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If the first quarter of 2025 is any indication of what’s ahead, let’s just say: we’re in for an incredible year! Here's what we've been up to this year so far.
We kicked off the year with bold ideas, global connections, and a whole lot of momentum. From hosting our first-ever Brand Mixers in Cape Town, Atlanta, and Bogotá, to launching a new AI-powered product optimization tool to help brands scale smarter — the first few months of the year was a season of many firsts.
February was especially big for our community. We returned to New York for not one but two incredible events. Members of our home and lifestyle community showcased at Shoppe Object, while over 30 brands were featured in our New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2025 showroom. To mark Black History Month, we proudly partnered with Nordstrom to host weekend-long pop-ups in New York City, Atlanta, and Chicago — amplifying Black-owned and -founded brands in our community.
We showed up across three continents, launched powerful new tools, and brought bold, creative energy to the global stage. We’re incredibly thankful for such a game-changing start to the year. And the best part? We’re just getting started.
The Folklore’s community came out strong at our inaugural Brand Mixers, intimate gatherings designed to bring founders, buyers, creatives, and culture-shifters together over conversation (and cocktails). Whether it was the rooftop views in Cape Town or cozy networking in Atlanta, the energy was unmatched. Proof that in person engagements are vital when it comes to making magic happen.
Bold style, big ideas, and real connections that go beyond business cards. These weren’t just events, they were declarations of what’s possible when founders are given the space to share, learn, and grow.
The Folklore marked a bold new chapter with its first official partnership with Shoppe Object, the premier home and gift trade show, as part of the Black Lives Matter Action Initiative (BLMAI). Held for the first time at Shoppe Object’s striking new home — the historic Starrett-Lehigh Building — this curatorial collaboration offered a dedicated platform for independent Black designers and makers from around the globe. Through subsidized booth space and brand amplification, the initiative underscored a shared commitment to equity, visibility, and sustainable innovation in retail.
Within this dynamic showcase, a thoughtfully curated selection of our global home and lifestyle brands took center stage. Labels such as Casa Amarosa, Vontélle, Villa Aburi, Aya and Pete, Mi Cocina, and Studio Badge transformed the showroom into a celebration of design that’s both intentional and inspired. These weren’t merely beautiful products — they were embodiments of purpose: rooted in cultural heritage, crafted through sustainable practices, and offering a forward-looking vision for modern living. It wasn’t just a moment — it was a movement, brought to life through the power of partnership and the creativity of independent global voices.
Over 30 of our member brands took over our New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2025 showroom, showcasing their latest collections for the season. From bold streetwear to elevated ready-to-wear, inclusive footwear and sustainable skincare, designers representing Africa, Asia, South America, North America, and Europe brought the kind of global energy and diversity that defines The Folklore’s creative ecosystem.
This wasn’t your typical showroom. It was a full-on celebration of global style where heritage met high fashion and sustainability. Shoppers, stylists, editors, and influencers explored collections that told powerful stories through intentional design and impeccable detail. These events create space for discovery, dialogue, and growth. Not just for the brands, but for the entire ecosystem we’re building. Because even in a digital-first world, there’s nothing more powerful than showing up and being seen.
Behind the scenes, we’ve been building smarter with AI. We rolled out our new AI-powered product optimization tool, designed to help brands enhance their listings, streamline operations, and scale faster across global retail marketplaces. It’s tech with purpose, built to fuel long-term growth for our community of creative entrepreneurs.
Because building community isn’t just about events and photo ops, it’s about creating real systems that empower success.
So here’s to Q1: a season of wins, innovation, and global connection. To our brand partners, retailers, and supporters — thank you for being part of the journey. We’re just getting started.
The Folklore is empowering brands to grow faster, save more, and sell globally through easy-to-use commerce, dropship, and shipping technology.
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