Color of Fashion, a non-profit organization founded by visionary Black female entrepreneurs Samantha Joseph and Alicia Myers, is transforming the fashion industry by advancing inclusivity, diversity, and racial equality.

Our mission is to elevate all colors of fashion and beauty, emphasizing their crucial role in advancing racial equality. By shining a spotlight on underrepresented talents from diverse backgrounds, we challenge conventional norms and reshape perceptions of beauty and style. We create luxurious showcases that redefine standards and elevate innovation within the industry,

Together, We Are Stronger.

Marketing:  cofmarketingteam@gmail.com | Events:  cofcoevents@gmail.com | Founders:  coloroffashionco@gmail.com

SAMANTHA JOSEPH and ALICIA MYERS

Founded by Samantha Joseph and Alicia Myers, Color of Fashion was built on the belief that fashion is a powerful tool for representation, community, and opportunity.

Samantha Joseph brings a visionary creative lens shaped by both education and lived industry experience. She holds a BA in Fashion Merchandising from Columbia College Chicago and a Culinary degree from Le Cordon Bleu Chicago. After exploring multiple career paths, her unwavering passion for fashion led her back to the industry with renewed purpose. In 2020, she founded NWἉ Magazine, where she serves as CEO, creating a safe and empowering platform dedicated to amplifying Black talent. As a professional model, Samantha has been featured in Forbes, Vogue, and Lady Gunn, and has walked runways including NYFW, DFW, and CFW. Her career began behind the scenes at Chicago Fashion Week in 2012, grounding her leadership in a deep understanding of both the creative and operational sides of fashion.

Alicia Myers anchors Color of Fashion with strong business leadership and creative direction. She earned her BA in Business Management from Metropolitan State University of Denver and brings over a decade of professional experience across banking, stocks, law enforcement, and fraud. A natural relationship builder and strategist, Alicia pairs discipline with creativity. While fashion was always part of her story, she also spent years competing in basketball through grade school and college—shaping the work ethic and resilience she brings to every project. Alicia later fully immersed herself in fashion as a model, stylist, and creative director, earning features in VOGUE, Westword, Sheen Magazine, and Cosmopolitan, and working with brands such as Popsockets and Artifact Uprising. She also serves as Creative Director of NWἉ Magazine, with a clear commitment to empowerment through inclusivity.

Together, Samantha and Alicia lead Color of Fashion with intention—bridging creativity, business, and community to create space, access, and visibility for emerging and established talent alike. (Image : Sydney Foster)

CHANTEL OSTHEIMER, BRANDING DIRECTOR

Chantel Ostheimer, a Marketing Manager with a  a Master’s degree in Fashion Marketing, combines her extensive experience in K-6th grade education with her expertise in fashion marketing. With 11 years in education, she has developed strong communication and relationship-building skills that she seamlessly transferred into her roles in the fashion industry. Chantel has worked with a digital creative entrepreneur and a fashion magazine, focusing on content creation, influencer management, and social media strategy. She then transitioned into luxury hospitality as a Brand Manager, where she integrated her educational background with fashion to create high-end brand experiences. Her work includes creative direction for fashion shoots, conceiving fashion shows, and consulting for startup brands. As a key member of the Color of Fashion initiative, Chantel is dedicated to empowering diverse voices by bridging the worlds of education and fashion.

VANESSA SAMUEL, MEDIA PERSONALITY

As a media personality, fashion and lifestyle photographer, and content creator, Vanessa has over 10 years of experience working in the fashion and beauty industries between Denver and NYC. Her work includes contributions to New York Fashion Week, Denver Fashion Week, Massif Fashion Week, and the production of her own fashion shows and events in both Denver and New York City. By day, she works as an engineer, and by night, she channels her passion for fashion and beauty. From 2014 to 2019, she authored the blog  Vanessaland, exploring the intersection of engineering and fashion. Today, she continues to make her mark as a host and emcee for events across the U.S.

THE CURIO CABINET, PRESS DIRECTOR

Founded by Abby Schirmacher and Jordan McClendon, The Curio Cabinet is a female-owned digital magazine paltform dedicated to providing genuine content to readers interested in fashion, beauty, music, lifestyle, culture and more. The Denver-based team is committed t truth, accuracy, high-quality prose and building relationships with local business owners and community members. A bit of playful tone and humor is sprinkled in along the way to make The Curio Cabinet the publication to bookmark for all things Denver and beyond. Stay curios. (Image: Roxanna Carrasco)

MAIA PARISH, FOOD & BEVERAGE DIRECTOR

Maia Parish is a Denver-based sommelier, wine writer, educator, and events producer. She holds a BA in Journalism and Communications and a WSET Level 2 certification, and is the Founder of The Wine Suite LLC, a pairing-focused events company centering Black and Brown cultures, women, and LGBTQ+ communities. Her work has earned major recognition, including Event of the Year (2019) for Night in Wakanda and Sommelier of the Year (2024) from Wine and Culture Refined/Hue Society.

Maia is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier Colorado and a mentor with Batonnage Forum. Her writing appears in Food & Wine, Wine Enthusiast, VinePair, Ebony, USA Today, Somm Journal, and 5280 Magazine, and explores race, community, and food-driven storytelling. She is a frequent speaker at leading industry events nationwide. (Image: COS)