It was a beautiful weekend, and while the internet is still talking about the Bottega Veneta Show or Amanda Seales from Insecure wearing Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. letters and sacred shield – we’re still on cloud nine from experiencing Maison Black.
In case you haven’t heard, Maison Black is a curated online retail experience exclusively for black-owned and designed luxury fashion brands. It’s no secret, Black designers have been innovative and creative since the beginning of time, but they’re still not getting recognition in today’s society. That is why Metro-Detroit’s very own, Tori Nichel, created a platform for uplifting established black design houses as well emerging ones from all over with their own unique style to showcase their designs!
Founder Tori Nichel has always been dedicated to her community and the success of others. She knows that through this mission, she can inspire future generations by putting themselves out there so everyone knows who these talented people really are behind some incredible pieces worn at award shows or catwalks globally across America – all while ensuring every individual’s voice is heard and style is shown in today’s ever changing world!
“I created Maison Black to build an ecosystem that fosters design excellence and creativity for Black designers. I want to create a destination for discovery where Black designed products are accessible globally,” says Tori Nichel. The want came from her questioning why black designers were not being championed? Her dream was to be able to shop her collections and her friend and colleagues collections all in one destination. She not only wants it for the community she also hopes to inspire other big retailers to do the same. She says, “a lot of times they try to just pick one of us.”
It was a night of fashion, music and creativity at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant. The runway showcase featured 6 talented designers from Metro-Detroit! And lucky for you all we have some exclusive info on what went down behind-the-scenes with Tori Nichel.
Maison Black, of course, is a home for creative minds. The best part about it? You get to enjoy the work of local designers who have lived and worked in New York City like Truth by Sharryl Cross, Kevan Hall, N’Gai by Nicole King, APOTTS (Aaron Potts), S. McGee Collection by Shawna McGee and Isaiah Hemmingway.
credit photographer |Oluwaseye Olusa.
After the runway, the designer’s held a pop up over the weekend with their featured collections at Shinola in Midtown Detroit. Potts says, “not only does Maison Black allow for a retail outlet for black creativity and entrepreneurship from individuals with proven industry experience, but it also provides a community for black creatives to help and support one another through the process of creation and selling.”
“I can help guide designers, it is about community, connectivity and being resources for one another. It’s important to have staying power and to build a legacy.” Tori Nichel went on, “what has been missing for us is the access, the equal access and opportunity. Black Designers need something to take them to the next season, how do we make sure it’s not an in and out?”
To help move her mission along, Tori Nichel created a docu-series titled “Black Behind the Brand”. Black Behind the Brand focuses on black designers that impacted household brands like Victoria Secret, Gap and more. We can’t wait for that!
Ready to Shop, now? Visit www.maisonblack.shop.
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