I feel like this collection was made for me.
Earlier this month, several Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) designers flew to New York City to attend an event hosted by RAISEfashion, a non-profit organization dedicated to offering pro-bono advisory services, grant resources and network access to BIPOC-owned brands.
The event, hosted in partnership with A&F, was part of a preview for New York City Fashion Week. It showcased 25 designers, including our very own TyAnn Amos, Janae Harmon and Alanta Slone. These talented associates were given the opportunity to engage with media and share the concept of Vol. 28, a recurring collection designed to highlight Black culture beyond the four weeks of Black History Month.
“The overall response to the collection was optimistic to A&F Co.’s growth as a company,” the designers told us collectively during a post-event discussion. When asked about key memorable moments, they remembered a woman viewing the collection who, “looked at us and said, ‘I feel like this collection was made for me’.”
Another heartwarming moment? “Witnessing Marshall Danzy interact with young designers and provide words of encouragement.”
Our designers described the event as a special moment to be celebrated for their talent and creativity.
“It was nice to be in partnership with an organization that is fostering BIPOC designers’ growth within an industry that doesn’t always recognize them,” they said. Additionally, “It’s a great feeling to work for a company that gives us creative freedom to showcase a collection such as this. A lot of companies are not bringing their designers to spaces like this.”
Amos, Harmon and Slone hope that A&F’s partnership with RAISEfashion will encourage more companies to invest in BIPOC talent throughout all aspects of the fashion industry.
“There are so many incredible BIPOC creatives that deserve recognition and celebration,” they told us. “This partnership is a step towards amplifying those voices.”
Learn more about the Vol. 28 collection here.