Meet the Maker: Akani Designs
Launched in May 2020, Akani Designs is a company that specializes in making modern apparels and accessories with Ankara fabric for the new generation of men and women who want to integrate traditional and modern African wax fabrics in their wardrobe and home.
Born from the passion of its owner Malika, Akani Designs’ objective is to promote the afro culture in North America and make Ankara fabrics more visible by enabling men and women from all walks of life to wear Ankara and ethnic apparels with pride. Akani also aims to adapt the traditional way of wearing Ankara to the western climate in a creative way.
Meet the Maker: Anthonia Makeup
Anthonia Bejide is the founder of Shop ANTHONIA, where we're dedicated to inspiring beauty lovers and professionals alike with our high-quality products, tools, and education. Our carefully curated collections are designed to elevate your beauty routine and boost your confidence. Whether you're a makeup enthusiast or a seasoned professional, we have everything you need to step up your makeup game.
Our brushes are crafted with ultra-soft synthetic fibers, offering a luxurious feel and ensuring a seamless application and blend of your favorite makeup products. Designed for both creams and powders, these versatile brushes make it easy to achieve the perfect look every time. Plus, they're easy to clean, providing convenience in your beauty routine.
Shop ANTHONIA is a Black-owned beauty business founded by Ottawa-based makeup artist, photographer, and beauty educator Anthonia Bejide. Based in Canada, our company is committed to delivering top-quality beauty products and education to our customers. Join Anthonia's inspiring journey on Instagram at @anthoniamakeup. Elevate your beauty experience with Shop ANTHONIA.
Meet the Maker: Aromariss
Rissa Sant'Anna is the Owner at Aromariss, maker of handmade natural skin, body and hair products.
What kind of artisan/designer are you?
I make natural soaps and other bath and body products
Why did you become an Artisan?
I discovered the beautiful art of soapmaking under the hobbies section of a friend’s wedding photo-sharing site. I was in Senegal at the time, with a limited choice in supplies. So I set out to create a recipe with shea butter, coconut and palm oil; three oils and butter that are easily available in West Africa. I realized that using shea butter in soaps did wonders for dry skin..
What drives you to get up in the morning?
Satisfying clients needs
How are your products/artistry connected to the African-Caribbean Diaspora?
Most of my products are made with shea butter that comes directly from West Africa.
What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself through your journey in entrepreneurship?
I learned that i need to get much better at managing my time.
Meet the Maker: Baccanalle Foods
From Engineer to award-winning chef, Resa Solomon-St.Lewis is the owner of Baccanalle Lifestyle Foods, where she brings her unique culinary brand of contemporary and traditional Caribbean and Soul food with lifestyle options to Ottawa and the National Capital Region.
What type of artisan or designer are you?
Food artisan
Why did you become an artisan?
I wanted to immerse myself in my passion and my food culture on a daily basis and to pursue a quest for curiosity and excellence.
What drives you to get up in the morning?
My family and the prospect of meeting new challenges.
What’s the best part about being an entrepreneur?
Seeing my ideas and my vision blossom
How do your products/art connect to the African Diaspora?
I was born in Canada (Winnipeg) and I’m so proud to be of Trinbagonian (Trinidad & Tobago) Heritage. I’m honoured to share my interpretation of Caribbean Food and Trinidadian Food culture and to worked with the High Commission for Trinidad & Tobago in Ottawa.
What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself through your journey in entrepreneurship?
I’ve learned that a Team/Support network is critical at all stages - no one person has all of the answers or capacity to meet the goal.
Meet the Maker: Caku Collection
Chakou is the creator of Caku Collection and the Afroprincess collection of African Prince dolls
What kind of artisan/designer are you?
We offer African inspired pieces Doll, Jewelry and purses
Why did you become an Artisan?
After graduating from Teacher's College, it was extremely difficult, being a minority in Ottawa to find a teaching job. A couple of years ago, we couldn’t find a black doll for our daughters so we started our own collection called Afroprincesses. The dolls are making a big impact in the community.
What drives you to get up in the morning?
Every morning I want do more and do better than the day before.
How are your products/artistry connected to the African-Caribbean Diaspora?
We offer African inspired pieces. Our dolls are created in the image of African children, born in the Diaspora. Those kids have a different daily live than their peers. When we created our products we focused on the African culture and traditions.
What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself through your journey in entrepreneurship?
You have to persevere!
Meet the Maker: ChapChap Snacks
As a youngster in the Ivory Coast, Tetia and her siblings were always blessed with homemade snacks and cookies lovingly baked by their dear mother. She even made sure thwy had enough to share with their buddies during recess. Tetia has always had a passion for cooking and sharing meals, which was a huge part of her family life. Being the entrepreneurial type, she started a profitable side hustle making and selling popcorn and toffee candies during her high school days.
Meet the Maker: Chez Kwetu
My name is Dawn or Mama D. I am a wife to the most amazing person on earth and the Mama of two handsome boys.
There is a province in RD Congo called Kasai Occidental. The capital of Kasai is Kananga and that's where I was born, in the commune of Nganza.
