Black Frame
Black Frame is a New York-based communications and creative agency founded in 2004, serving luxury fashion, art, and lifestyle brands. It operates two divisions—Black Frame for PR and Framework for creative direction and advertising—with enterprise clients including Kenzo, Nike, and Rodarte.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Black Frame does
Black Frame is a privately held, New York-based communications and creative agency founded in 2004 by Brian Phillips. Operating from Chelsea's art gallery district (530 West 25th Street) with an additional Los Angeles office, the firm specializes in brand communications, public relations, image management, creative direction, advertising, and film production for elite fashion, luxury, art, and lifestyle clients. The agency is organized into two divisions: Black Frame, which handles communications and brand image (including PR, brand consulting, influencer engagement, events, and strategic partnerships), and Framework, which handles creative direction, advertising, branded content, and film production.
The firm's core products are professional services rather than software or platforms, with no proprietary technology stack identified. Black Frame's competitive differentiation rests on Brian Phillips's personal reputation and network — recognized by New York Magazine as 'The King of Cultivating Cool' and a member of the BoF 500 since 2013 — and on access to top creative talent including directors Spike Jonze and Sean Baker, photographers Inez and Vinoodh, and cultural figures across entertainment and art.
Black Frame generates revenue through bespoke, quote-based professional services billed under retainer and project-based pricing on multi-year contracts. The go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, targeting enterprise clients across luxury fashion (Kenzo, Rodarte, Helmut Lang, Gabriela Hearst, MatchesFashion.com), sports (Nike), art (Frieze Art Fair), and entertainment. The firm has served over 100 clients across global markets including the US, UK, France, Canada, and Brazil, with notable long-tenured relationships spanning more than a decade. No revenue figures, headcount trajectory, or funding events are disclosed in available sources.
Black Frame firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Black Frame
- Legal name
- Black Frame
- Website
- https://framenoir.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Black Frame is a New York-based communications and creative agency founded in 2004, serving luxury fashion, art, and lifestyle brands. It operates two divisions—Black Frame for PR and Framework for creative direction and advertising—with enterprise clients including Kenzo, Nike, and Rodarte.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Black Frame industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Relations & Creative Agency Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Motion Brand Design (Title Design, Brand Animation) (MPAAAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Motion Graphics & Title Design (MPADACAD), Event Theming, Mood Boards & Concept Design (HSACAOAH)
Keywords
Where Black Frame is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Black Frame business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Communications & PR Services: Black Frame generates revenue through communications strategy, public relations, brand consulting, and media engagement services for fashion and lifestyle brands.
- Creative Direction & Advertising: Framework division provides creative direction, advertising, film production, branded content, and strategic brand development services, creating campaigns and brand narratives for clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom agency retainer and project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Black Frame product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Black Frame is a communications and creative agency serving elite fashion, luxury, art, and lifestyle brands. Through its Black Frame division, it delivers public relations, brand consulting, media engagement, influencer and VIP management, events, and strategic partnerships; through its Framework division, it provides creative direction, advertising, branded content, film production, and brand identity development. The two divisions work together to provide clients with end-to-end brand elevation from strategic communications to creative execution.
Product overview
Black Frame operates as a unified creative agency with two distinct but complementary divisions: Black Frame (Communications & Brand Image) and Framework (Creative Direction & Brand Strategy). Black Frame provides 360-degree communications including public relations, brand consulting, influencer engagement, and strategic partnerships, while Framework handles the creative production side including advertising campaigns, film production, branded content, and strategic brand development. The two divisions work together to offer clients comprehensive brand elevation from strategic communications to creative execution. Founded in 2004, the agency specializes in fashion, cultural, and lifestyle brands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Framework: Creative direction and advertising division of Black Frame that concepts and produces inventive content for brands, including award-winning films, visuals, and brand experiences.
Products and services
- Black Frame Communications & Brand Image Holistic communications and brand strategy service offering communications strategy, public relations, brand consulting, collaborations, events, image management, influencer engagement, media coverage, partnerships, product seeding, publicity, sponsorships, and VIP engagement for fashion, cultural, and lifestyle brands.
- Framework (Creative Direction & Brand Strategy) Creative and advertising division specializing in creative direction, advertising, branded content, casting, copywriting, film production, identity development, and print and digital campaigns; concepts and produces inventive brand content including award-winning films, visuals, and environments.
