The Black Experience is filled with truths, triumphs, and pure black joy! Many times we tell stories through fashion however, over the years the business of fashion and access towards Designers of Color has been a struggle.   As we conclude #BlackHistoryMonth we are reminded of the tapestry deep woven in the roots of African Fashion. It ignites passion. It restores hope. It connects the global world through the intrinsic fabric of our lives. 

We recently sat down with Founder: Yema Khalif Yema grew up in Kibera slums (the largest slum in Africa) in Nairobi Kenya. Co-Founder Hawi Awash is a native of Ethiopia and was a refugee in Kenya before moving to Minnesota, and at the age of 11, she was recognized by the state of Minnesota for her outstanding community work and received an award from Kevin Spacey. She started modeling at age 11 and through modeling, was able to raise money and then send the money raised to Ethiopian women in Rural Ethiopia every year. This empowered these rural women in starting small-scale businesses.   She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Pre-med and Humanities with a minor in Public Health because she is passionate about working with vulnerable communities. Having once been a refugee and she knows first hand what having nothing feels like”. 20% of everything a customer purchases on the website directly goes to orphaned kids in Ethiopia and Kibera slums in Kenya.

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