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 to wonder what raves would look like if they had a more focused goal. In response, he created A Tribe Called Red. Site A Tribe Called Red Socia…

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. To make ends meet, she started selling them. And the business took off...fast. This is what happened next. Store Brewb…

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 beauty and wellness space more inclusive. Store NOTO Botanics Social Profiles Instagram Facebook Pinterest Ho…

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 at the center of the story? This is what happened next. Store Ankara Press Social Profil…

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 after launching the Adorned By Chi manga, a comic about Nigerian university students with magical super power…

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, George turned the business into the premier destination for bespoke leather fashion and fetish wea…

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 realized that most skincare products weren’t made with black men in mind. Solving a problem for himself and in turn, others, he…

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 created through traditional Gwich’in techniques, and her work has been featured in one of the most influential fashion …

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. Store Haute Hijab Social Profiles Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Host Anshuman Iddamsetty Producers Phoebe Wang Natalie Plourde Emma Fedd…

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 million-dollar company. This is how it happened. Store KinkyCurlyYaki Social Profiles Facebook Instagram Recommended Ebony…

Here’s a sneak peek of our second season.Af Shopify

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 is what happened. Store: Gender Gear, Come As You Are Recommended: Feist, Peaches …

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. How did he come to that decision? Store: The Horror Dome Recommended: Big Foot Claim a Fake, Ex-Enthusiast Says Host Anshuman Iddamsetty …

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 bear. How did she recover from her trauma and launch a luxury clothing line for the truly plus? Store: Tamara Malas Recommended…

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 a market designed to exclude her? Store: ShortBox Recommended: Thought Bubble, Critical Chips, Toni Morrison’s quote…

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 get their message out? Store: Brujas Recommended: 1971, F2L, The Attica Prison Riot Host Anshu…

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? Store: Wigs by Vanity Recommended: RuPaul’s Drag Race, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert Host Anshuman Iddamsetty Producers …

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 business. How did she survive the impossible? Store: MASSIVE GOODS Recommended: Gengoroh Tagame, Opening Ceremony, New Yor…

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? Store: Dust II Onyx Recommended: University of South Florida, Wangechi Mutu, The Hoodwitch, Dust II Onyx: An Interview With Cou…

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

Welcome everyone! We are proud to bring you our second podcast! Here is the link: Episode 2. As before, left-click to listen in your browser, or right-click the link and choose “save link as” to download it. Also, we apologize for the podcast containing the references to Valentine’s Day. We had initially planned on it being released shortly after V…

Sorry for the delay! We were having some technical difficulties this past week. We are now up and running, and are proud to bring you our very first podcast! We hope you enjoy our content! Please click here to listen to our podcast: Episode 1. If you would like to download it, just right-click the link and choose “save link as”. Thank you, and enjo…