It wasn’t too long ago that renowned shoe designer George Sully launched Black Designers of Canada (BDC), the first-ever interactive index of Black Canadian designers.
Now, just months after the BDC started bringing Black designers to the forefront of Canada’s fashion industry, Sully announced the non-profit organization’s Inaugural Black Designer Award of Excellence: an acknowledgment of the struggles of Black Designers of Canada and the strength, motivation and commitment it takes to overcome them.
A close-up of the Inaugural Black Designer Award of Excellence
“There is a commonality shared by all recipients of this award often having to work twice as hard for less than what’s been offered to others. It has invigorated the community to do better and stand out as unique designers – that builds excellence,” said Sully. “Any Black Canadian designer who has survived designing in the face of these obstacles, including systemic racism, has earned a level of recognition that this Award exemplifies.”
The beautifully hand-crafted award honours the “never-give-up” attitude and relentless enthusiasm that Black Canadian designers have demonstrated through their work, according to the BDC. It will be issued on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021.
Help us celebrate the honourees virtually during Black History Month by using the hashtag #BDCExcellenceAwards – we’re just as excited as you are to see who the winners are!
