BELLE NOIRE
Belle Noire
Translates to, "Beautiful Black."
We collaborate with Beautiful Black artists and artisans from Africa and the African Diaspora to curate and create wearable art.
Honors, Accolades & Recognition
1. Awards & Formal Honors
| Year | Honor / Recognition | Why It Matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Citi Trends Black History Makers Grant Winner | Nicole Williams / Belle Noire was selected as one of 10 national Black History Makers grant recipients. Each recipient received a $5,000 grant. | Citi Trends announcement (opens in a new tab) |
| Date to confirm | En2Action Summit Award for Paramount Business Achievement | The Golden State Valkyries’ official Violet Book of Business states that Nicole Williams received this award from En2Action. | Valkyries Violet Book (PDF) (opens in a new tab) |
2. Institutional Recognition & Business Development
| Year | Honor / Recognition | Why It Matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Golden State Valkyries — Violet Book of Business, presented by Chase | Belle Noire received a dedicated two-page business profile, including a ‘Meet the Founder: Nicole Williams’ feature. | Official Violet Book (PDF) (opens in a new tab) |
| 2023–2024 | SFHDC Client Spotlight / Success Story | San Francisco Housing Development Corporation selected Nicole Williams and Belle Noire for a dedicated client success-story profile in its annual report. | SFHDC annual report (PDF) (opens in a new tab) |
| 2023 | San Francisco Black Wallstreet / Black Millionaire Development Program Success Story | Belle Noire was profiled as a program success story, with documented business growth and development after participation. | SF Black Wallstreet report (PDF) (opens in a new tab) |
| 2023–2024 | SFHDC Minding My Black-Owned Business (MMBOB) Cohort | Nicole participated in SFHDC’s MMBOB cohort and Intermediate Retail Program, receiving mentorship, funding, and partnership opportunities. | SFHDC annual report (PDF) (opens in a new tab) |
| 2026 | JPMorganChase Coaching for Impact / American Dream Initiative | Nicole Williams and Cowrie Collective were highlighted in national coverage connected to JPMorganChase’s small-business support and American Dream Initiative. | Fortune feature (opens in a new tab) |
3. Major Media & Editorial Recognition
| Year | Honor / Recognition | Why It Matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Fortune — National Feature | Fortune featured Nicole Williams, Belle Noire, and Cowrie Collective in a national story tied to JPMorganChase’s American Dream Initiative. | Fortune (opens in a new tab) |
| 2026 | Yahoo Finance — Syndicated Fortune Coverage | Yahoo Finance distributed the Fortune story, extending the national reach of the Belle Noire / Cowrie Collective feature. | Yahoo Finance (opens in a new tab) |
| 2026 | KRON4 / Chase Entrepreneur Feature | KRON4’s sponsored Chase segment featured Nicole Williams as Belle Noire founder and Cowrie Collective member. | AOL / KRON4 syndication (opens in a new tab) |
| 2026 | Foodwise — 27 Bay Area Black-Owned Businesses | Belle Noire was selected for Foodwise’s Juneteenth business feature. | Foodwise 2026 (opens in a new tab) |
| 2025 | Foodwise — 23 Black Bay Area Entrepreneurs | Nicole Williams / Belle Noire was featured among Bay Area Black entrepreneurs highlighted for Juneteenth. | Foodwise 2025 (opens in a new tab) |
| 2024 | Foodwise — In The Black / Fillmore Feature | A substantial profile on Nicole Williams, Belle Noire, Fillmore roots, and Black entrepreneurship in San Francisco. | Foodwise profile (opens in a new tab) |
| 2024 | Foodwise — Black Women-Owned Businesses in the Bay Area | Belle Noire was selected for Foodwise’s published roundup of Black women-owned Bay Area businesses. | Foodwise roundup (opens in a new tab) |
| 2024 | Foodwise — Juneteenth on the Waterfront | Nicole Williams / Belle Noire was included among featured Black-owned craft businesses. | Foodwise Juneteenth (opens in a new tab) |
| 2022 | San Francisco Standard Feature | Nicole and Belle Noire were prominently featured in coverage of the launch of In The Black Marketplace in the Fillmore. | SF Standard (opens in a new tab) |
4. Retail, Arts & Community Recognition
| Year | Honor / Recognition | Why It Matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ongoing | In The Black — Featured Business Profile | In The Black maintains a dedicated Belle Noire founder/business profile describing Nicole Williams, the mission, and artisan work. | In The Black (opens in a new tab) |
| Ongoing | MC Arts & Culture Gallery — Artist / Business Profile | Nicole Williams / Belle Noire is listed among featured artists and entrepreneurs connected with MC Arts & Culture. | MC Arts & Culture (opens in a new tab) |
| 2026 | SFHDC Creative Economy — Featured Speaker | Nicole Williams was promoted by SFHDC as a featured entrepreneur and speaker representing Belle Noire. | SFHDC LinkedIn (opens in a new tab) |