Informa Markets Fashion announced the launch of their Fashion for Change incubator programme, a new initiative aimed at reducing barrier-to-entry for talent within the Black fashion community and furthering equal opportunity across the industry. The programme, a partnership with NuORDER, with whom Informa Markets Fashion is launching their inaugural digital tradeshow today, will provide a complementary digital showroom, access to digital wholesale market tools, marketing promotion, as well as individualised mentorship to 10 up-and-coming Black-owned brands. The 10 brands selected will receive complementary access and mentorship through two full seasons of the digital tradeshow, giving them the opportunity to highlight and grow their brands over an extended period of time.
Beyond the showroom space and marketing support, perhaps the most important part of the programme is the dedicated mentorship from a leading fashion executive, a team of which has been sourced from Informa Markets Fashion for Change (IMFC) Advisory Board members – a board comprised of veteran fashion executives from the IMFC committee, NuORDER executive leadership, and other fashion executives such as Felita Harris, co-founder and CEO of ENFORM. Directly paired with an executive for one-on-one support, brands will receive consultative guidance tailored specifically to their business’s needs throughout the duration of their participation in the programme.
With the programme’s process already underway, nine of the 10 brands have already been selected and will be featured in a category-related marketplace when the event launches next week:
- London Grant at MAGIC DIGITAL is a collection of natural provisions for home and body, handcrafted in Atlanta by Founder Tiffany Staten.
- RE ONA at MAGIC DIGITAL is a Canadian designed, ethically manufactured Bangladesh women’s ready-to-wear apparel brand by Founders Christina and Philiscia Abayomi.
- SELFISH swimwear at COTERIE DIGITAL is a collection of high-quality, sustainable swimwear based in Canada, led by Designer Naomie Caron.
- HAMID HOLLOMAN at PROJECT DIGITAL is custom made men’s apparel designed by Philadelphia born Designer Hamid Holloman.
- Leimert Park Threads at PROJECT DIGITAL is a clothing brand inspired by the urban environment of South LA by Designer Ashely Sky Walker.
- ENZI at MICAM Americas DIGITAL is a collection of made-in-Ethiopia footwear by Co-Founder and Designer Jawad Braye.
- Kahume at MICAM Americas DIGITAL is a luxury line of footwear designed to match the skin tones of ALL women by Founder and Brand Director Jamela Acheampong.
- CONFIDENCE BY GaBBY Goodwin at CHILDREN’S CLUB DIGITAL is a collection of hair accessories from 11-year-old entrepreneur Gabrielle “GaBBY” Goodwin.
- Pridd New York at CHILDREN’S CLUB DIGITAL is a made-in-NYC, sustainable children’s apparel brand by Founder Sabrina Pridd.
Nancy Walsh, President of Informa Markets Fashion said, “With the Black Lives Matter movement in early June, and the resulting dialogue and introspection, we too, like many other businesses, realized we needed to do more and do better. Our aim is to better utilize our resources to amplify the creative work of emerging Black talent, while also giving these start-up brands access to more tools and opportunities, that are often inaccessible, especially during the critical early stages of business growth.” Informa Markets Fashion’s digital trade event launches today.