Quantifiable outcome
- Kenzo World fragrance film garnered over 10 million views and counting
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Black Frame
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Black Frame technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Black Frame partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship.
- H&MflagshipBlack Frame helped Kenzo become the first LVMH brand to secure a collaboration with H&M, creating a highly successful and unprecedented partnership between luxury and mass-market retail.
- Spike JonzeflagshipFramework secured acclaimed director Spike Jonze for Kenzo World fragrance campaign. The film became a viral sensation with 10+ million views and won multiple Cannes Lions.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Black Frame competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KCD (Karla Otto's PR arm / KCD): KCD is one of the largest global fashion and luxury PR and communications agencies. It directly competes with Black Frame's communications division for the same LVMH, Kering, and designer fashion clients, with overlapping service lines in PR, brand consulting, and event production.
- Karla Otto: Karla Otto is a leading global luxury, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle PR and communications agency with offices in NYC, London, Milan, and Paris. It is a direct competitor on the same enterprise luxury and fashion client roster that Black Frame serves.
- Purple PR: Purple is a London- and NYC-based fashion, beauty, and lifestyle PR and communications agency. It competes head-to-head with Black Frame for premium fashion and luxury brand mandates, including fashion week positioning and brand elevation work.
- The Communications Store: The Communications Store is a London-headquartered PR and communications agency specializing in fashion, luxury, and lifestyle. It is a direct peer serving the same enterprise client base with comparable brand-elevation and media-engagement services.
- Magrino PR: Magrino is a NYC-based luxury PR and communications agency serving fashion, beauty, hospitality, and lifestyle brands. It directly overlaps with Black Frame's communications division on brand strategy, media engagement, and event-driven brand activations.
- Bureau Betak: Bureau Betak is a world-leading fashion event production and set design firm producing runway shows for the top luxury houses. It is a direct peer in delivering the experiential/fashion-week component of brand elevation that Black Frame's events and Framework division also delivers.
- Laird + Partners: Laird + Partners is a creative and advertising agency specializing in fashion, beauty, and luxury. It directly competes with Black Frame's Framework division on creative direction, advertising, and brand campaigns for the same enterprise fashion and luxury client base.
Broad incumbents
- R/GA: R/GA is a large global creative and digital agency that, while much broader, competes with Framework for brand, advertising, and campaign work from fashion and lifestyle clients such as Nike. It represents the scale-tier competitor that Black Frame's boutique offering is measured against.
- Anomaly: Anomaly is a global creative and brand strategy agency with significant luxury and lifestyle work. It is a broader incumbent competitor to Framework on brand strategy and advertising mandates, though its portfolio extends well beyond fashion.
Emerging players
- Visionaire (foundational peer): Visionaire is a high-fashion, art-driven magazine where founder Brian Phillips began his career. While not a direct competitor, it is a culturally adjacent peer in the fashion-art-editorial ecosystem that shapes Black Frame's cultural positioning and network.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Black Frame social profiles
Digital presenceBlack Frame financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Black Frame leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Black Frame funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Black Frame M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Black Frame
What does Black Frame do?
Black Frame is a communications and creative agency serving elite fashion, luxury, art, and lifestyle brands. Through its Black Frame division, it delivers public relations, brand consulting, media engagement, influencer and VIP management, events, and strategic partnerships; through its Framework division, it provides creative direction, advertising, branded content, film production, and brand identity development. The two divisions work together to provide clients with end-to-end brand elevation from strategic communications to creative execution.
Is Black Frame a public or private company?
Black Frame is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Black Frame founded?
Black Frame was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Black Frame based?
Black Frame is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Black Frame make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Communications & PR Services are the primary driver. The others are creative Direction & Advertising.
Who are Black Frame's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KCD (Karla Otto's PR arm / KCD), Karla Otto, Purple PR, The Communications Store, Magrino PR, Bureau Betak and Laird + Partners. Broad incumbents are R/GA and Anomaly. Visionaire (foundational peer) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Black Frame have an API?
No public API is recorded for Black Frame.
What industry is Black Frame in?
Black Frame's product category is Public Relations & Creative Agency Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAAEAH, Motion Brand Design (Title Design, Brand Animation), with a secondary code of MPADACAD, Motion Graphics & Title Design.