For the third consecutive season, UPS is participating in New York Fashion Week (NYFW) to highlight diversity within the fashion industry.
This year, UPS will showcase its commitment to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with a unique experience celebrating their influence on fashion and culture.
The “Big Motion” event will feature four emerging alumni designers and appearances by celebrity alumni and small business owners. It will culminate in an HBCU group fashion show and a networking event aimed at fostering community connections. UPS will also collaborate with fashion influencers who are HBCU alumni to emphasize the role of HBCUs in shaping culture.
UPS, the official sponsor of NYFW, launched its “Proudly Unstoppable” platform in partnership with The Martin Agency during the pandemic. This initiative provides grants to small businesses owned by people of color and supports culturally diverse communities.
To date, UPS has donated over $1.5 million in grants to diverse-owned businesses through “Proudly Unstoppable” and partnerships with NYFW and Complex Networks.
As part of this initiative, UPS granted a total of $150,000 to three designers to produce their fashion shows at NYFW: The Shows. The awarded designers are Undra Celeste New York (Howard University), The Brand Label (Virginia State University), and Chelsea Grays (North Carolina Central University).
REELated:
The events under the “Big Motion” umbrella include the runway event inspired by HBCU alumni’s determination to set and achieve ambitious goals and impact culture. Additionally, there will be an after-party hosted by La La Anthony, a collaboration between UPS and HBCU alumni-owned small business Tones Of Melanin, and NYFW: The Talks – Black Excellence in Fashion, a discussion presented by UPS focusing on representation and entrepreneurship in the fashion industry.
Furthermore, a custom UPS delivery vehicle with a design paying homage to the grant program will traverse the city during NYFW.
UPS and our friends at The Martin Agency are committed to creating meaningful connections, supporting the community, and championing diversity through their involvement in NYFW and the “Proudly Unstoppable” initiative.
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