What It means To Be A Black Owned Business in Boston

This interview was curated by our very talented interns who crafted these thoughtful questions and transcribed my answers. In everything we do, I am proud to be the second generation of a Black owned boutique in Boston. Black History Month may be over, but please continue to support Black owned businesses all 12 months of the year. Shop Black, Shop Small, Shop Local, Shop Minority Owned.

1. What does culture mean to you?

Culture is everything that we do. Culture is the way we live, express ourself, love each other

2. What does House of Culture have to offer its shoppers?

   

We try to curate our selection, so we have a little bit of everything, they are almost all either funky pieces, that elevate any look or wardrobe stables that become foundations of your wardrobe, and we only have limited number of each piece, so you don't have to worry about seeing someone else wearing the same thing as you. 

3. Out of any place in the world, why set up shop in Boston?

After my dad graduated college in London, he got a job offer in Boston and met my mom and decided to open up a business. As someone who grew up in Boston, Boston is not known for being a fashionable city, but why can't we be? The generalizations don't mean people in Boston don't want to wear beautiful clothes, and want to be proud of their outfits and the way they present themselves. 

we are a part of the culture so we know what our clientele is looking for, how they want to feel, how they want to dress and how they want to present themselves, so we can curate that for them.

4. How does being a Black owned business contribute to the culture sphere?

A lot of people love learning that we are a Black owned boutique and that we have been around for over 30 years. It's inspiring to just exist. That representation, and the fact that we are a part of the culture so we know what our clientele is looking for, how they want to feel, how they want to dress and how they want to present themselves, so we can curate that for them.

5. What does family mean to you? 

Family is everything, literally when I work for my dad. We call my mom the silent board member, but I love it. They're the people I’m meant to navigate this life with. We are a family business and people know we're family so it's a little more comfortable when you’re here. Our customers have become an extension of that because they have watched me grow up and the store evolve so we try to bring them in too, same with staff and interns. It's easy when that's already the dynamic. It's like family function.

6. How does your family influence your running the brand?

It's a lot of me bouncing ideas off my dad, and since we're family we're always in communication so the store comes up a lot. In a sense we are always on the clock because you're always thinking about your business. Ideas come up all the time or we get an email, or I have to run something by him. The store is so deeply embedded into our family, we couldn't escape it even if we wanted to, it's a good thing we don't want to. Everything is a labor of love. 

7. What does Black History Month mean to you as creative director of a Black owned business?

I love celebrating blackness, our history and culture. It's nice because we get a boost in attention during Black History Month, but I don't want people to forget about Black owned businesses the other 11 months of the year. We appreciate any support we get, but we are doing business all 12 months of the year and we have dope pieces all 12 months of the year.

8. What advice do you have for aspiring Black entrepreneurs?

What is it that they always say? Create it you, can make it good later.

 Put your own spin on it, they always say who’s your ideal consumer, customer, client, but you are your ideal client too, what would you like to see, what experience would you like to have?

9. What has been your most fond memory at House of Culture?

I don't know it changes because I grew up here. It's like asking what is your favorite memory at your childhood home? Everything. From my earliest years being on Newbury street, and watching the circus on VHS to high school at the store getting ready for prom to now having customer recognize me from being the baby on Newbury street or seeing me on TikTok. But if I had to pick one it would be all the people who came in and out, there were so many different characters and I learned so much about people and how to communicate with anyone. 

10. What’s next for the store?

More community events, and continuing to show that we do more than just sell clothes. It's a much larger experience.