The seven Black-owned brands taking part in our Accelerator

The Black-owned Brands Accelerator is a programme that aims to upskill small, Black-owned fashion brands looking to expand their business to major e-commerce platforms such as Zalando. We are working together with ADAN (Afro-Diasporic Academics Network) – a long-standing community partner of Zalando based in Frankfurt – that seeks to showcase and promote diversity in the business world.

Designed to support small, Black-owned fashion brands to expand onto major e-commerce platforms like Zalando, the Accelerator opened its applications in June 2024. 

Among 27 applicants, seven brands stood out for the creativity and innovation of their assortment, for their brand values and compelling storytelling. An overall strong brand identity and market potential that caught the interest and excitement of our jurors: Allie Bangura, Founder of ADAN; Lena-Sophie Röper, General Manager Designer at Zalando; Barbara Kenney Brown, co-founder of Fashion Minority Alliance; Stella Jean, fashion designer and Jean-Claude Mpassy, editor and stylist.

When sharing her excitement about some of the brand applications, Lena-Sophie Röper highlighted the highly fashionable and beautiful designs she saw, as well as well-sourced fabrics and brands that manage to combine a distinct design language with wearability. 

We’re thrilled to introduce you to the seven selected brands:

BAPTISTE is a luxury British womenswear brand that showcases bold design and handmade heritage. In limited collections, it effortlessly blends vibrant prints with deluxe natural textures. BAPTISTE’s meticulous pieces are crafted for the confident modern woman who celebrates her individuality while living her life to the fullest.

EMEKA is an innovative brand that redefines fashion through a commitment to upcycling. It transforms discarded materials into clothing with a unique story. Their approach champions a circular economy that minimises environmental impact while celebrating creativity, craftsmanship and reimagining waste into something beautiful and functional.

Emile Vidal Carr is an international womenswear brand creating highly engineered garments. Using technical principles derived from other disciplines in art and architecture, Emile Vidal Carr utilises unusual textures to create vivid experiences for their clientele.

Gravalot is an Afro-Contemporary menswear label that centres on the historical exploration of Black cultures. With the help of local artisans, they craft sharply tailored garments using modern and traditional materials. Their philosophy emphasises dignity in labour, fair pay, and sustainable practices, including efforts toward net-zero emissions. 

LarAllan is a slow-fashion accessories brand for the mid-level luxury consumer. They create covetable handbags that signal elegance without compromising quality or affordability. Their ethos involves three central commitments: function, statement, and price accessibility. LarAllan works with best-in-class artisans to deliver evening and everyday bags that start a conversation.

IMI & KIMI effortlessly blends French savoir-faire with Afro heritage and American culture. Since 2015, the brand has sought to represent their heritage and to communicate their story for the next generation. With garments that imbue history, political expression and stylish elegance, they teach the youth to be proud of where they’re from.

OMÔL believes that fashion should be bold, expressive, and above all, empowering. Statement prints, textures and eye-catching accessories are the brand’s signature. Their designs celebrate modernity, culture and Cameroonian craftsmanship. Every piece is meticulously crafted to capture the essence of femininity and individuality.

To get to know better the designers behind these inspiring brands, head to the Accelerator website or download the Lookbook here.

The Accelerator program, step by step

The participating brands will now embark on an upskilling journey, where Zalando tutors will equip them via six modules that cover brand building, onboarding requirements, building marketing presence, product assurance as well as safety, logistics, and finance operations. The programme will culminate in an in-person Pitch Day in Berlin, where the brands get the chance to showcase their assortment and business insights to Zalando buyers and in the best case secure their onboarding onto our platform.

Lena-Sophie Röper concludes: “We consider this Black-owned Brands Accelerator as a further step in bringing more equity in the fashion industry. It’s part of our strategic focus to become a partner of choice for brands that stem from underrepresented groups and enable positive change in the fashion and lifestyle industry.”