Designers, collections and models will drop fresh from the prestigious London Fashion Week runway to appear at BLE next September 20-22 at the ExCel, London.
Brand Licensing Europe’s Culture & Unity catwalk show will be an unmissable showstopper during the event’s Sustainability, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Day on Thursday 22 September, with Black and LGBT+ designers, fashion, models and crew – some coming to BLE fresh from the London Fashion Week runway.
Black diversity, equality and inclusion sits at the heart of this 15-minute catwalk, taking place at 10:00 am on the final day of BLE 2022, which will feature:
- Four unique runway shows from Black Lives Matter and three incredible designers from the Black community
- Cardi B & Idris Elba’s DJ, DJ Longers, playing Afro beat and hip hop music to set the scene,
- LGBT+ dance performance
- African tribal drumming to provide a rousing finale of this black culture catwalk.
Curated in partnership with Black Lives Matter Licensing and founder Saphia Maxamed, the catwalk will bring the Fashion UK Black Lives Matter collection to life.
This runway will welcome Black community models from all sides of Black culture: some high fashion Dolce & Gabbana models, some Black British music artists and others high calibre influencers within the Black community. This show will highlight real people and what Black community really looks like.
Three designers will hit the catwalk next:
- Sibu – Sibu is a Black LGBT+ designer who has partnered with Levi’s to create value and be kind to the planet. He uses denim waste from Levi’s to create innovative fashion pieces designed with sustainability in mind. His designs will come to BLE fresh off the London Fashion Week runway where he appears on the Jaded Life Collective – Time Traveller Catwalk.
- Bunmi – Bridal and couture designer Bunmi specialises in exclusive bespoke bridal and evening wear pieces, collaborating with brides to make the dresses of their dreams.
- Anita Quansah – Anita Quansah is an award-winning runway accessories designer whose collections have appeared in Vogue and Elle, as well as at the highly acclaimed Africa Fashion exhibition currently at the V&A in London.
Backstage, the runways will be supported by high calibre creative professionals from the Black community, from specialised hair and makeup through to the performance team.
Saphia Maxamed, founder Black Lives Matter Licensing: “Set as a closer to BLE’s three-day fashion theme, The Culture & Unity runway show is the one to watch. For the first time, the licensing industry will be introduced to an effective way of delivering DE&I strategy correctly, and by that, I mean one that is authentic and not a tick box exercise or a number’s game.
Visitors can also take the opportunity to meet the Black Lives Matter Licensing team on stand #D200 to learn more about how they amplify black voices across the consumer products sector while generating revenue to benefit the black community. Founder Saphia Maxamed and other members of the team will be available for pre-arranged and drop-in meetings.
BLE is the leading European event for licensing and brand extension, taking place 20-22 September at ExCeL London and visitors can register for free online.
