Fashion
The Divine Nine Black-founded Fraternities Inspired This New Fashion Collection
Macy’s will pay tribute to The Divine Nine, historically Black-founded fraternities of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), by creating a menswear collection that honors the legacy and impact of five of the nine organizations.
The line of suit separates, neckwear, dress shirts, polos, sweaters and hats are inspired by the signature colors of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity.
The collection will retail starting at $49 and will be sold online and in select Macy’s stores beginning in July.
“As a proud member of The Divine Nine, I am thrilled to provide members with a collection that reflects their organization’s mission and history while empowering members to express their personal style,” said Elwyn Mapps, Macy’s vice president of men’s sportswear and a Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity member. “This assortment authentically represents each organization by featuring signature colors and speaks to their dedication to academic excellence, community service and brotherhood. Additionally, through our social purpose platform, Mission Every One, Macy’s will provide funding to a variety of foundations selected by The Divine Nine fraternities to help create a brighter future with bold representation.”
Mission Every One, which was launched in 2022, calls for Macy’s to invest $5 billion through 2025 on vendor and service partners, products, people and programs that foster equality, inclusiveness and sustainability.
The menswear collection complements the Sorority collection for women that launched in 2022 with The Kasper Group. The men’s line was created with Tayion Collection, a company founded and designed by Montee Holland, a graduate of The Workshop at Macy’s, an accelerator program for women, LGBTQ+, persons with disabilities and veteran-owned businesses, and S.P.U.R. Pathways, a funding program for businesses with diverse founders. Select additional pieces will be created by Stacy Adams under Macy’s private brand label, Club Room.
By the end of 2025, Macy’s will have donated $3 million to the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities. To date, the retailer has contributed $1.75 million to the education and research foundations of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority.