Clothing retailer Macy’s is donating $3 million to charities chosen by BGLOs, (Black Greek Letter Organizations) colloquially referred to as the Divine Nine, in addition to creating an exclusive menswear line inspired by the fraternities’ signature colors.
According to a press release, the collection is intended to complement the collaboration Macy’s established with their sister sororities in 2022.
Elwyn Mapps, Macy’s vice president of men’s sportswear and a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., praised the collaboration.
“I am thrilled to provide members with a collection that reflects their organization’s
mission and history while empowering members to express their personal style,” Mapps said. “This assortment authentically represents each organization by featuring signature colors and speaks to their dedication to academic excellence, community service and brotherhood. Additionally, through our social purpose platform, Mission Every One, Macy’s will provide funding to a variety of foundations selected by The Divine Nine Fraternities to help create a brighter future with bold representation.”The collection has a wide variety of pieces, ranging from sport coats, neckwear, hats, and dress shirts to more casual attire such as polos
and sweaters, and a starting price of $49.99. It was created in partnership with Tayion Collection, which was founded and designed by Montee Holland, a graduate of The Workshop at Macy’s. Additional pieces will be contributed by Stacy Adams and Macy’s own private brand label, Club Room.The full catalog will be available in July 2024, according to Macy’s.
According to a press release, Sheireka Smallwood-Morgan, the Director of Retail Strategy at Macy’s, indicated that Macy’s The Workshop program is intended to foster diversity in fashion. “For nearly 15 years, The Workshop at Macy’s has leveraged the brand’s resources and retail expertise to empower and amplify underrepresented businesses, creating one of the industry’s most comprehensive vendor accelerator program,” Smallwood-Morgan said. “As part
of Mission Every One, The Workshop at Macy’s is committed to expanding representation across retail by providing this year’s cohort, as well as future classes, with best-in-class programming and resources to fuel entrepreneurial development and growth.”Since its inception in 2011, The Workshop at Macy’s has provided over 200 diverse-owned businesses with development.
Macy’s plans to donate $3 million by the end of January 2025, and indicated in the press release that to date, it has given $1.75 million to education and research foundations of the Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho sororities.
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