In 2014, I married my college sweetheart, Jamie, and together we have two boys, a 4 y/o and almost 2 y/o. We named them in our mother tongues language, Tshiluba. The oldest one is Dinanga-Disanka, which means Love and Joy. The youngest one is Mikalayi-Buima, a respected man.
I started my entrepreneur journey in 2016, while on maternity leave with my first born. Everything came to me in a dream and I didn't question it. When I woke up that morning, I went to the craft store to buy supplies to put together anything I could think of. By the end of that day, we had an Etsy shop up and running.
This journey has been fun, exciting, amazing, full of rush, laughters, pains, loss and crying but it has helped me find myself and refine who I am and can become tomorrow.
Meet the Maker: Chidima Dezigns
Chidima Nzakamulilo is the owner and Founder of Chidima Dezigns, where she translates her love for African fabrics into fabulous fashion, bridal and home decor items
What type of artisan or designer are you?
Clothing, home decor and accessories
Why did you become an artisan?
I love working with my hands and I am quite the introvert
What drives you to get up in the morning?
Every new project/piece excites me! It is the possibilities.
What’s the best part about being an entrepreneur?
Enjoying what I do even though being an entrepreneur has it's own challenges!
How do your products/art connect to the African Diaspora?
Everything, it is who I am!
Meet the Maker: Enfematic
Founder - Junique Gooden - in her passion of creating natural products, believes that natural products are an extension of expressing oneself naturally and truthfully just as natural products do.
Enfematic is sulphate, paraben, and phthalate-free. All of our raw material are free from pesticides, GMOs, are fair-trade, and cruelty-free. In addition, our premium natural fragrance oils are vegan, phthalates and parabens-free and our essential oils are 100% pure and free from pesticides.
Meet the Maker: Machab Design
Marie Chantal is the owner of Machab Design, where she makes African-print accessories that are designed for your comfort and well-being.
What type of artisan or designer are you?
I design African inspired Doll cloths, Jewelry and purses
Why did you become an artisan?
After my graduation from Teacher's College, it was extremely difficult, being a minority in Ottawa to find a teaching job. I started making some jewelry with my sister what was successful. Last Year We couldn’t find a black doll for our daughter and we started in the summer 2019 to make our own collection called Afroprincesses. The dolls are making a big impact in the community.
What drives you to get up in the morning?
Every morning I want do do more and better than the day before.
What’s the best part about being an entrepreneur?
The best part of being and entrepreneur is to understand that every situation is an opportunity, and risk and errors are the keys of success.
What's one thing you've learned about yourself through your journey in entrepreneurship?
I had to learn to persevere.
What has the pandemic taught you about your business?
An African proverb says: "Do not put your eggs in the same basket". As entrepreneurs we need to diversify our activities.
How do your products/art connect to the African Diaspora?
We offer African inspired pieces. Our dolls are created in the image of African children, born in the Diaspora. Those kids have a different daily live than their peers. We focused on the African culture and tradition to create them.
Meet the Maker: Debbie Miller Photography
The #IHAVENOWORDS project was born out of my commitment to be a part of the call to action for change. Action the would bring about lasting change. I needed to harness and channel the rage, anger, disgust and profound sadness that I was feeling as a result of the unjustified killing of George Floyd on May 25th, 2020 by a Minneapolis police officer. As a black woman, mother, daughter, sister, wife and police officer, I could no longer remain silent. I needed to stand up and be a part of this call to action to acknowledge that “black” people are facing systemic discrimination, unconscious bias and anti-black racism every. single. day. I began to have deep conversations particularly with black men in the community, black police officers and mothers of black sons. During these conversations, I asked them to share their thoughts and experience on cue cards. I sought their permission to photograph them as we spoke. The conversations were deeply emotional and introspective. This collection of emotionally charged conversations allowed me to understand their feelings and capture images of the acute pain, suffering and profound sadness and frustrations that has beset our community. In this tapestry of photographs and community quotes, this book offers a view into the impact of intergenerational racism on black families and gives voice to their cry “… I can’t breathe…”. It is also a call to have courage - a call to pursue this shared path of resistance; a call to do the hard work to build a more equal, equitable and inclusive society. Black people continue to be impacted by systemic racism. As a society, we need to stand together to ignite a movement against racism and discrimination. This requires all of us to continue to listen, learn and act to invoke real change.
Meet the Maker: Eight50 Coffee
Hailing from a long line of Ethiopian coffee farmers and roasters, Muna M. pays tribute to her coffee roots (and the origins of coffee) through her offering of responsibly sourced, organic and fair trade specialty coffee and coffee equipment.
We are a proud, women-owned Canadian coffee company sharing our love for coffee that has been woven into our Ethiopian heritage- (The birthplace of coffee). We set a high standard for ourselves and use our family values as a compass to guide our business values.
Through community involvement and responsible business practices we are setting out to make a difference in our community, while simultaneously supporting the communities around the world that we purchase our coffee from.
Our focus is to provide a variety of certified organic and fair trade coffee from around the world that is locally roasted. From flavor to frequency, brewing method to accessories, we provide an array of online coffee learning tools and equipment to allow for a complete online shopping experience for customers to brew our unique blends and single origin coffee at home.
