No Man Walks Alone mentoring program for new Black designers and Black-owned brands

Through our own experience, readings, and discussions with aspiring and established Black professionals in fashion, we have come to better realize that Black designers and Black-owned brands are not simply under-represented in fashion, but that their path to success is often littered with more obstacles than their non-Black peers, from admission to schools, to finding jobs or internships, to receiving support and funding for their ventures.

The reasons are deep, complex and numerous, from rooted traditions to implicit bias to social hurdles or simply exclusionary or racist policies. While our work through the Mentoring Program will not solve these issues or end racism in fashion or elsewhere, we aim to join in a progressive effort to increase diversity in our industry and make it more inclusive of Black designers and fashion entrepreneurs, specifically by providing them with the advice, support and access that they may want to advance their project. No Man Walks Alone is seeking Black designers and fashion entrepreneurs as candidates for its newly created Mentoring Program.

We have gathered together a panel of industry experts and insiders spanning menswear and womenswear, from Design and Production to Sourcing, Merchandising, Sales, and Studio Management to PR and Editorial Photography.

WHAT THE PROGRAM DOES:

• Assist Black designers and Black-owned brands by creating a network of guidance, advice and access that will empower them to succeed
• Provide professional advice and continuing guidance to new Black designers and Black-owned brands, either pre-launch or for existing projects
• Facilitate access to relevant information, provide feedback and act as a sounding board, as needed
• Help make relevant connections and introductions to knowledgeable industry insiders
• Offer our NYC showroom space as a place to show their work, collections or meet buyers

WHAT THE PROGRAM DOES NOT DO:

• The program does not provide any guarantees of connections or business outcomes
• While mentors will be dedicating their time to discuss and review ideas and materials, they will not be delivering work product for the mentees

SOME OF OUR MENTORS & ADVISORS:

• Niyi Okuboyejo (Post-Imperial): Design / Production / Marketing
• Antonio Ciongoli (18 East): Design / Production / Marketing
• Agyesh Madan & Nick Ragosta (stoffa): Immigrant Experience / Ethics of International Production / Sustainable Product Development
• Katie Simcox (Alexander Wang): Product development / Studio Management
• Saeed Ferguson (ALLCAPSTUDIO) :Design / Production / Marketing
• Patrick Richards:  Legal / Intellectual Property
• Greg Lellouche (founder No Man Walks Alone) : Retail/Buyer / General Business
• Chad Kramer (Instagram): Facebook and Instagram marketing
• Nadia Manjarrez (Marchesa Notte, Flor et Al)Womenswear Design / Production / Branding
• Herman Solomon (Offspring showroom): Sales / Some PR
• Haifa Wohlers Olsen: Fashion Photography / Editorial Photography
• Asher von Stein:  Merchandising / Collection Planning / Sourcing / Product Development

HOW TO APPLY:

• If the above appeals to you, please complete our application here, and we will get back to you within three business days
• If you know of someone that would be a good candidate for this program, please share this page with them
• If you have industry experience and would like to join our panel of advisors, please contact us here

More details on our commitment to support racial justice and fight inequality