Our Story

Dear Family, Friends, and Colleagues

Velvet and Wilbur began their organization BADA (Black Accessory Designers Alliance) with the objective of empowering emerging accessory designers of color by providing a platform for them to garner media attention and sell their wares. Black and minority designers typically lack the funding and business connections that usually lead to financial success.

Since BADA’s inception in 2015, we have hosted pop-up shops during each season of NY Fashion Week where members of the media, influential bloggers, and guests mingled and shopped. We were thrilled to catch the eye of the fashion industry trade magazine, Women’s Wear Daily, each time featuring BADA and its participating designers in their fashion week overview! BADA and its participating designers have also been featured prominently in the blogosphere.

To further our commitment of providing networking opportunities, we have hosted panel discussions where experts like bag designer Monica Botkier, Vintage Fashion Guru and reality series personality Jonathan Bodrick, legendary Harlem boutique owner Princess Jenkins, celebrity wardrobe stylist Wouri Vice and fine jewelry design trailblazer Sheryl Jones have shared insight on their career struggles and victories. We are grooming a new generation of talent for fashion success as we have accepted students from NYC area high schools and colleges into our internship/mentoring program.

In order to facilitate further visibility of the community we serve, we are requesting donations to be used for our aforementioned programs and to move into a new location that will house the boutique and BADA headquarters. Now that we are working with a fiscal sponsor, your donations are tax deductible. Your donations are not only greatly appreciated, but support a worthwhile cause, too. There is no donation too small (or too large) and we also welcome anyone who would like to volunteer their time to the BADA Village.

You can click HERE to make your tax deductible donation electronically. If you’d like to know more or to sign up for our newsletter, please feel free to contact us at thebadaorg@gmail.com.

Thank you for your time and support.

Stylishly Yours,

Velvet Lattimore & Wilbur Pack, Jr.

Founders, Black Accessory Designers Alliance