We can’t wait for you to try our coffee!
Meet the Maker: Flexd Designs
Asha St. Lewis, Founder of Flexd Designs, is one of Ottawa’s newest and youngest style Entrepreneurs. Asha is in her last year of high school in Ottawa and is part of the Ontario Summer Company youth entrepreneurship program with Invest Ottawa. Asha is passionate about style and business and started creating FlexdDesigns in June 2021. Asha’s Flexd Designs Collection combines graphics with current styles and new apparel (Flexd Design Collection), Custom designs (Create Your Flex) or upcycled pieces (EcoFlexd).
Meet the Maker: Jadionn Organic Skincare
Jadionn was created to bring true natural organic skincare products that are healthy for your skin. We aim to provide the best and purest skincare products possible which is why our products are proudly free of parabens, sulfates, harmful colorants, mineral oils, petroleum, and other harmful cosmetic chemicals. We carefully hand-picked the organic ingredients used in our skincare products to provide powerful healing and enhancing properties for everyone that uses our products. Every product is handmade in small batches without any severe heating processes that will affect the nutritional value and potency of the ingredients used and the result is skincare crafted with love.
Meet the Maker: Keisha Cuffie
Keisha Cuffie is a published author, entrepreneur, artist, social justice activist and Black Canadian history educator. She is the CEO and Founder of iMelanin, a 100% black-owned business created to showcase representation in books, apparel and art. She currently sits on the board of directors for Black In Nature, a non-profit organization aimed at helping Black youth connect with each other and nature. Her first book, D is for dazzling/D pour diamant was published in 2022. It focuses on diversity, inclusion & empowerment and addresses the lack of inclusive books by Black Canadian authors within child care settings, libraries and classrooms. Ms. Cuffie has 2 upcoming books schedules for release in 2023.
Meet the Maker: Michael (Mikey Wizdom) Assivero
Michael Assivero is the author of the children's book My Name is My Name and My Name CAN'T Change. He is also a well-known radio personality who goes by the name Mikey Wizdom on CHUO 89.1FM Caribbean Flavour show on Saturday afternoons
What type of artisan or designer are you?
A first time author of a children's book.
Why did you become an artisan?
I wanted to write a book that told a story of my family, that shared hope , joy and love. An important part of that story was to have the book reflect and represent how we looked.
What drives you to get up in the morning?
Love. May seem like a fluffy answer, but it's true. I constantly want to make the world a lil better every day. So I do my best to take opportunities daily to brighten someone's day, make them laugh,listen to them cry... An important part of that equation is learning to accept love as well.
What’s the best part about being an entrepreneur?
The product that someone buys is you. Each customer takes a piece of you home with them. What ever your skill or craft may be, whether one or ten thousand. Someone appreciated your hard work enough to take it home with them.
How are you products/art connected to the African Diaspora?
I wanted my kids to open a book and see themselves, not something that was made to kinda look like them. I wanted other children to open a book and see themselves as well. Of course I'm not the first to do it, but I wanted to contribute to that pool of beauty!
What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself through your journey in entrepreneurship?
One of the hardest lessons has been to understand that there are so many things that are outside of my control, and that's ok. Always be prepared for the unexpected (seems ridiculous to say, but it's true). Sometimes amazing opportunities arrive without notice... Be prepared to leap!
Meet the Maker: Stacey Martin Lifestyle
In 2020, fashion designer and creative powerhouse, Stacey Martin, rebranded her highly successful clothing company, Kania Couture Inc. and created Stacey Martin Lifestyle Inc. to serve as a representation of what it means to live your life with intention. This brand would champion diversity, prioritise environmental health and inspire individuals to move toward their goals in freedom, comfort and style.
Stacey’s love for fashion was visible from early on when she would volunteer to design and sew prom dresses for her friends in the eighth grade. Stacey also loved dance and as a teenager, she jump started her career as a professional performing artist.
By the age of 17, she had dance contracts with Canada’s Wonderland and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. By 19 years old, Stacey moved to New York City and was cast as the youngest member in the Broadway show, Saturday Night Fever. It was during her time on Broadway that Stacey discovered the disconnect between fashion and comfort and style. She needed clothing that would move with her, support her busy lifestyle—clothing that looked as good as it felt! And if no one was going to design it, this fashion lover would!
Meet the Maker: Twenty20 Skincare
Elena Minnow is the Owner at Twenty20 Skincare, maker of products with simple and clear ingredients that are safe for our health, community and the earth.
What kind of artisan/designer are you?
I make handcrafted skincare products featuring natural ingredients from my grandmother’s hometown and made with Shea Butter from Ghana
Why did you become an Artisan?
I loved making all natural products for my friends and family and decided to share it with others.
What drives you to get up in the morning?
Knowing that I have a greater purpose and each new day is a chance to fulfill it
How are your products/artistry connected to the African-Caribbean Diaspora?
All our skincare products are made with Shea Butter from Ghana which is something I discovered after visiting my grandmother in her hometown.
What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself through your journey in entrepreneurship?
There is a reason for everything. Make sure you know your own reason too!
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