Balmain is pleased to announce the house’s support of the mentorship program of IN THE BLK, a non-profit association of Black fashion creatives working together to shape a more inclusive future for fashion by promoting equitable growth for Black-owned brands and supporting the development of the next generation of exceptional Black talents.
Members of different Balmain teams will be working directly with Dayanne Danier, a HaitianAmerican designer and IN THE BLK member, as she explores both design and business strategies through a series of face-to-face meetings and virtual monitoring. Ms. Danier is the founder of Bien Abye, a women’s accessories brand. For her collections for Bien Abye (the name means “Well Dressed” in Haitian Creole), Danier draws upon her Creole roots, finding inspiration in Haiti’s unique architectural heritage for the patterns and designs that are sewn, beaded and hand-embroidered by Haitian artisans.
“I am extremely happy that Balmain will be supporting IN THE BLK and mentoring Ms. Danier,” notes Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing. “Of course, we all know that the fashion industry has been embarrassingly slow in pushing for the needed changes that will help create a fashion future that better reflects the beautifully diverse world where we all live. The work of the dedicated professionals behind IN THE BLK is helping us to start making up
for lost time and the association’s mentorship program is a smart way to kick-start the development of tomorrow’s Black design and business leaders.”
