ATLANTA — A seat at the right table in the fashion industry can propel a designer’s career to countless levels. For many designers, it takes innovation, funding, and opportunity to succeed — a message Black designers stressed at Neiman Marcus in Lenox Square Thursday night.
Dr. Courtney A Hammonds and Dr. Dionne L. Boyd partnered with the store for a Black History Month panel.
The two designed the space as a way for creatives in the industry to learn from those Black designers who’ve found success in high fashion.
Panelists included designers Derron Cherry, Jody Davis, and Elle Stovall. Jamie Tankersley, the Vice President and General Manager of Neiman Marcus Atlanta, also sat on the panel.
The panel concluded with a Q&A session where those in attendance asked the panel about their creative process, how the culture influences their work, how to get funding for their collections, and how to get their pieces in stores like Nieman Marcus.
Cherry said resilience is choosing to not recognize failure as a lack of success.
“I had to change that rhetoric and that verbiage, because often times what you tell yourself is what you believe,” said Cherry.
Dr. Hammonds told 11Alive he and Dr. Boyd are no strangers to the very story where they hosted this panel.
“It was a full circle moment. Dr. Boyd and myself, we both worked here, from sales associates to now industry leaders. It’s important for people that are coming behind us…even before us, to know that possibilities still exist,” he said.
A big part of the night was a call to action. On Saturday, Feb. 24, from 12 p.m. to 4p.m., Neiman Marcus at Lenox Square will host a shopping experience featuring designs from the panelists.
11Alive asked Dr. Hammonds for his top 10 Black fashion designers to learn more about and support. Here’s his list:
- Rodrick Gilchrist - Known for his work in fashion, including his own Gilchrist designs.
- India Starke - A fashion designer and visual artist known for advocating for diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry.
- Myriam Belasse- A 30’ year veteran and visual artist celebrated for her work capturing sustainable clothing and designs.
- Aurora James - Founder of Brother Vellies, a sustainable fashion brand known for its handmade shoes and accessories.
- Tiffany Jones - Founder of Rebellious Soul, a genderless fashion brand known for its iconic designs.
- Mimi Plange - A fashion designer known for her luxurious womenswear collections inspired by her Ghanaian heritage.
- LaQuan Smith - A fashion designer recognized for his glamorous and edgy designs worn by celebrities worldwide.
- Kerby Jean-Raymond - Founder of Pyer Moss, a fashion label known for its socially conscious designs and activism.
- Muse by Monet - A fashion designer known for her vibrant and empowering designs.
- Casey Bernard - A designer, known for his interdisciplinary work exploring themes of innovation, identity, and the future of fashion.