It’s widely known that the beauty industry rarely ever caters to Black consumers and business owners, but brands and entrepreneurs across the board are working together to help shape an inclusive future.
Beauty giant SheaMoisture, in partnership with BROWN GIRL Jane — a luxury, plant-based wellness collection centering the needs of dynamic women of color — has announced the launch of their joint entrepreneurship program and $250,000 investment fund to support Black-owned independent beauty and wellness brands.
According to a press release, the #BrownGirlSwap initiative was created in an effort to help Black women founders in the beauty and wellness spaces amplify their brands, receive entrepreneurial mentorship from industry veterans, and be awarded critical funding to uplift their businesses.
“Our partnership with BROWN GIRL Jane comes from our shared mission to support and uplift Black-owned businesses,” said Cara Sabin, CEO of SheaMoisture, in a press statement. “We are inspired by the brand’s three dynamic founders and are honored to partner with industry peers and continue SheaMoisture’s mission of reinvesting in our communities.”
BROWN GIRL Jane was created by sisters Malaika Jones Kebede and Nia Jones, along with beauty and wellness expert Tai Beauchamp to promote inclusivity, quality, accessibility, and transparency within their line of products.
“We are so proud to work alongside SheaMoisture to enhance the #BrownGirlSwap. Enduring change requires an evergreen, multifaceted program to begin creating equity in this industry,” said Malaika, CEO of BROWN GIRL Jane.
Beauchamp, Chief Brand Officer of BROWN GIRL Jane adds, “This collaboration will bolster and create space for so many emerging brands and in turn, do far more than cutting a check.”
The #BrownGirlSwap initiative consists of five verticals — amplify, fund, empower, diversify, and swap, according to a press release. This newly announced joint venture will not only uplift Black voices in the beauty industry, but it also expands the reach of rarely accessible Black-owned startups to touch a massive audience.
“We always envisioned a program that would target key areas that have historically impaired Black businesses and take action to remove those roadblocks,” said Chief Impact Officer, Nia. “Expanding this in such a significant way, through the support of SheaMoisture, is going to help countless female entrepreneurs and generations to come.”
For more information on the #BrownGirlSwap initiative, click here.
