82 640
Fashion Jobs
NEWELL
sr Analyst, Treasury
Permanent · NORWALK
NEWELL
Operations Manager
Permanent · FISHERS
NEWELL
Account Manager, Rubbermaid Commercial Field Sales
Permanent · NEW ORLEANS
AMRG
Sales Supervisor - Full Time
Permanent · ORLANDO
AMRG
Sales Supervisor- Full Time
Permanent · CABAZON
AMRG
Sales Supervisor - Full Time
Permanent · WOODBURY
AMRG
Sales Supervisor - Part Time
Permanent · WOODBURY
NORDSTROM
Asset Protection - Agent - Westfarms
Permanent · FARMINGTON
NORDSTROM
Asset Protection - Agent - LA Jolla University Town Center
Permanent · SAN DIEGO
NORDSTROM
Retail Stock - Tampa Rack
Permanent · TAMPA
NORDSTROM
Asset Protection - Agent - Southlands Rack
Permanent · AURORA
NORDSTROM
Retail Stock - Glendale Fashion Center Rack
Permanent · GLENDALE
NORDSTROM
Manager - Operations - Galleria at Roseville
Permanent · ROSEVILLE
NORDSTROM
Asset Protection - Security Ambassador - Valley Fair
Permanent · SAN JOSE
NORDSTROM
Retail Stock - Northbrook Rack
Permanent · NORTHBROOK
NORDSTROM
Asset Protection - Agent - Valencia Promenade Rack
Permanent · SANTA CLARITA
NORDSTROM
Asset Protection - Agent - Pentagon Center Rack
Permanent · ARLINGTON
NORDSTROM
Asset Protection - Agent - The Gardens
Permanent · PALM BEACH GARDENS
NORDSTROM
Asset Protection - Agent - Pinole Vista Crossing Rack
Permanent · PINOLE
NORDSTROM
Asset Protection - Agent - Gateway Rack
Permanent · AUSTIN
NORDSTROM
Retail Stock - Mountain Grove Rack
Permanent · REDLANDS
TORRID
Keyholder
Permanent · DALLAS
Published
Jan 23, 2023
Reading time
3 minutes
Download
Download the article
Print
Text size

The Folklore Connect and RAISEFashion partner on a new initiative to further empower black-owned luxury brands

Published
Jan 23, 2023

Two are better than one. Together RAISEFashion and The Folklore Connect are about to elevate seventeen emerging brands by combining their missions in a new partnership. Led by Amira Rasool, The Folklore founder and CEO, and Felita Harris, founding member and executive director of RAISEfashion, the initiative enforces each organization's ultimate goal of amplifying POC brands in global fashion markets to facilitate growth for brands that previously eluded them. The project starts with an NYFW group showroom from February 9 to 12 at Shopify NY; the Soho-based shared entrepreneurial space.
 

Amira Rasool


The project launched with RAISEFashion promoted the opportunity to be selected for The Folklore Connect, a B2B marketplace where eligible brands expanded wholesale account sales activity. Following a platform demo, interested parties submitted their names, and Rasool's team chose 17.
 
Brands chosen for the six-month free membership had to meet the platform's requirements: two years in business, owned by a person of color or located in an emerging market, contemporary price point or above, actively releasing new products seasonally, and experience with distributing through D2C or B2B channels. New brands will be onboarding every six months.
 
"Most, if not all, of RAISE's brands met those requirements. We narrowed it down to our retailer mix and their needs. Several department stores and large e-commerce retailers are interested in filling out some categories," Rasool said over email. These retailers need brands prepared to produce larger volumes, deliver according to detailed guidelines, and have the ability to work together long-term, according to Rasool. "The brands selected could confidently be put in front of premium retail store partners and say they're prepared to work with you and have what you are looking for," she added.


Felita Harris


The Folklore features emerging market (Africa, South America, Asia, Caribbean...) men's and women's apparel, accessories, beauty, and homeware brands founded or co-founded by someone of diverse racial backgrounds such as Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian, and Pacific Islander. Generally, these brands have experienced geographical or racial marginalization that has prevented engaging in global wholesale trade.
 
"Our mandate has changed. We initially launched our BETA in April 2022 to service emerging African and diasporic brands. Through our period of BETA testing and research, we noticed a greater opportunity to serve a much larger community of business owners struggling with the same access to technology and opportunity," Rasool said of the Connect wholesale platform. The site launched officially in September 2022 and has successfully introduced brands to large retailers, which are anticipated to place orders for the upcoming Fall/Winter 2023 season.
 
"In the first three months, we helped one of our brands secure their first five-figure order from a prominent U.S. retailer. It was a big moment for the brand as they already had a large U.S. customer base but had not yet found a retailer in the country that could help satisfy that demand. The Folklore launched in 2018 as a retail e-commerce site.


Christie Brown, one of the selected brands

 
For their part, RAISEfashion will offer mentorship for ten brands from The Folklore Connect. Two will be selected for a RAISEfashion fellowship, which includes ongoing mentorship and financial grants. The programs are funded by corporate donations from the V.F. Foundation, the Tory Burch Foundation, private individuals, and others who support the mission. Additionally, participating corporations also provide career opportunities.
 
Brands can access a global network of advisors from North America, Africa, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Oceania and more with a wide range of expertise, including e-commerce, finance, merchandising, operations and logistics, production, sales, business development, branding, marketing, public relations, influencer outreach, and creative content strategies.
 
"RAISEfashion is expanding its global efforts to support and mentor brands in emerging markets from Africa, South America, the Caribbean, and BIPOC communities worldwide. Folklore's wholesale platform strengthens the brand experience with retailers while dismantling barriers BIPOC designers face in scaling a business," said Harris of the partnership supporting operational ecosystems of BIPOC brands. This is the first time the network has expanded its reach to BIPOC brands outside of the United States.

Copyright © 2024 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.