Vanguard by Shopify Studios

Vanguard by Shopify Studios episodes:

• 09.11.2019

  How A Tribe Called Red Brought Activism to the Dance Floor

  Bear Witness is a co-founder of A Tribe Called Red, a Canadian DJ collective that blends hip hop and EDM with traditional pow wow drums and vocals. As a teen, Bear was part of the local rave scene. He began...

  
• 09.04.2019

  This Latinx Bath Brand Is Bubbling with Nostalgia

  Estefania Rodriguez is the founder of Brewbles Studio, a bath and body shop that sells products based on nostalgia and Latinx culture. Estefania began making bath bombs as a form of self-care and a way to manage her mental illness....

  
• 08.28.2019

  The Unique Voice Behind Gender-fluid Wellness Products

  Gloria Noto is the founder of NOTO Botanics, an all-natural, multi-use, gender-fluid cosmetic line committed to activism and giving back back. After almost 10 years as a makeup artist, Gloria decided to start a company focused on making the...

  
• 08.21.2019

  Meet the Nigerian Publisher Heating Up African Romance Novels

  Bibi Bakare-Yusuf is the publishing director of Cassava Republic Press and Ankara Press. After launching a publishing company to offer a platform for contemporary African writers, Bibi had another idea: why not start a romance-novel imprint that put black women...

  
• 08.14.2019

  This Artist Conjured a Magical World of Black Anime Characters

  Jacque Amadi is the head magical girl of Adorned By Chi, a lifestyle business based on anime-inspired fashion. Jacque is quick to admit she runs her business with emotion first, facts and figures second. An approach that wouldn’t scale. But...

  
• 08.07.2019

  How Northbound Leather Became a Thriving Fetish Wear Company

  George Giaouris is the owner of Northbound Leather. While working in his family's leather business, George saw an opportunity to support queer and kink-friendly customers who had a profound connection with leather, like he did. Over the last 30 years,...

  
• 07.31.2019

  He Ditched A Government Job to Start a Skin-Care Line for Men of Color

  Patrick Boateng II is the CEO and founder of Ceylon by Anim Labs. When Patrick was working overseas in Asia, he had it all: a stable job, opportunities for travel. But when he started having problems with his skin, Patrick...

  
• 07.24.2019

  The Lengths This Indigenous Jeweller Went to for Her Craft

  Tania Larsson is a maker of Gwich’in fine jewelry. When she was 15, Tania left France and moved to Northern Canada to learn more about her Gwich’in heritage. The learning curve was steep, but Tania began making and selling jewelry...

  
• 07.17.2019

  She Traded a Career in Law For High Fashion Hijabs

  Melanie Elturk is the CEO of Haute Hijab, a brand that makes high fashion hijabs. Melanie left a successful legal career to launch a global brand dedicated to the hijab. This is how she came to that decision.

  
• 07.10.2019

  How a Single Mom Grew a Million Dollar Business Selling Textured Hair Extensions

  Vivian Kaye is the CEO of KinkyCurlyYaki, a brand that makes premium textured hair extensions for Black women. When Vivian saw an opportunity to start a business that celebrates black beauty, she went all in, and grew it into a...

  
• 07.03.2019

  Introducing Vanguard Season 2

  Vanguard by Shopify Studios explores the human stories of entrepreneurship from unexpected corners of our current moment. Here’s a sneak peek of our second season.

  
• 03.20.2019

  The Anti-Capitalists Selling Gender Confirming Products

  Noah Kloeze is one of three worker-owners of Gender Gear, a collective that sells gender confirming products for trans and gender variant people. After an uncomfortable encounter at their physical location, the collective had to radically rethink their business. This...

  
• 03.13.2019

  Monsters Are His Friends

  Jerry Parrino is the owner of The Horror Dome. By the time he was 46, Jerry was burning out from a thankless day job. He decided to quit and bet everything on his dream of running a Halloween-based side business....

  
• 03.06.2019

  The Designer Making Truly Plus Luxury Clothing

  Tamara Malas is the maker of a luxury plus womenswear collection offering clothes up to a size 32. Tamara was living the dream working in high-end fashion, but the body shaming and fatphobia of the industry was too much to...

  
• 02.27.2019

  The Critic Changing Comic Books

  Zainab Akhtar is the publisher of ShortBox, a mail order box for independent comic books. Zainab wanted to change the way independent comics were sold but as a visibly Muslim woman, her efforts were often dismissed. How did she enter...

  
• 02.20.2019

  What Drives an All-Femme Skate Crew

  Arianna Gil is the cofounder of Brujas, a Bronx-based skate crew and streetwear brand dedicated to radical political action. But the politics behind their clothes are often overlooked by mainstream gatekeepers and too radical for social media. How do they...

  
• 02.13.2019

  Why These Wigs Are Made By Drag Queens

  Vanity is the cofounder of Wigs by Vanity, the makers of luxury synthetic lace front wigs for drag queens. Vanity quickly cornered the drag market, but her business was always a side hustle. What made her decide to go full-time?

  
• 02.06.2019

  The Asian Gay Thing

  Anne Ishii is the co-founder of MASSIVE GOODS, an agency and lifestyle brand featuring art from queer and feminist artists from Japan. In a single year, Anne suffered two tragic losses — any one of them would have destroyed her...

  
• 01.30.2019

  The Beyoncé of Tarot

  Courtney Alexander is the maker of Dust II Onyx: A Melanated Tarot, a Tarot deck designed for a black audience. Dust II Onyx was an instant hit, but the emotional toll of success almost destroyed Courtney. Was it worth it?

  
• 01.18.2019

  Welcome to Vanguard by Shopify Studios

  Vanguard by Shopify Studios explores the human stories of entrepreneurship from unexpected corners of our current moment.