Tapestry Inc. and Kate Spade New York are the latest brands to partner with Harlem’s Fashion Row.

As part of its commitment to fostering the next generation of diverse creatives, Tapestry and Kate Spade New have entered into a three-year partnership with HFR’s annual HBCU Fashion Summit. Through this initiative, students at Bowie State University, Maryland’s oldest historically black college, will have the opportunity to engage and learn from Kate Spade and her New York executives and designers.

Historically black colleges and universities were established in the United States prior to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 primarily to serve the black community. Currently, 107 colleges nationwide are accredited as his HBCU by the U.S. Department of Education.

Launched in 2020, the HBCU Fashion Summit aims to transform arts and fashion programs in US HBCUs by providing students with industry insider expertise. This year’s edition will feature students from Bowie State University as leaders of Kate Spade, including Chief Executive Officer and President Liz Fraser, Senior Vice President of Brand Concepts and Strategy Kristin Nyman, and Senior Vice President and Head of Design. Includes a “persistent talk” to get information from. Tom Mora, Senior Vice President and Head of Design, Leather Goods and Accessories, and Chief of Tapestry, His Inclusion and Social Impact Officer, David Casey.

The theme will be “brand framework”, “concept, print, color” and “accessory design materials”. There are also a few brand-centric ones, such as “History of Kate Spade and Tapestry” and “Kate Spade Accessory Design 101”. Also scheduled is a session on “Mental Health and the Fashion Industry”.

As part of its three-year commitment to HFR, Tapestry plans to strengthen its partnerships by bringing on other leaders from its portfolio of brands, including Coach and Stuart Weitzman. Like other large conglomerates and some small businesses, Tapestry is taking steps to improve diversity, equity and inclusion. Concurrently, Tapestry sponsors Bowie State University’s Senior Capstone Fashion Show. Additionally, internship opportunities are offered to students to gain further insight and experience in the fashion industry.

In this year’s ranking by HBCUs, the top four HBCUs offering fashion programs are Delaware State University, University of the District of Columbia, Clark Atlanta University, and Pennsylvania Cheney University.

Tapestry is the latest major company to partner with HFR to provide more educational and career opportunities for young creators of color. HFR has partnered with Louis Vuitton North America to discover, mentor and showcase emerging talent of color through his program of multi-platform high-profile events and a customized pipeline. Supporting his HFR by bolstering the young talent is beneficial for fashion giants like LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, who sponsored her at HFR’s annual Style Awards earlier this month. It has been proven that there is. During that event, America’s Zone President and CEO, Lanessa Elrod, described welcoming his 75 designers as part of HFR’s Designer Retreat earlier this year, asking their tough questions and, He noted that the gathering was “the most exciting day.”

In February, Tommy Hilfiger announced new initiatives to improve industry diversity, including a partnership with HFR. Additionally, Tommy Hilfiger has another partnership with the fashion and lace database. This includes a survey of American sportswear with research topics such as denim, the cotton trade, and the origins of preppy his fashion at the HBCU.

Separately, Polo Ralph Lauren launched capsule collections earlier this year at two HBCUs, Morehouse College and Spelman College. This is an All Black campaign featuring Black creatives and schoolchildren that celebrates the history and sartorial traditions of both institutions. as a model. The initiative was not only a homage to his 1950s college style from the 1920s, but also highlighted how the influence of black college students influenced his style setting trends.