Can you talk about how you feel about the current situation where black fashion designers are still grossly underrepresented?
Despite being a driving force in the culture, Black designers make up only 7.3% of fashion designers in America. The biggest hurdle they face is funding. As most companies dismantle their DE&I departments and return to “normal” after 2020, Black designers have been under-promoted. McDonald’s USA is stepping into the ring with the launch of its Black & Positively Golden (B&PG) Change of Fashion program. This innovative initiative aims to empower and support emerging Black fashion designers, providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed and advance their careers.
The B&PG Change of Fashion program pairs five emerging Black designers with five industry experts for a year of mentorship, during which the designers will develop their own capsule collection while receiving invaluable guidance from seasoned experts.
For designer Larissa Muhleder, the opportunity to work at McDonald’s came as a surprise. A friend she met on social media encouraged her to apply, and without knowing much about the opportunity, she decided to go ahead and do it. “It just feels like a stroke of luck. You don’t question the universe. You don’t want to miss an opportunity, so I figured I have nothing to lose. If anything, it’s practice, like applying and putting myself out there.”
“I applied and it was like super static, you know? I wasn’t holding my breath or constantly checking. I was like, ‘OK, great, I got in.’ Then I got an email for an interview, and I got the interview. Then a few months later, they changed the person who contacted me again. Now I know that if that happens, it means I got in.”
Having endured disappointment in her design career, Muhleder was cautiously hopeful: “What you think will be your next big break usually ends in disappointment,” she admits, “but this opportunity with McDonald’s is amazing, and it’s just the beginning.”
In addition to mentorship, the program will provide financial support through grants totaling $200,000 provided by McDonald’s and its owner-operators. Participants will also have access to expert-led masterclasses and other resources to help them succeed in the fashion industry.
The initiative is part of McDonald’s ongoing commitment to investing in the future voices of the Black community to create a brighter future. The B&PG Change of Fashion program builds on the success of the brand’s Black & Positive Golden Change Leaders initiative, now in its third year, and demonstrates McDonald’s commitment to supporting diversity and inclusion in all areas of the business.
