In the US today, there is a systemic and
entrenched lack of access to opportunity for
black fashion designers, retailers, and
marketing professionals.
“Black entreprenuers were three times as likely as whites to say that they needed financing in 2014 but chose not to apply for it, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of census data. When they did seek funding, just 47% of black business owners got the full amount requested from banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions, versus 76% of white.”
wall street journal
“In pursuit of the American dream, minority business owners often face an uphill battle. Often facing social and economic discrimination, the climb is tough.”
cnbc
“I do feel a responsibility to support our community, but when it comes to designers, what is challenging is their clothes are often not in the stores where I go. I have to hunt them down.”
mellody hobson, president ariel investmests – new york times
“If the fashion industry were ranked in terms of GDP, it would be the world’s seventh-largest economy.”
mckinsey.com
hue, the magazine of fit
Until now, there has not been an organization in existence that provides black fashion professionals sufficient access to higher education, capital, mentorship, the advice of business experts,
advertising opportunities and distributors.
Black Fashion World Foundation
is a game-changing 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that exists to address this problem by creating such access and shattering the barriers of lack for these fashion entrepreneurs.
BFW Foundation is designing a world where there is no lack of access to . . .
▪ Higher Education
▪ Capital
▪ Mentorship
▪ Advice of Business Experts
▪ Advertising Opportunities or
▪ Distributors
Core Values
Excellence
Creating and offering the highest quality of standards & services.
Empowerment
Providing access and support that will strengthen and enable fashion-preneurs to secure their part of the American Dream.
wisdom
Magnifying, revering and seeking out the sound application of knowledge and understanding exemplified through the “Waymakers” that established a course for fashion-preneurs to follow.
Integrity
Communicating accurate, clear and concise information from reputable sources.
Innovation
Consistently implementing creative strategies that institute progression.
Mission
Empowering black fashion entrepreneurs [“black fashion-preneurs”] by preparing them via educational, networking and opportunity events.
Educational events build the business acumen skills of fashion-preneurs.
Networking events connect fashion-preneurs to other professionals to aid in building their network for success.
Opportunity events set the stage for fashion-preneurs to launch, relaunch or “pass the fashion business torch”.
Photo credit: TCM Photography
“My fashion dream was deferred. I created Black Fashion World Foundation so the dreams of others don’t have to be.”
OUR founder
Carla Nelson
By empowering black fashion professionals, [“black fashion-preneurs”] BFW Foundation is serving an important role in society that will create an economic stimulus; unity in the black culture; investment in the welfare of others; a reduction in crime; and an overall improvement in the quality of life for “black fashion-preneurs” and the African American community as a whole. By working with and assisting “black fashion-preneurs”, BFW Foundation will create opportunities for employment, assist with business creation, and promote economic sustainability in the fashion industry.
“You gotta be able to walk
up to someone and say,
forget my sketch,
my business and
strategy is this.”
Jeff Tweedy
President and CEO
Sean John
Jeff Tweedy
President and CEO
Sean John
Photo: Daryl Tillman
Gleaning From the Masters
Through the Gleaning from the Masters program we give tribute to African American fashion industry masters. Individuals that have achieved remarkable quantitative success, yet that often go unrecognized.
The platform provides fashion-preneurs access, that they will find nowhere else, to spending an evening with these master minds to obtain wisdom that can be used to propel and sustain their businesses.