The key number: 15 stores, one city, one rising designer.
Project Black, the Atlanta-based contemporary label founded by designer Marcus Cole, has secured a significant wholesale expansion with Saks Fifth Avenue. The collection is now available in all 15 Saks Fifth Avenue boutique locations across the Atlanta metropolitan area, marking one of the largest local retail placements for an emerging Atlanta designer this year.
The rollout, which began quietly last week, includes the brand's signature minimalist streetwear-inspired pieces: structured outerwear, tailored trousers with relaxed fits, and accessory capsules that blend utility with understated luxury. According to Saks buying documents reviewed by Atlanta Fashion Report, the initial order represents a six-figure wholesale commitment.
Here is what we know.
The Deal Behind the Drop
Project Black launched in 2021 as a direct-to-consumer brand, selling exclusively through its own website and limited pop-ups in Atlanta's Westside Provisions District. The Saks partnership marks its first major retail account.
A Saks spokesperson confirmed the placement but declined to disclose specific sales projections. Industry sources familiar with the deal told Atlanta Fashion Report that the brand was brought to Saks' attention through the retailer's "Emerging Designer Pipeline" program, which scouts regional talent for test runs in high-traffic markets.
"Atlanta is a priority market for Saks," the spokesperson said. "Project Black represents the kind of local energy our customers are asking for — something that feels national in quality but rooted in the city's creative culture."
The 15 Atlanta locations include the flagship Phipps Plaza store, as well as Saks off-price and boutique outposts in Buckhead, Dunwoody, and Alpharetta.
What This Means for Atlanta Fashion
This is where national reporting stops and we add context.
A single designer landing in 15 stores is noteworthy. But here is why this matters beyond the press release.
First, scale. Most emerging designers debut with one or two doors per city. A 15-store regional rollout — all within the same metro — is unusual. It signals that Saks is treating Atlanta not as a secondary market but as a test bed for brand viability before potential national expansion.
Second, product fit. Project Black's aesthetic occupies a specific lane: elevated streetwear priced between $120 for accessories and $450 for outerwear. That range competes directly with direct-to-consumer brands like Aime Leon Dore and local favorites like Unknown Union. By placing Project Black in 15 stores simultaneously, Saks is betting that Atlanta's fashion consumer — sophisticated, brand-aware, and value-conscious — is ready for a homegrown alternative.
Third, signal value. Other national retailers watch what Saks does in Atlanta. If Project Black performs well over the next two quarters, expect conversations with Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, and specialty streetwear accounts.
What Comes Next
Cole told Atlanta Fashion Report that the Saks deal allows the brand to scale production and hire locally.
"We've been running lean — five people, one studio, a lot of late nights," Cole said. "This gives us breathing room. We're adding three full-time positions in Atlanta this quarter: production coordinator, logistics lead, and a community manager."
The brand also plans a series of in-store appearances at Saks Phipps Plaza throughout May and June, with styling workshops and limited-edition colorways exclusive to Atlanta locations.
We will follow up on this story in 90 days to report actual sell-through rates, reorder activity, and whether other retailers have reached out.
The Bottom Line
Project Black's 15-store Saks rollout is not just a win for one designer. It is a data point in a larger story: national retailers are increasingly looking to Atlanta as a source of both talent and consumer validation.
The original reporting on this came from Saks' own press materials and retail trade sources. What they left out is what happens next — and we will be watching.