11 Honoré is launching a new initiative on June 17 with BIPOC designers in collaboration with Danielle Williams-Eke, the Design Director at 11 Honoré. The first two designers kicking off this initiative are LaQuan Smith and Greta Constantine.
Design Director Danielle Williams-Eke wanted to use 11 Honoré as a platform to help fellow established BIPOC designers launch into extending sizing. LaQuan Smith and Kirk Pickersgill from Greta Constantine worked with Danielle and the 11 Honoré team to perfect the sizing for several months. Says Pickersgill regarding the initiative, “it first struck me to explore extended sizing when a customer shared that the only time she felt bad about herself was when she walked into the fitting room. To me, that is a problem.”
“As Design Director for 11 Honoré, not only is it my responsibility to design for plus size women, who are often ignored in this industry, but as a Black Designer, it is important that I am a part of ushering other Black Designers into the plus space. Black designers and creatives have been overlooked and underrepresented in the fashion industry for far too long, so needless to say, this initiative is very close to my heart,” says Williams-Eke, adding, “When it comes to sizing, you are not going to get it right with the first sample – it takes time with the utmost attention to detail and measurements.”
This initiative will be an ongoing one, with new designers launching every 2 – 3 months (Romeo Hunte will be the next designer in the initiative). By creating this initiative, 11 Honoré wants to continue to amplify its voice in the fashion industry by working with brands and designers that need and/or want guidance in launching extended sizing collections.
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