In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we wanted to shed light on 8 Ways Hispanic and Latino Heritage is Rooted In Fashion (and in your closet) In the United States. Gathering inspiration from toreadors, South American Pampas cowboys, and the toquilla palm trees, the pieces that make up your wardrobe wouldn’t be here without the rich culture of Hispanic and Latino communities and traditions.
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August is Black Business Month and each week we've been highlighting a variety of Black-owned brands and businesses. This week we're shining a spotlight on menswear.
Whether you're shopping for everyday menswear or a luxurious suit, GQ put together an amazing list of 60 Black-Owned fashion brands and clothing stores that you should shop now and always.
Then next week, discover, shop and engage with even more Black-Owned businesses during our elevated virtual venue experience, Elevate & Amplify: A Black Business Experience. Over the course of four days join us for an elevated virtual experience with Black-Owned businesses from all over the US, and have the opportunity to take part in:
Learn more about Elevate & Amplify and get your general admission and VIP tickets here.
Photo: Angela Weiss / Getty Images
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There have been many Black-Owned Businesses that operated in excellence long before recent public recognition. As we navigate a new normal in the business marketplace, it is essential to continually recognize Black-Owned retail businesses that run their company with excellence even when no one is looking. Black companies deserve to be seen, heard, and met with equal opportunity. We want to create a platform to lift the presence of Black-Owned Businesses and turn up the volume for Black voices in the retail marketplace.
As I was preparing for this blog it was staggering the data that I found as it relates to Black Businesses in America. The Center for Responsible Lending, a nonprofit research and policy group, sounded alarms in April about the Paycheck Protection Program, estimating 95 percent of black-owned businesses and 91 percent of Latino-owned businesses were tiny companies with slim chances of receiving a loan in the initial round. Most of those companies are the owner’s primary source of income, according to the report.
"Elevate & Amplify: A Black Business Experience" was created to provide an accessible platform for all to experience Black- Owned businesses and services as well as allow for consumers to utilize these businesses as resources to fulfill their potential business or professional needs. This unique event will also be a resource for consumers as it will allow for them to gain access to a diverse group of businesses, their unique offerings as well as needed learning opportunities in breakout sessions that will be available within a VIP ticket purchase.
Thursday, August 27th through August 30th, join us for an elevated virtual experience with nation-wide Black-Owned businesses.
Break out sessions Included with VIP Ticket:
"The True Meaning of Diversity & Inclusion with a certified D&I Specialist."
Join us our DE&I Specialist as they unpacks what it truly means to incorporate Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in your business, or organization.
People need new ways to think about and talk about diversity. Leaders need new skills to enable equity and inclusion in the workplace. And organizations need scalable ways to ensure that their diversity & inclusion initiatives avoid common mistakes and are solid and sustainable.
Friday, August 28th
"Amplifying the Experiences of Black Business Owners in the Twin Cities"
"Amplifying the Experiences of Black Business Owners in the Twin Cities"
Come out and hear what these Black entrepreneurs have to say about owning a business in the Twin Cities and their experiences of own triumphs and challenges and how they pull on their community as they strive for success as a Black business owner. Learn how you can do your part to support, uplift, and recognize companies right in your backyard.
Join us as we hear from Black Business Owners in the Twin Cities as they share their realities and experiences "Owning a Business While Black."
Saturday, August 29th
"Opening the Door to Uncomfortable but Necessary Conversations Round Table w/ Nicole Jennings."
Join the Owner and Founder of Queen Anna House of Fashion as she has a live roundtable on ways to properly engage in uncomfortable but necessary conversations surrounding race in the business setting.
Sunday, August 30th
"How to Create Impactful Allyship in Business"
Join us for a roundtable discussion with Black business owners as we answer a question that is being talked about around the world; " How to be an Ally" and doing so understanding what goes into being an impactful ally as it relates to business .
Be sure to join us for the first of many Black Business Experiences hosted by Queen Anna House of Fashion.
I love diversity because, without it, there would be no beauty: only mundane, the monotony of everyday life, and eternity. Without diversity, we would all be living life to exist. Without diversity, there would be no "you" or "me". As a believer that we each have a higher purpose in life, with each of us destined to impact the world in unique and powerful ways, I can't imagine living without the concept of diversity.
A life with us all having the same body type, the same hair, the same house, and clothes would be unbearable; and with most of our closets black, navy blue, grey and void of prints or patterns, YIKES, that would be a pretty basic and colorLESS world we would have to endure. We would all make the same mistakes with no one to guide us through, we would all have the same strengths and weaknesses, and all love the same things work the same jobs and not being unique or special in any way.
I don't believe that we exist to endure but to LIVE life, and the very best life that we should all have equal access to. If we could all live and experience and appreciate the uniqueness that we all have within one another, our conversations today would be much different. The fact that we live in a solar system that has multiple planets, with different attributes, and the inhabitants of the earth have different characteristics, on each of the various parts of the land, with unique food, culture, thoughts, and beliefs implores me to believe that we each have something so beautiful to us that even if it's not the same as the next person, others should be able to see the beauty in the diversity of who I am and without judgment or a feeling of superiority.
We should be able to travel across the ocean and explore foreign land and experience cultures different from our own, learn about their history and tradition, and be in awe of their beauty and unique value to civilization.
Our brand continually delivers fashion, philanthropy, and culture to you in unique ways, purposefully. We are a retail and lifestyle brand with a passion for making positive, long-lasting change in you and the community. Over the next 3 months, we will focus on "The Beauty in Diversity." Whether it's the beauty of diversity in ethnicity, culture, fashion, body shape, body sizes, or businesses, whatever aspect that we think is important to you, we will aim to highlight the unique value in it for us all.
As a black woman and business owner, living amidst the civil unrest of our time and experiencing overt racism and prejudice because I am not like the majority is a story that just doesn't belong to me but to many, but it impacts us all. That's why we will continue to empower women to show up how they want to be seen, and when you get there, in your Queen Anna ensemble, make a difference.
We opened the week with a peek behind the brand, on our Youtube channel with a fun and vigorous 50 impromptu questions that I asked my husband Greg to get a glimpse behind behind the scenes. 😂
This week we will highlight the beauty in diverse cultures using film, like "A Wrinkle in Time" and the music from its soundtrack. We will also be highlighting one of my favorite people in the movie, Mindy Kaling, who plays "Mrs. Who," who also adds diversity to the world being an Indian American Actress.
Philanthropically we will be using our voice to highlight the unjust killing of Breonna Taylor and will be donating a portion of our proceeds to her cause the entire month of July. We will also be sharing resources on ways to create positive change within yourself as well as the world around us.
Last but not least, in-store and online, if you spend over $150, you will receive a free two week trial for personal styling from our luxury concierge service, One Posh Closet.
Be empowered in your uniqueness and beauty, knowing that an unmentionable amount of events had to occur, both small and large, for you to be created, just as you are. Like my Great Grandmother (Anna) told me, and now I am telling you, you are a rarity, a hot commodity, a vintage piece, and you deserve to be treated as such. Anyone that dares to tell you anything different doesn't deserve your time, energy, or space.
Being told that every day and now have the chance to repeat it to my children and infuse it in my brand empowers me to now share those same sentiments with you. I hope you, too, feel inspired to share it with someone else so that the light of love and the embrace of individuality and appreciation of diversity can overcome the fear of differences and the unknown.
Stay inspired and empowered. Until next time!
Bye-Bye!
❤️Nicole
