Twin fashion designers Corianna (Coco) and Brianna (Breezy) Dotson have selected 10 of their favorite Black-owned brands for a new retail pop-up. The Beyoncé-approved designers launched the Coco & Breezy x American Express at SHOWFIELDS curation on July 24th.
“We had the vision to curate a shop filled with all BLACK owned companies. We wanted to give a retail platform to these businesses. The LIT thing is—with the support of @showfields and @americanexpress we were able to provide a complimentary space and the companies get to keep 100% of their profits!!!” Coco & Breezy said in an Instagram post.
The brands selected include both established and up-and-coming companies and span the beauty, style, and home categories: Alexandra Winbush, Ashya, Aziza, Base Butter, Edas Jewelry, House of Aama, Kubra Kay Skincare, L’Enchanteur, Pholk, and their own label Coco & Breezy Eyewear. The design duo noted they’d be switching out the brands in a few months to give even more black-owned businesses this opportunity.
“This curation includes some of our favorite companies that make beautiful products. We want consumers to not only support them because they are Black-owned, but because the product is great,” Coco and Breezy said in a press release.
“We want to encourage people to be aware of and support these businesses on an ongoing basis—not just as a passing trend.”
The curation is taking place at the New York City flagship of retailer Showfields, which hosts “a rotating selection of digital-first brand pop-ups and interactive art installations” and whose mission is to “create a better way for customers to discover, engage, and shop emerging brands and artists of tomorrow.”
“At Showfields, our mission is to empower and support a diverse and inclusive community of creators, celebrating the values of entrepreneurship and individuality,” said Tal Zvi Nathanel, chief executive officer and co-founder of Showfields, in a press release. “We’re honored to collaborate with the design duo Coco and Breezy, who handpicked an incredible selection of Black-owned small businesses.”
American Express noted the crucial role small businesses play in our communities, and the help they need to recover from the impact of COVID-19. “This is especially true for U.S. Black-owned small businesses, which have been hit especially hard,” said Walter Frye, Vice President of Global Brand Engagement at American Express, in a press release, “which is why we are thrilled to be able to partner with Coco & Breezy and Showfields to highlight these amazing and inclusive small businesses.”
