CB2 just launched a new collection of home decor pieces designed exclusively by Black artists and designers from around the globe called “Black in Design Collective.” This collective features 10 rising designers brought together to be mentored by Evan Jerry, the designer and artist behind many CB2 statement-makers, according to an official press release by CB2.

“Our industry is evolving, and it’s important for us to be a part of that conversation and change. We feel the collective is not only a meaningful step for the brand but also retail at scale,” CB2 President Ryan Turf said in the release. “CB2 is privileged to have the participation of several talented designers who are not only representative of accomplished Black figures in design but also of celebrated leaders within the industry as a whole.”

About the Designers

The designers selected for this collection span the entire Black diaspora from France to Nigeria and all the way to the Americas. Jerry remains an advocate for pushing for Black storytelling in home decor and design even through his own brand, ANANSI Studios.

“The pieces throughout the Collective take an avant-garde approach to the expected visual representations of Black interior aesthetics,” Jerry said. “This project was conceived to allow space for designers to explore and present some of the many perspectives in which people connect and identify as Black through objects, something many designers never had the
opportunity to explore or express previously.”

A Closer Look at the Black in Design Collective

Here are some of the highlighted designs and the inspiration behind them according to each designer:

• Arc Bronze Velvet Bench: The bench features two seats with a center “U”-shaped structure, symbolizing unity within the Black community and the Black in Design Collective specifically. (Designed by Evan Jerry)
• Barber Upholstered Dining Chair: Designed to resemble the barbershop and salon chairs prevalent in Harlem—a chair that represents a ritual central to the Black experience—this bold dining chair design features a solid iron frame with clean, decisive angles, polished nickel finish and a channel-tufted seat. (Designed by Luam Melake)
• Cornrows Handloomed Viscose Ivory/Black Rug: Two “heads” meet in this rug designed to honor the bond between Black women and their shared pride in their hair and care for each other. (Designed by Monet Masters and Tavia Forbes of Forbes Masters)
• Meji Mirror: Meaning two in the Yoruba language of Nigeria, the “Meji” Mirror is cast entirely from brass in one piece. The silhouette of this frame draws inspiration from Nigerian cultural symbols including the Nsibidi unity symbol. (Designed by Lani Adeoye of Studio Lani)

A full look at the entire collection can be found on CB2’s website. In addition to these pieces, CB2 also recently launched another popular collection called “Best of Collection,” which consists of customers’ favorite best-selling pieces.