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What Girls Trip Did for Women, Hollywood and Travel
The consistency of Regina Hall, the versatility of Jada Pinkett-Smith, the legend that is Queen Latifah and the emergence of Tiffany Haddish just turned Hollywood on it’s ear this past weekend with the release of the hilariously funny film Girls Trip. These four women created the kinda #BlackGirlMagic via the big screen that will keep droves of women (not just African American women) flocking to the theater for weeks to come. It was the kinda film that will have Tinseltown reimaging the power of African American box office appeal, travel agencies buzzing, long lost friends reconnecting and Essence Fest at capacity come 2018. The genius that was Girls Trip doesn’t…
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Independence Day: Year One Sharing Stories of Black Owned Business
One year ago today, Independence Day 2016, I launched #THECOLOROFINGENUITY. I remember how proud I was to post the first article. I was filled with nervous energy, excitement and a tad bit of fear from the moment I hit “publish” but somehow managed to do it anyway. After all, The Color of Ingenuity was going to be my solution to a problem. The problem? I’d spent the last year, feeling powerless as stories dominated airwaves of African American’s who suffered “death by police” and heartbroken when their murders didn’t result in charges or worse– ended in acquittals. You see, we’ve reached a trillion dollars in buying power and we weren’t…
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The Gent’s Life: More Than Fashion
NC State alum and owner of The Gent’s Life, Rob McKiver, isn’t your typical fashion designer. Growing up in Long Island and Queens, he’s a shining example of the quintessential “New York State of Mind” we often hear about in songs. Hustle, innovation and an unrelenting desire to live life on his own terms have proven to be a recipe for success for the entrepreneur. As a clothier, promoter, blogger, public speaker, activist and most importantly father; McKiver is using his love of fashion to spearhead an entire movement. Even as a child, McKiver was expressing his individuality through fashion. He recalls being the kid in the picture with a…
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Modish Vine Style Tips For Gents
We went back into our bag of gems from African American Entrepreneur Chiwionne Mason, owner/visionary behind Modish Vine, to pull out a few style tips. Gentlemen and the women who love them–take note! The Look: BE VERSATILE. No matching tie and hanky’s. According to Mason, “If you’re going to get the matching tie and hanky, that’s cool, just DON’T wear them together. Use the tie and find a completely different pocket square in that same color scheme.” Not sure what to do now that you know the matching tie and hanky set is a fashion don’t? Mason offers this tip, “You can never go wrong with going to Target and…
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Wardrobe Essentials For The Aspiring Dapper Gent
Chiwionne Mason, the owner and visionary behind Modish Vine, provided a ton of gems throughout the course of our interview. Today we are sharing his take on wardrobe essentials for young professionals and seasoned gentlemen looking to upgrade their image. These basics can easily take you from the boardroom, to happy hour and church on Sunday morning. Wardrobe Essentials for the Aspiring Dapper Gent: 3 suits: Black, Gray & Navy Blue 3 Plain White Shirts w/ Varied Collars A Patterned Shirt (window pane or gingham pattern) A Light Blue Shirt A Striped Shirt A Contrasting Shirt (Ex:black, gray or blue shirt with a white collar) A Plain Black Satin Self-Tie…
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Modish Vine: The Style Blueprint
Frequently we hear about the absence of fathers and male figures in the lives of men which is often the catalyst for who they become. For Raleigh native, Chiwionne Mason, owner/visionary behind Modish Vine, it was the presence of strong male figures that set him on a road to becoming a man and ultimately an entrepreneur. Mason was fortunate to have two male influences, his great-grandfather “Pop Pop” and father, shape and mold him into manhood. In additions to their influence, Mason was also a member of the ROTC at his alma mater, Broughton High School. As such, upon graduation Mason embarked on a career in the United States Marine…
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gold élan llc: Home Decor with Panache
Born in Jacksonville but raised in Washington, NC; Meyetta ”Meme” Grimes, owner of gold élan llc, always had an admiration for home decor and design. “Washington is a very historic town and we always lived in these huge houses that were five or six bedrooms that had a lot of character to them. A lot of times I would just sit there and draw the fireplaces” she recalls. As a teen, she’d spend her spare time sketching architecture, designing wedding dresses and developing as an athlete. Ultimately, it was athletics that earned the track and field star a scholarship to Appalachian State University where she studied Sociology. Shortly after college,…
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Splashed by DKG: Breathing New Life into Denim
Fashion like most things in life is in a constant state of metamorphoses. Textures, fabrics, colors and garment structures are ever-changing as designers attempt to stay relevant in a microwave society where rompers are the talk of the town today and lace shorts are all the rave tomorrow. Daniel K. Grier, founder and textile designer of Splashed by DKG, will make you reimagine the possibilities when it comes to the fashion classic… denim. Founded in 2013, Grier started Splashed by DKG out of his mothers garage. Initially, he was transforming regular pairs of jeans into statement pieces but as his garments grew in popularity, so did his vision for what…
