AFROPUNK And Shopify Present Black Fashion Exhibit In NYC
The fashion show showcases the work of fashion entrepreneurs from the first-ever black fashion accelerator program.
AFROPUNK is dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship and creative expression in marginalized communities. Created in partnership with the Build Black team at Shopify, the Black Fashion Accelerator offered an intensive program designed to help nine promising Black fashion designers nurture their talents and grow their businesses in a competitive industry. Last night, AFROPUNK and Shopify’s Build Black presented the results of the program, offering the BFA designers the chance to show off their products at Shopify SoHo in New York City.
The fashion exhibition shined a spotlight on the BFA founders, presenting a fantastic array of fits and apparel from the designers. AFROPUNK and Shopify welcomed Gitoo to host and invited Chris Bevans, Senior Creative Lead at Shopify, and BFA program mentor, Anita Asante, Head of Global Strategic Partnerships at AFROPUNK, Amena Agbaje, Program Lead, Black Entrepreneurship at Shopify (Build Black), and Monique Rodriguez, CEO at Mielle, to offer remarks before the show. The festivities also included a performance from Laya, a local R&B artist.
The Build Black x AFROPUNK Black Fashion Accelerator fashion show was further supported by Mielle, Thread Beauty, and PearNova.
About AFROPUNK
AFROPUNK is the microphone of thought and the lens of perspective.
AFROPUNK is an integrated media platform and global music festival platform giving voice to the unwritten, unwelcome, and unseen. AFROPUNK is redefining the modern multicultural experience through its mission to unleash the freedom of expression and honor the power of individuality while strengthening our community. AFROPUNK creates an anchor for its growing audience of multicultural youth through its annual music festivals, which span three continents and five cities around the globe (Brooklyn, Paris, London, Atlanta, and Johannesburg), while continually enhancing engagement and promoting conversation through content, commerce, and community.
About Shopify
Shopify is a leading provider of essential internet infrastructure for commerce, offering trusted tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business of any size. Shopify makes commerce better for everyone with a platform and services that are engineered for reliability while delivering a better shopping experience for consumers everywhere. Proudly founded in Ottawa, Shopify powers over 1.7 million businesses in more than 175 countries and is trusted by brands such as Allbirds, Gymshark, Heinz, Staples Canada, and many more. For more information, visit www.shopify.com.
About New Voices Foundation
The New Voices Foundation is a ground-breaking, community-building effort designed to create a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem for women of color. The Foundation empowers these entrepreneurs to achieve business success through leadership and skills development, access to capital, and networking opportunities, as well as other innovative leadership initiatives – at no cost to the entrepreneurs. Driven by its PACE (Purpose. Access. Capital. Expertise.) model, the New Voices Foundation invests in diverse programming – including entrepreneurial summits, accelerators, pitch competitions, coaching, master classes, and more – to advance the significant contributions of women of color entrepreneurs to our economy and society.
