IMG, Color Of Change And UPS Host Three Emerging Black Designers During New York Fashion Week

Written By Allyson Portee

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 13: Models walk the runway wearing House of Aama during the IN THE BLK ... [+] PHOTO CREDIT: ARTURO HOLMS/ GETTY IMAGES FOR IMG

With IMG’s commitment to elevate black fashion talent and In the Blk’s mission to help them get a seat at the table in the fashion industry, Third Crown, House of Aama, and Khiry are elevated today with respective shows and attention on the NYFW platform

Cregg Studio, NYC

New York Fashion week has kicked off, starting the official autumn winter 2022 ready-to-wear season of the four official fashion weeks. Even in the midst of Covid-19, New York is largely physical with celebrity sightings from Danielle Brooks, MJ Rodriguez, and Anika Noni Rose sitting front row.

If the pandemic has done one positive thing, it has jerked the world into recognizing and giving a place to the importance of diversity and inclusion, especially in the fashion industry. According to Zippia, only 7.5% of fashion designers are Black or African American in the U.S. But today, the three emerging Black designers premiered are.

Cregg Sgudio, NYC

Hosting the inaugural presentation was In the Blk, a collective that seeks to unify and build economic independence for Black individuals on the global fashion stage. On its board sits Sergio Hudson, who also presented his own AW22 collection at Spring Studios today, as well as thirty-seven other Black individuals working to foster In the BLK’s mission. Attending the event were models Chanel Iman and Richie Shazam, writer Raquel Willis, Color of Change president Rashad Robinson, NYC Mayor Eric Adams, CFDA CEO Steven Kolb, Brother Vellies and the 15 Percent Pledge designer Aurora James, and the CMO of UPS Kevin Warren.

Kathellen Aurthur, NYFW