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The Color of Ingenuity Spotlights Lupita Nyong’o
Scrolling through social media today, I ran across a wonderful display of beauty wrapped in melanin, Ms. Lupita Nyong’o. While her beauty was captivating, it was her words from a few years ago that kept ringing in my head. Hollywood crowned her a star for her riveting portrayal of Patsey in Steve McQueen’s critically acclaimed “12 Years a Slave.” Subsequently, on Oscar Sunday 2014, the world applauded as Nyong’o received Hollywood’s highest honor with her win as Best Supporting Actress. Just over three years later and the world is still singing her praises. Nyong’o has been the talk of Hollywood for everything from her flawless skin and striking beauty to…
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Shenette Swann: Constantly Evolving
There are no boxes or labels vast enough to describe the constantly evolving talent that is Shenette Swann. A classically trained vocalist, percussionist, dancer, author and motivational speaker, Swanns’ gifts came naturally and were nurtured by parents who are both artists in their own right. Her mother a professional singer with a band as a teenager, her father a drummer and her aunt a professional opera singer; music was a living and breathing member of the household. Born in NC to a military family, Swann lived in multiple states throughout the U.S. Her exposure to various cultures was instrumental in shaping not only her world view but her musical palate.…
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Solitude Scents: Discovering the Gift of Solitude
LaToya Adkins moved to Durham NC in search of a change of scenery but stumbled upon her path to entrepreneurship. Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI following graduation from high school; while most of her friends were going off to college hours away from home, Adkins made the decision to attend UW Madison which was only about an hour and a half away. There, Adkins received her bachelors in Legal Studies and Spanish followed by her masters in Social Work. A couple of years into her career, she decided the time was now to move and experience life away from the comforts of home. In October 2015, Adkins packed…
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Happy New Year
Happy New Year Color Of Ingenuity!!! 2017 will be filled with new content, extraordinary stories and a sense of community for entrepreneurs and those that aspire to be! #TheColorOfIngenuity
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LeShonda Martin: Giving a Voice to a Community
Oftentimes, we find ourselves well into adulthood before we figure out what we want to do in life. Most of us change careers a dozen times from the day we’re first asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up” until it’s no longer a question but a choice that must be made. For LeShonda Martin, founder and editor of WAGS Redefined, growing up in the hoop state of Indiana meant having a ball in her hands. “The first chapter of my life was spent on the hardwood,” recalls Martin. So it’s no surprise she dreamed of one day having her name on the back of a WNBA…
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Chakara Conyers: Epitome of a Hustler
Mom, community activist, author, social media/marketing specialist and business owner are just a few of the titles that Chakara Conyers holds. Methodically building her brand by finding voids and fulfilling needs; she is successfully running multiple businesses simultaneously. Growing up in the Southside of Raleigh, Conyers’ didn’t live a life of luxury but it was filled with a strong sense of family and community. Today, Conyers is building a brand that’s deeply rooted in those same values. “I love writing. I love creating. I love marketing.” beams Conyers. She has managed to put each one of those talents to work, first as an author of two books, Hard Dreams and…
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Jeanmarie Tea Co: Creating Experiences One Cup At A Time
Nicole Allen, graduate of NC A&T, is an engineer by trade. By all other accounts, she is a God fearing, champion for young girls, whose always been an entrepreneur at heart. Born in New York but raised in North Carolina, Allen is a quintessential southern belle with northern savvy. She was the student on campus that was selling the sandwiches and snacks from the care packages her mom packed to fellow students to make extra money. So its no surprise that she is now the owner of a flourishing tea company affectionately named after her grandmother whom she adoringly refers to as “the love of my life” called Jeanmarie Tea…
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The Bath Place: From Necessity to Passion
As a young child, Kimberly Clayton Thigpen, possessed the entrepreneurial spirit. She and a childhood friend spent afternoons in the yard crafting homemade earrings and necklaces out of tree bark. They would round off the edges and drill holes in the center, eventually selling them to neighbors. As a young mother, Thigpen spent her early adult years working in the security that corporate America often provides. That is until 2009 when her husbands eczema prompted her to come up with a solution for his frequent flareups. Thigpen recalls the experience vividly saying, “The first time I made soap, I absolutely fell in love with it.” His need for relief from…
