For the last 17 years, Afropunk has been both a safe space and an outlet for underserved and underrepresented black artists of all kinds.
And now, they are teaming up with popular, multinational e-commerce platform, Shopify, to further support the community and their artistic contributions with the Black Fashion Accelerator Program.
The 6-month long program will give 9 fashion entrepreneurs the opportunity to realize some of their biggest dreams by providing them with the resources to make it happen.
And we don’t mean just any resources.
Afropunk and Shopify are giving them the opportunity to develop sustainable business plans that’ll accelerate their career paths; 1:1 mentorship from other black creators who have already made incredible progress in the industry; and career-changing tools and learning materials for their respective projects.
Afropunk And Shopify Black Fashion Accelerator ’22
Unfortunately for fashion designers looking to apply for Black Fashion Accelerator for 2022, the program has already concluded, so you’ll have to catch the next round later this year.
On the flip side, the 9 fashion founders have been selected and the world will be introduced to their dope designs in a fashion show coming this June. AFROPUNK recently announced the Black Fashion Accelerator Class of 2022:
Bronté Laurent (Founder, Par Bronte Laurent): par Bronté Laurent is a luxury womenswear brand developed from sustainable dead-stock material and made in Ghana.
Archie Clay III & Tajh Crutch (Founders, WEAR BRIMS): Wear Brims specializes in crafting luxury hats and accessories that promote self-love and self-confidence.
Corin Lindsay (Founder, CORIN DEMARCO): Corin Demarco provides Historically Black College and Universities with stylish, high-quality apparel to fit their individual needs.
Sophia Danner-Okotie (Founder, BESIDA): Besida uses African textiles and motifs to create sustainable craft garments that boldly and proudly represents African heritage.
Paakow Essandoh (Founder, MIZIZI): Mizizi is an African athleisure brand that connects heritage and ancestral roots with forward movement in mind, body, and cultural progress.
Melissa A. Mitchell (Founder, ABEILLE CREATIONS): Abeille Creations combines athleisure, home decor, and fine art by creating wearable art from their fashion house.
Sylvester Ndhlovu (Founder, RUVAAFRICWEAR): RuvaAfricWear reimagines the idea of everyday clothing that rejecting eurocentric fashion ideals and embracing African cultures.
Jelisa Smith (Founder, House Of Fleek): House of Fleek is a ready-to-wear fashion brand that offers boldly-designed, inclusive outfits that look good on all shapes and sizes.
Valerie Blaise (Founder, VAVVOUNE): Vavvoune offers up luxury handbags and other leather goods inspired by the different moods, cultures, and nostalgic moments of NYC.
Afropunk and Shopify have done an incredible job of expanding the platform for 9 incredible black designers and we hope to see them do the same for others in the future.
