Last week, designer Victor Glemaud revealed what he’s been working on over the last few months. It was not a look book for a new spring 2021 collection, but instead, a look forward into a new and more inclusive future for the industry. Glemaud launched a new organization called In the Blk, which is a networking concept for Black designers and creatives around the world. Founding members include stylist Jason Rembert, designers Virgil Abloh, Carly Cushnie, Thebe Magugu, and many more, all of whom will work to provide connections and resources to Black fashion and creative businesses large and small. The idea is to break down the traditional entry barriers to the industry, those that have historically shut out BIPOC individuals as well as unknown names. The founding members meet virtually every Friday via Zoom or phone to discuss new initiatives and provide mentorship to those like designers Abrima Erwiah of Studio One Eighty Nine and Fe Noel, whose companies are still in the early stages of growth and exposure. As of now, there’s no official way to enter into In the Blk, and Glemaud, along with the other founding members, field requests and inquiries via email and DM.
The official launch of In the Blk is happening today at Paris Fashion Week, with a bold new video series that showcases the work of designers from around the world, as well as Black writers, directors, and stylists. In fact, the entire team who worked on the project, from the publicists to the producers to the back-of-house staff, is Black. Titled Film Noirs and produced by the Black-owned, New York–based creative studio Equator Productions, the series features the new collections from designers like Ashya, House of Aama, Kenneth Ize, Off-White, Stella Jean, Sergio Hudson, and more. Costume designers Ade Samuel and Memsor Kamarake led the styling of the videos, and the five directors include Ademola Falomo, Anthony Prince Leslie, Elisha Smith-Leverock, Numa Perrier, and Sean Frank.
