As with any industry, there are a few stories that tug on the heartstrings or get the heart fired up with motivation. It’s amazing the way the story of another person can inspire you so much that you’d be ready and willing to take that leap of faith that leads you into your entrepreneurship journey. As an entrepreneur myself, I’ve experienced both the pros and cons of deciding on this rollercoaster lifestyle. That’s why it’s so encouraging to see other BIPOC in elevated spaces who can elegantly combine fashion and entrepreneurship (aka fashionpreneur) in a digestible way. Whether contemplating starting your entrepreneur journey or a seasoned vet, this list of Black entrepreneurs (or fashionpreneurs) to know will in some way assist you on that journey.
Fashionpreneur: Akilah Mary-Louise Releford
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Let’s kick it off with this amazing curator of cosmetics (and queen of IG looks). Akilah began her skincare brand Mary-Louise Cosmetics in 2017 in honor of her two lovely grandmothers, Mary and Louise. Growing up Akilah witnessed both of her inspirations put so much love and care into generational homemade skincare remedies that aided her in childhood through her adult life. Releford began giving skincare advice on Twitter that she gathered from growing up as well as what she learned along the way which went viral due to the simplistic ingredients found in college kitchens that achieved results. After realizing the demand, she began selling her future million-dollar skincare brand in her Howard dorm room as a side hustle to share her passion and knowledge with the world. Now, Akilah is quickly on her way to becoming a household black-owned skincare brand. Her products help to resolve issues from hyperpigmentation to dry skin and everything in between. And if that wasn’t a huge accomplishment in itself, she also assists in helping others to achieve their dream of turning a side-hustle into a million-dollar business.
Fashionpreneur: Mecca James-Williams
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Just one look at her Instagram page will have you scrolling for minutes without even realizing it. One of the rising outfit inspiration queens, this New York-based stylist and creative director’s origin story is a real-life version of The Devil Wears Prada, except for a few details. Originally, Mecca attended LIM college but was forced to drop out due to tuition expenses. Going the non-traditional route Mecca eventually landed an internship with a contributing writer at Teen Vogue. Through her many projects, she was able to transition from fashion writer to stylist to fashion market assistant for the brand Open Ceremony. After gaining years of incredible experience, she decided to branch off and create her own creative and styling brand MeccaJW. She’s gone on to create breathtaking projects such as styling for Solange’s visual album “When I Get Home” (her very first client btw!), shoots for countless fashion magazine covers such as Essence and Vogue, and even the Wall Street Journal. We can’t wait to see what she does next.
Fashionprenuer: Chrissy Ford
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This OG fashionprenuer has blessed us with many iconic looks and amazing wisdom throughout the years. With landing digital editor gigs at publications at Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, InStyle, and Cosmopolitan she earned her bragging rights. She is undeniably one of our blogger inspirations here at TBM. One thing to love about her is the fact that she shares advice with her fellow fashion bloggers with no caveats. As a new blogger dissecting how you digest other content will help you to have a successful blog will also be vital to building your blogging career. Make sure to add her to your inspiration list!
Who is your favorite fashionpreneur to know right now? Leave a comment.
