Today we’d like to introduce you to Tori Nichel.
Hi Tori Nichel, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m the Founder and CEO of Maison Black. I launched Maison Black in October 2021 garnering press from Vogue, WWD and Washington Post for being a catalyst for change in the fashion industry. As Founder of Maison Black and an accomplished womenswear contemporary/luxury designer, I’ve made a lifetime commitment to create equitable opportunities for Black designers. Maison Black was created on intentionality with a creative solution to solve for the findability of Black-designed products. Who better to create such space me, a black womenswear designer with 25 years of experience in the contemporary and luxury markets, successfully leading celebrity and multi-million and billion-dollar brands across the country. In addition, I led my own namesake contemporary brand Tori Nichel so I know what it feels like to not have access to financial resources as an entrepreneur and small business owner as well as a corporate design leader although I’ve been recognized by WWD, FORBES and ELLE as a “Designer to Watch,” with the Tori Nichel collection.
Armed with two fashion degrees, one from the renowned Fashion Institute of Technology where I specialized in evening wear and tailoring and the other from Michigan State University, degree in Fashion & Textile Design. I erupted from college with a vision to run my own design company.
In one year, I was able to scale my vision for Maison Black’s in pop-up activations across the country in key metropolitan cities, New York, Detroit and Los Angeles partnering with companies such as Shinola, GSTQ, Beverly Center, Boys & Girls Clubs and LVMH. In addition, we launched the Maison Black Foundation. With the incredible support and partnership of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, we also launched our Mentorship Program last fall that recently ended with a spectacular NYFW runway presentation at LVMH Towers in NYC. The Maison Black Foundation is a 501c.3 non-profit organizations. Our foundation is a launchpad to prepare and equip the future generation of Black creatives with the required skillsets in design innovation, advanced technology and business.
Maison Black has become nationally recognized for being the destination for discovery of Black designers, advocating and creating opportunities for Black designers to gain exposure and expand their retail footprint with revenue-generating immersive shopping experiences.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Obstacles and challenges Maison Black faces is funding. Women now lead the nation in entrepreneurship yet Black women have access to less than 3% of the funding resources available in the country. That’s truly the biggest obstacle.
What’s next for Maison Black?
You can look out for more Maison Black pop-up across the country, NYFW presentations and scaling of our Maison Black Foundation mentorship program.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
– Light Watkins, The Light Show
– Pep Talk App
– The Four Agreements (book)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.maisonblack.shop
- Instagram: @maisonblacknewyork
- Facebook: @maisonblacknewyork
- Linkedin: @maisonblacknewyork
Image Credits
Main Photo: Real To Reel Productions Silk Organza Jogger Set,
Yellow Suit – Designer Isaiah Hemmingway Camel
White Look – Omar Jermaine, WRAITH
Black Suit – Designer Dreu Beckemberg
