Farai Simoyi. From fashion designer to fashion executive, this global leader exemplifies the business of international fashion and development. Honored on the pages of FORBES and featured by Vogue, Fast Company, Newsweek, New York Magazine, and Essence Magazine for her contributions to the fashion industry, Simoyi has helped over 70 international brands successfully enter the U.S. market.

 Behind her, Simoyi has 18 years of experience designing and consulting for some of the most globally recognized celebrities with fashion brands and industry staples such as Beyonce, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Justin Timberlake, Rachel Roy, Anne Klein, and Robert Rodriguez and accrued $800 million in sales while consulting and designing for her celebrity clients. Simoyi has also accumulated esteemed awards and toured the world speaking on diverse topics such as Global Fashion Development, Sustainability, Manufacturing in Africa, and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at renowned institutions such as Tapestry Inc., Fashion Institute of Technology, West Virginia University, Yale University, U.S. Dept of State Educational & Cultural Affairs, US. Embassy of Zimbabwe, & Standard Bank Incubator of South Africa.

After exhibiting her remarkable performance in the inaugural season of Netflix's fashion design competition series, "Next in Fashion," Simoyi remains dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the industry. Through her company and retail store, The Narativ House, located in Brooklyn, NY, she provides opportunities and platforms for emerging underrepresented and international designers and artisans. Furthermore, Simoyi has collaborated with prominent entities such as W Hotels, NY NOW, WGSN, OkayAfrica, Afro Punk, Vice Media, Red Bull Media, and Refinery 29 to develop equitable and inclusive partnerships.

 In 2020, she took on the role of Program Director and Professor for Undergraduate & Graduate Fashion Design Programs at Thomas Jefferson University. Pioneering innovative approaches, Simoyi established the inaugural Diversity in Design course within a U.S. Academic Institution. This groundbreaking course explores the intersection of Fashion Design, Diversity, and Wellness, challenging students to develop designs tailored to underserved communities, including individuals with Autism, Neurodiversity, mobility challenges, and chronic illnesses. Simoyi's research underscores the transformative potential of integrating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) into Fashion Design curriculums, emphasizing how the future of the discipline thrives on the integration of DEI & STEM intersections.

 Simoyi's commitment to education, mentorship, and the cultivation of inclusive environments stands as a cornerstone for the success and well-being of individuals within the fashion industry. As she aptly puts it, 'There is no greater reward than the privilege of shaping the minds and futures of our upcoming generations.' - Farai Simoyi.

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