S11 E2: You Are Fashion with Nichole M. Bess, Shaquita Garcia, and Queen Safa

WinHers United the podcast is a women empowerment platform that is based on four pillars: business, mindset, personal development, and self-care. At WinHers United we believe these four pillars are necessary to be a successful entrepreneur. During each season, bi-weekly an ah-mazing Woman of Color entrepreneur is interviewed, and tells us more about her business, mindset, personal development, and self-care journey.

Season 11, Episode 2 features Nichole M. Bess - Founder of Noir Fashion Week formerly known as New York Fashion Week Black, Shaquita Garcia - Founder of AART NYC, and Queen Safa - Founder of Safa Designs. During this compilation episode entitled “You Are Fashion”, Nichole, Shaquita, and Queen Safa talk to us about their evolution and experiences in fashion and the fashion industry. Fashion is so much more than clothes, it is life! AND, You Are Fashion!!

Listen in as Nichole talks about: 

• The origins of New York Fashion Week Black, now known as Noir Fashion Week
• The evolution of Noir Fashion Week from Season 1 to Season 2
• Having to rebrand her company and the growth opportunities that this change has presented
• The partnerships that made Noir Fashion Week Season 2 possible 
• Her desire to pave the way for those that are next in line 
• Having flexibility in what you do and how you do it 
• Launching her perfume as an addition to Noir Fashion Week
• New approaches and ideas for future seasons of Noir Fashion Week  
• And more

Nichole’s Bio

Nichole M. Bess, a born leader hailing from Baltimore, MD, began her career in fashion in New York as an intern for industry pioneers, Russell and Kimora Lee Simons. There she was able to cultivate and develop strong industry relationships through her work during New York Fashion Week. Then introduced to supermodel Naomi Campbell. Shortly thereafter, Ms. Bess began an internship with Campbell’s PR firm, NC Connect. It was there she discovered her love for public relations. Although she studied Fashion Design and Marketing at the International Academy of Design, PR came to her naturally. She worked closely with the VP of NC Connect and as a result, was afforded the opportunity to work with fashion designers Betsey Johnson, Esteban Cortazar, Rosa Cha, Diesel, Wolford and brands like Saks Fifth Avenue.

Ms. Bess’ public relations career is one that many would consider successful and glamorous. She established her own firm after just one year in the business, at the tender age of 20. She was able to travel and work on several major projects. 19 years later her work has been featured in Entrepreneur, Vogue, Italian Vogue, CNN, Ebony, 106 & Park, CBS and Cosmopolitan, just to name a few. She found that seeing a dream come true was both fulfilling and gratifying.

In 2022, Ms. Bess changed her trajectory with the participation of the bipoc designer and New York Fashion Week, and built a traveling platform entitled "Noir Fashion