Black and Creme is a Black-owned and woman-owned re-education, sustainable, and eco-awareness online retail boutique that provides a platform for sustainable designers, small businesses, local California designers, and international fair trade organizations to sell their products on our boutique. The brand provides economic and environmental re-education awareness via Instagram, Tiktok, and YouTube to teach people about equitable economics, the diversity of sustainable fashion, and the cultures who make up this beautiful ecosystem.
People, land, and fibre are at the core of our boutique. We are here to align fashion back with the Earth. Black & Cremè represents the connection to the Motherland Africa, indigenous land, people all over the Earth with different complexions, the texture of fabrics, the colors of cloth, and the life force that flows through our Soul. Our eco-fashion, vegan bags, recycled jewelry, vegan alternative shoes, sustainable accessories, and laundry items are timeless products that will leave you with memories that last a lifetime. Each item you see in our boutique has been sourced and curated consciously with love.
Le’Marqunita De’Sharay Lowe, the Founder and CEO of Black & Creme
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Le’Marqunita De’Sharay Lowe is the Founder and CEO of Black & Creme boutique. Le’Marqunita Lowe is a PhD scholar, 10 year educator, author, entrepreneur of a clean beauty company, and social justice advocate. Ms. Lowe is a current PhD student in Interdisciplinary Studies at Union Institute and University. She holds a Master of Education from the University of Southern California graduating Magna Cum Laude. She holds a Bachelor of Liberal Studies from Bowling Green State University with a focus in political science, history, and ethnic studies.
Ms. Lowe was a former Pageant Queen holding the title of Miss Elite Earth California 2016 and Miss Black US Ambassador 2014. She also represented California as Miss Palo Alto in the 2014 Miss California USA competition. Currently, she is completing her PhD program, operating as CEO of Mercury III cosmetics, a volunteer with Empower54, and a Board of Director member for the National African Student Association. Ms. Lowe is a hiring partner with Girls For a Change.
THE INTERVIEW
Describe yourself as a creative and how your label was born?
Yes, I definitely describe myself as a creative. A creative person takes their muse and turns it into an idea that can be implemented. Black & Cremè is a re-education, sustainable, and eco-awareness boutique. Our sustainable boutique was created out of a mission to have an impact with environmental justice and supply chain opportunities for BIPOC communities. As a Black woman, I’ve experienced the sustainable industry excluding communities of color, and there is a lot of exploitation within the entire garment industry supply chain. To be a seed planted that can find resolution to this problem, our boutique decided to get right at the core of the supply chain. Black & Cremè provides a platform for sustainable designers, Black-owned small businesses, and international fair trade organizations to sell their products on our boutique.
Le’Marqunita De’Sharay Lowe
What is the most challenging issue in for an independent label ?
The most challenging issue is funding our business to reach the economic growth that is needed to have a larger impact.
What’s the main impact of social media in both ways, buying and brand marketing?
Social media is crucial to storytelling, and implementing our mission through visual storytelling. We collaborate with amazing influencers and models who each bring a personality and story that surrounds our mission. This visual storytelling organically transfers over to sells and potential customers wanting to buy from our main website.
How do you manage to choose your models in order to spread better the diversity issue through your label?
Choosing my models is very similar to scouting for a runway. Looks are the last thing I search for when scouting a model. First, I see if the model aligns with our sustainable mission. Second, I look for people with confidence and integrity. Three, I look for models with a great sense of fashion who are fearless in exploring their own fashion style.
What do you think is the biggest challenge regarding your work?
My biggest challenge is helping potential customers to understand that sustainable fashion is not just for the “elite”. I want everyone to know Nature is for all of us!
How do you think your label can play an important role in your daily client’s life?
Despite sustainable fashion having a higher price point, customers actually end up saving more money in the long run. Nature made fabrics have amazing quality and don’t tear as quickly. When customers realize that they are investing in quality versus quantity, then they will see that that they actually budget better, while saving the environment in the process.
What do you think about the opportunity of selling your pieces online nowadays?
Online e-commerce is the core of our boutique: https://blackandcreme.com . We sell multiple designers and labels. This co-creation and collaboration would not exist without the online space.
Imagine that you must write a letter to your FUTURE SELF. What would you write?
Dear Future Self,
Follow your intuition. Align with God and Nature. Treat all people and living creatures with respect. Life will serve you well.
Love,
Le’Marqunita
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