MENTOR TEAM

This years mentor team includes a group of accomplished women of color who are passionate about their career and even more passionate about mentoring the next generation of creatives.

Danielle Williams Eke

Danielle Williams Eke is a talented and well-respected fashion designer with nearly 15 years of experience. For the last decade, she has specialized in designing extended sizes, pioneering patterns, fit and silhouettes for the plus size customer. She is an expert in all aspects of the design process and has proven success in the art of balancing creativity with growing a thriving fashion business.

Danielle currently serves as design director at 11 Honoré, the high-end e-tailer catering to women sizes 12 and above, where she spearheads design and production for the brand’s first private label line, The 11 Honoré Collection. Prior to 11 Honoré, Danielle was with plus size brand Torrid where she oversaw the design team. The designer has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Fashion Design from Miami International University of Art & Design. In 2017 she received her Master of Fine Arts Degree in Fashion from Academy of Art University where her thesis focused on Women’s Contemporary Collections.

Originally from Silver Spring, Maryland, Danielle currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband Nosa. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family and traveling. In 2018 Danielle, along with her sisters ,co-founded The Travel Tailor®, LLC which provides curated trip itineraries & stylish travel looks for their travelers with the ultimate goal of helping people travel in style.

Danielle’s love for teaching and developing young talent along with her passion to push inclusivity & diversity in the fashion industry lead her to start the Jahari Fashion Mentorship Program. The ultimate mission of the mentorship program is to connect fashion industry insiders of color with fashion students of color to enhance their professional & personal skills through individual and group mentoring sessions.

Victoria Adesanmi

Born in Silver Spring, Maryland and raised in a traditional Nigerian household, Victoria knew that she wanted to defy the traditional expectations and pursue a creative career. Victoria earned her Bachelor’s Degree in industrial design with a minor in textile technology at North Carolina State University.

Victoria launched her career as a successful color + material designer at adidas global, where she’s influenced footwear products for athletes, musicians, and artists, including Kanye West. However, in a multi-hyphenated generation, Victoria knew she wanted to extend herself into other creative pursuits: interior design, production design + creative direction.

Her years spent immersed in sportswear, fashion, and pop culture have sharpened her attention to details and trends. As a Nigerian-American whose lived in multiple cities, including Brooklyn, Portland + now Los Angeles, Victoria's aesthetic and approach to design, is influenced by her ability to understand and connect with people from all backgrounds. Whether it’s your home, retail space, or an immersive and interactive experience, Victoria creates memorable spaces that feel personal and exude good vibes.

Victoria Adesanmi believes if God created the heavens + earth, the possibilities are endless for the spaces + ideas He’ll create through her.

Nicole Sanders

Nicole Williams is a multitalented creative with a wealth of knowledge in various aspects of the industry. She has succesfully leveraged her education and experience both within product development & brand/product marketing to obsess consumer goods as well as elevate stories & opportunities for underrepresented voices.

Nicole currently serves as Brand Marketing Manager within the North America Brand Marketing function at Nike, Inc. Prior to her time at Nike, Inc. she worked for various fortune 500 companies including Reebok International + Hanesbrands, Inc. within Material Development + Color Development.

After 10 years of in-depth education + experience within supply chain + product creation, Nicole sought out to shift her focus to marketing in hopes that she might better understand why consumers resonate with both the product + the brand. Previous marketing roles and graduate programs has led her to her current marketing role at Nike, Inc..

Originally from Silver Spring, Maryland, Nicole resides in Portland, Oregon. She received her Bachelor of Science in Textile Technology from North Carolina State University. In 2019 she recieved her Master's in Integrated Marketing Communications from Georgetown University.

In her free time, she loves to work out, spend time with family, and travel! She and her sisters founded The Travel Tailor®, LLC which provides curated trip itineraries + stylish travel looks for their traveler community in hopes of spreading their love of travel around the world.

Natalie Gama

Even at a young age, Natalie Gama, a Southern California native, knew she would one day pursue a career in fashion. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Apparel Merchandising & Management from California State Polytechnic University of Pomona, she initiated her venture into the industry by way of a [then] progressive, eco-conscious company founded in Los Angeles. As a Public Relations & Marketing Associate, Natalie soon found herself assisting in the production of fashion shows for one of the industry’s most anticipated events, the bi-annual Los Angeles Fashion Week.

Dexterity in these fields found her taking on a new lead for the fashion-forward, body-positive company, Torrid, where she spent nearly a decade refining her merchandising, product development and licensing skills. Now a Senior Buyer with a reputable resume, she recognizes her greatest achievement as being a part of and contributing to the growth of a community that empowers women of all sizes.

Outside of the madness that is retail, Natalie is an avid yogi and enjoys the simple beauty of the greater outdoors.

Danielle McPherson Volk

Danielle McPherson Volk is a contemporary designer specializing in the creative direction for

fashion apparel. Trained at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Danielle applies a

fresh and innovative perspective to traditional styles. With her main love being knitwear, she

believes that the challenge to create a garment from a single length of yarn is the most

liberating experience a designer could hope for. Working with both domestic and international

manufacturers, she’s had the opportunity to design for multiple categories and brands including

Revolve, Evereve, Stitch Fix, and Anthropologie. Danielle has also designed menswear

collections for brands such as Michael Stars Man and BJD Inc. Her work can be found in major

retail stores including Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Ave, Nordstrom, Target, and Macy's.

Originally from New York City, Danielle currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband Travis.

In her free time she enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and working on her

namesake brand, DIEM by DM, a contemporary resort wear line.

Joelle Bond

Joelle Bond is a womenswear designer + illustrator based in the Bay Area with a focus on creating keepsake pieces for the wardrobe and home. Joelle earned a Master of Art in Fashion Design from Savannah College of Art and Design, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Fashion and Textile Management from North Carolina State University.

Joelle currently serves as an Associate Designer for Athleta, concepting and developing premium clothing that hybrids performance and streetwear for the active, professional woman. Previously, she held a Technical Design role for three years at Athleta, perfecting the fit of product across tops, dresses and outerwear, including pieces within the Allyson Felix capsule collection.

The designer got her start completing internships at luxury designer brands, Tracy Reese and Sid Mashburn. Within the walls of Tracy's New York Design Studio, Joelle witnessed and assisted in the magic of creating uber feminine silhouettes, color rich prints, and helping with NYFW prep, including the development of some iconic dresses donned by Michelle Obama. On the contrary, her experience at Mashburn introduced her to the pragmatism and eloquence of men's made-to-measure suits and shirting. This is where she cut her teeth in technical design, measuring and digitizing bespoke patterns for each client according to their specifications and design detail selections.

Because of her unique combination of experience, Joelle's design approach centers on functional femininity, placing an emphasis on providing solutions for women who desire their clothes to perform and last. She believes sustainability in fashion begins with thoughtful, purposeful design.

In her free time, she loves working out, reading, and traveling. She founded BRWNGRL Prints in 2020 out of a desire to provide art pieces that reflect the beauty and strength of women of color. Each print is hand-illustrated and produced in small batches to add a little magic to the spaces you love.