Our Mission

Noir Fashion Week (NFW) is the leading global hub for empowering BIPOC creatives, fostering inclusive excellence in the fashion industry. Our mission is to propel BIPOC talent to unparalleled success through sustainable resources, profitable opportunities and foundational support.

Key Objectives

1. Provide global exposure and networking opportunities.

2. Offer mentorship programs, workshops and masterclasses.

3. Facilitate access to capital, grants and investments.

4. Promote cultural heritage and diversity celebration.

5. Drive innovation and creativity.

Strategic Initiatives

1. Annual Noir Fashion Week events in NYC and globally.

2. We Belong Here Global Master Class and Foundation.

3. Partnerships with industry leaders and organizations.

4. Digital platforms for networking and resource sharing.

Vision

Noir Fashion Week aims to revolutionize the fashion industry by:

1. Empowering 10,000+ BIPOC creatives within 5 years.

2. Generating $100M+ in revenue for BIPOC-owned businesses.

3. Becoming the go-to hub for diverse talent discovery.

"Empowering BIPOC Creatives. Elevating Global Fashion."

 

Meet the Founder

Nichole M. Bess, globally recognized fashion industry leader and Founder of Noir Fashion Week, began her fashion public relations career in New York with industry pioneers Russell and Kimora Lee Simons and Super Model Naomi Campbell/NC Connect. 20 years later, her work has been featured in Entrepreneur, Vogue, Italian Vogue, Forbes, CNN, Ebony, 106 & Park, CBS, and Cosmopolitan, just to name a few. She found that seeing an entrepreneur's dream come true was both fulfilling and gratifying.

In 2022, Ms. Bess changed her trajectory by creating a traveling fashion week production entitled NOIR FASHION WEEK. NFW aims to empower BIPOC designers by connecting them to sustainable resources and profitable opportunities globally for foundational success in perpetuity. The platform has hosted over 35 BIPOC designers each season in Soho, NY. Since its inception, the unprecedented start-up has gained the attention of leading global industry leaders, press and invest-mentors. NFW is set to be an industry power platform with its disruptive style of inclusion.

Ms. Bess will be launching We Belong Here Global Master Class and Foundation by Summer 24'. These initiatives will help aid in the advancement of bipoc designers budding careers through global master class intiative held in Paris, France. The Foundation will cover the areas of Higher Education, Capital and Mentorship. She is consistently implementing creative strategy that institutes progression.

 
 

Meet The CEO

Priscilla Chigariro, the newly appointed CEO of Noir Fashion Week in 2025, is an award-winning entrepreneur and visionary leader with a passion for cultural heritage and creative innovation. She founded Zimbabwe Fashion Week Trust in 2009 and serves as Chairman of the Hunhu Council of Fashion, advocating for diverse voices in the fashion industry. Named CEO GLOBAL South Africa Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016, Priscilla has also launched the Africa Art, Fashion, and Food Festivals and The Driven Group, alongside philanthropic efforts through the PC Foundation. Her leadership and commitment to social change position her to take Noir Fashion Week to new heights.