Black Design Collective launched to address inequality in fashion

'We wanted to focus on some of the needs that the black designers might have within the business world'

Kerby Jean-Raymond (right) is already a member (Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows)

The fashion industry is often criticised for a lack in diversity, but a new organisation aims to address that.

In December 2018, designers Angela Dean, Kevan Hall, T J Walker and Ruth Carter launched The Black Design Collective – a non-profit formed with the aim of combatting some of the industry’s inequality by providing black designers with mentorship and the resources they need to succeed.

“Between the four of us, we came together and just started talking about what we thought were some of the needs in the industry,” Hall says in a new interview with WWD.

He added that while he commends the efforts of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) to support black talents in the industry, there is more to be done.

“We wanted to focus on some of the needs that the black designers might have within the business world. There might be ways to strategically help them find financing, factories and resources, and really to navigate the world of fashion.”

The Black Design Collective is based in Los Angeles, California and will set up a scholarship fund to help young designers find their feet and start their career in fashion, whether it’s by launching their business right away or attending higher education.

It will also look at the possibility of creating an online and physical store to help the designers who are members sell their garments.

The organisation will also provide extensive support to members looking for jobs in the industry, helping them with interview skills and improving their CVs.

Additionally, it will host masterclasses on specific topics, such as “Navigating the Retail Landscape,” and “How to Work With Small Boutiques Versus Major Chains”.

Membership starts at $20 (£15) for a year for students and goes up to $50 (£39) for designers who have been working in the industry for five years or more.

There are currently already 40 members in the Collective, including Kerby Jean-Raymond, founder of American label Pyer Moss.

To find out more about The Black Design Collective, click here.