From inspiration to concept
In this exclusive documentary series, Maxim Sion, fashion entrepreneur and Business Development Manager at Bleckmann, shares his experience of building a brand from the ground up – providing valuable insights into the practicalities of making your vision a reality in the fashion world. In this first episode, he reveals how his background organising club nights laid the foundation for what would become his first fashion brand.
Maxim didn’t set out with a master plan to build a fashion label; in the beginning, he was simply a student looking to make some extra cash. It all started with ‘The Good Life’, a local beach club event in Belgium that he organised with his childhood friend Nicholas. It would be the catalyst for something neither of them had expected to happen.
Press play on part one to hear about the early days of Black and Gold!
The inspiration behind Black and Gold
The idea for the brand, which sells a range of clothing and accessories, was born during a trip Maxim and Nicholas took to Mexico in 2014. Inspired by the vibrant Día de los Muertos celebrations, the duo saw an opportunity to bring some of the energy they had experienced back to the Belgian nightlife scene. Once they had returned, they decided to rename their club nights ‘Black and Gold’ and give them a distinctly Mexican theme.
During these revamped events, they began giving away custom-made skull bracelets with drink orders. Noticing how popular the bracelets were, driven in part by the growing trend for men’s accessories at the time, Maxim and Nicolas decided to start selling them through a webshop, marking Black and Gold’s first steps into the fashion world.
Check out the next episode to learn how these young entrepreneurs made the leap from events to online sales, and the early challenges they faced in building their digital presence. And, if you want to find out more about taking your fashion brand to the next level, get in contact for a free consultation with one of our experts!
