Noir Atelier Brings Affordable Fashion House Luxury To Chicago

Noir Atelier is a new Black-owned luxury brand based in Chicago formed by two locals, Shawn Gibbs and Frankie Favre. According to Block Club Chicago, the pair launched in September 2023 by offering a python print leather vegan leather card holder priced at $129, which they say is in line with their vision to provide luxury at an affordable price point. The pair did their homework before bringing their initial design to market, studying designs from Goyard, Yves St. Laurent, and Burberry in order to gauge what design cues they needed to harness so they could create a profitable product.

Gibbs told Block Club Chicago that their designs are multigenerational and unisex by design, saying “Everyone can’t afford Louis Vuitton, but if we can give you something that’s going to make you feel good … there’s no gender in this, right? You can be a man, woman, 18 years old, you can be 60 years old. You can give this to your mom, cousin or coworker.”

Fabre indicated that of the high-end designers they studied, the one that stood out to him, and the one he most wanted to incorporate aspects of was Goyard, saying, “One of the biggest things was the colorway. A company that has inspired us in terms of having options is Goyard… We wanted people to be able to want all the colors…and then be able to accessorize that with their day-to-day.”

The pair have recently made their brand available for orders on the NTWRK marketplace, which Fabre describes as similar to the marketplace operated by QVC: “It’s the QVC of art, luxury and fashion…We’re sitting next to some of the dopest designers and artists around and here we are getting to rub elbows with that network.”

They plan to expand their offerings over the coming year and hopefully their customer base while building a community. They also plan on throwing a proper grand opening party in Chicago next year so they can gather all of their customers and supporters under one roof. They want to eventually open a store, and have floated the idea of opening one on Chicago’s West Loop. They also hope to one day establish a store in Paris, the city that inspired the collective’s name. 

Fabre and Gibbs are well aware that the moves they want to make will require them to be judicious with their finances and they are thinking ahead, even as they build out their next moves in Chicago. 

Fabre says that they want those who experience Noir Atelier to have just that, a memorable experience that hopefully keeps them returning to their website and products, as he told Block Club Chicago, “We got some dope s— happening, and that requires a lot of money. And so right now we’re being very smart financially with a lot of our decisions with the future in mind … so that way we can give people an experience.” 

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