Spotlight 16 New Designers At NYFW
Following a successful showcase at September 2020’s New York Fashion Week, the Black in Fashion Council and IMG Models will return this season with a four-day showroom highlighting the work of 16 up-and-coming Black designers.
House of Aama, Edas, Marrisa Wilson, Third Crown, Beads Byaree, Chelsea Paris, Chuks Collins, Kendra DuPlantier, Whensmokeclears, Michel Men, Lola Ade, Nicole Benfield, Nicole Shante, Come Back as a Flower, Label by Three, and Local European will present their new collections in group showrooms from February 14 to 17. The 16-brand schedule is a super sized version of last season’s showroom, which included Kenneth Nicholson, Theophilio, A Potts, and Undra Celeste.
“I am really excited that we are expanding this partnership because it still feels like such a weird time to be creative, especially for a young designer,” said Lindsay Peoples Wagner, BIFC co-founder and editor of The Cut. “Something that I’m personally passionate about is making sure that the next generation of designers has the support and resources that they need, specifically people of color creators in the industry really getting that access to resources.”
After last season’s showroom at NYFW, Peoples Wagner and her BIFC cofounder Sandrine Charles were flooded with emails from Black designers looking for exposure; choosing the 16 that will be represented at NYFW was a collaborative effort to show the breadth of Black talent in the industry. “It’s never really about them having a certain amount of sales, winning awards, or anything like that,” Peoples Wagner said. “It is people that really have a great portfolio, a great perspective, and who are really bringing something to the table that feels like it’s breaking through the noise of what’s already out there. We also want to give this opportunity to designers who are really invested and who really care about making sure that their brand is successful and has longevity.”
The 16 brands showcased span the country, as well as categories from shoes and jewelry to ready-to-wear. “We call it a discovery showroom, and I really want it to feel like people are actually actively discovering new names and new people,” Peoples Wagner adds. “There are so many talented, young Black designers that [people in fashion] may not even know about. And so we really take this responsibility seriously. We want to make sure to give them this platform.”