Founder of Black Designers of Canada aims at amplifying and celebrating those ignored by the industry

Designer George Sully is best known for his beautiful shoes, but in recent years, he’s embracing another title proudly: advocate.

Sully created Black Designers of Canada, back in June 2020, to highlight and amplify Black designers, who he says have been widely ignored by the industry.

“Every experience of Black designers and just Black people in general is different, but I know for myself as an individual being locked out of the system,” Sully told CityNews.

He started the platform after reflecting on his own experience first, saying although he’s caught the attention of consumers who embrace his work, there was always another hurdle around the corner and a key missing piece.

“My brand has always been successful, in a sense where consumers if they’ve had the chance to find it, they love it, they embrace it, and they buy more things. The problem is that when there’s a piece missing and the piece is the infrastructure, the piece is the system, the piece is the fashion industry.”

Sully said there is a cycle in place which allows buying companies to lock out these designers.

“If the press is not coming to us, and then our buyers are telling us they wish we had more [press] and if we did have more, they would onboard us, then it’s a perfect lock,” added Sully. “It’s happened to a lot of us, we are the best at what we do, but you don’t see us on the shelves. You see us fighting for equal press, or equal share of the industry presence.”

Sully knew he wasn’t the only designer facing roadblocks so he created a space for others who can relate, launching Black Designers of Canada.

The collective is now made up of 230 members including those in fashion, interior and graphic design whose work is now visible and easily accessible.

“I can see them all of a sudden, without having to dig for them now. If that’s not success, I don’t know what is now. I’m starting to see names I’ve never seen them before,” said Sully.

“If I’m screaming out, ‘What is going on?’ and I’m [just] one person, [then] I’m the angry Black guy. If I have over 200 people behind me saying the same thing, now we’re amplified,” said Sully.

As the group grows, an award ceremony is set to take place during Black History Month to celebrate the accomplishments of these designers in a space that acknowledges the hard work that’s helped to build the industry they’ve sometimes felt ostracized from.

“Welcome to the party, welcome to Black excellence and meeting us at the table.”

Sully says this shows the industry can no longer exclude Black designers or claim ignorance.

“I’ve gotten apologies a lot from the industry. Them saying ‘Oops, sorry, what can I do?’ and I love that.,” said Sully. “This is not anti-anything, This is bringing hammer and nails to a table that we might have not been included in but now we can come and help expand it and scale it for everybody so we could all sit down. These tables we helped build so I’m not going to bring gasoline and light it on fire.”

Sully adds that there are Canadians across the country who are looking to support Black designers and buyers have started taking notice. “I’m not surprised when my stuff is selling off the shelf and selling out at Hudson’s Bay. I’m not surprised.  And and thank you for onboarding me because it’s just showing in any industry, it makes you money.”

The Black Designers of Canada Award of Excellence is scheduled to take place on Feb. 22 virtually where 30 designers will be honoured during the ceremony.