10 Years, 3,000 Creatives: the Uphill Battle for Black Talent in Italian Fashion

January 30, 2026

Michelle Francine Ngonmo, a Cameroonian-Italian entrepreneur, founded the Afrofashion Association ten years ago to address the severe underrepresentation of people of color in Italy's fashion industry. Through her organization, she has assisted 3,000 individuals of color over the past decade, with 92 now working sustainably in creative professions, though this modest number highlights how much progress remains needed. While the Black Lives Matter movement initially sparked industry attention and promises of change, corporate support has since diminished as economic challenges emerged and public focus shifted elsewhere.

Who is affected

Michelle Francine Ngonmo (founder of Afrofashion Association)
3,000 people of color who have worked with the Afrofashion Association
92 people of color currently in sustainable creative jobs
Victor Reginald Bob Abbey-Hart (Ghanaian designer)
Stella Jean and Edward Buchanan (designers who collaborated on WAMI initiative)
Black designers and creatives seeking opportunities in Italian fashion
The Italian National Fashion Chamber
Carlo Capasa (president of Milan fashion chamber)
Anna Wintour and Condé Nast
Black Carpet Award nominees
Fashion students taught by Ngonmo
African designers working with Ngonmo

What action is being taken

Ngonmo produces runway shows and mentors talent
Ngonmo teaches fashion students
Ngonmo travels regularly to Africa to work with designers
The Italian National Fashion Chamber is giving platforms to Black talents on the Milan Fashion Week calendar
Ngonmo focuses attention on companies and institutions that have remained supportive over the years
The Afrofashion Association provides visibility and behind-the-scenes support to designers of color during fashion weeks

Why it matters

This matters because Italy's influential fashion industry has historically lacked representation of people of color, despite Italy's increasingly diverse population. The underrepresentation creates barriers for talented Black designers and creatives who face discrimination in hiring and opportunities, as evidenced by Abbey-Hart's statement that candidates are sometimes "disqualified before getting to the interview room." While the Black Lives Matter movement temporarily energized diversity initiatives, the subsequent withdrawal of corporate support demonstrates that systemic change requires sustained commitment rather than performative solidarity. Ngonmo's work is significant because it provides practical pathways—mentorship, education, and visibility—for people of color to enter and succeed in an industry that has historically excluded them.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint