MARKETPLACES TO KNOW: EBONY/ORO
EBONY/ORO
Born and raised in California, Ebony is the founder of EBONY/ORO, a black fashion marketplace. Ebony was inspired to create this space after reminiscing about shopping trips on Melrose where the lack of black designers in these boutiques was astounding. EBONY/ORO aims to amplify the work of black entrepreneurs, center the undeniable impact of black culture, and bridge the representation gap in retail.
SHEER: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
EBONY: Black woman born and raised in California!
SHEER: What inspired the launch of EBONY/ORO and what was that process like for you?
EBONY: I wanted to create a space that made it easy to buy black. As an LA girl, I would walk around Melrose and go into all of the independent boutiques (that's how I loved to spend my weekends). But one day I asked myself: Are any of these stores black owned? It sent me down a rabbit hole. I didn't know any black owned stores and I couldn't really name any black owned brands for that matter. I felt like our community needed a space that made it easy to buy black in retail.
SHEER: How would you say your upbringing and culture influenced your interest in the retail & e-commerce space?
EBONY: I've always been a part of the "treat yo self" lifestyle (lol). I love clothes, jewelry, aesthetics - ALL OF IT. Retail and ecommerce wasn't something I had always thought to pursue as a business but looking back it makes a lot of sense. My parents work in the design + architecture field and they've run their own business for over 25 years. I guess it's in my blood.
SHEER: How do you decide which brands to include on EBONY/ORO and how did you develop the one brand at a time approach?
EBONY: I have SO many brands I want to include. There is so much talent that has been overlooked by big retailers and I wish I could include them all! Currently, though, since I am a one-woman show one brand at a time works best for me. I'm able to give each brand my undivided attention and use the EBONY/ORO platform to give someone's work the spotlight. In the future, you may see EBONY/ORO carry a few more brands all at once but I just need to make sure I can give them all the same attention before I do that.
“I wanted to create a space that made it easy to buy black. As an LA girl, I would walk around Melrose and go into all of the independent boutiques (that’s how I loved to spend my weekends). But one day I asked myself: Are any of these stores black owned? It sent me down a rabbit hole. I didn’t know any black owned stores and I couldn’t really name any black owned brands for that matter. I felt like our community needed a space that made it easy to buy black in retail.”
SHEER: In what ways is EBONY/ORO empowering black-owned brands in the e-commerce space?
EBONY: EBONY/ORO empowers black owned brands by amplifying their voice in retail. We show them that not only do they matter, but that they make an impact in fashion and culture that deserves to be acknowledged.
SHEER: Tell us a little bit more about ILLUMINATE and how this helps to amplify your mission?
EBONY: The ILLUMINATE series is just another way EBONY/ORO can amplify voices. I want to use EBONY/ORO to give people doing impactful things in their lives and in their communities their flowers. There are people doing incredible work in their respective industries right now that don't always get a chance to share their story. That's where ILLUMINATE comes in.
“EBONY/ORO empowers black owned brands by amplifying their voice in retail. We show them that not only do they matter, but that they make an impact in fashion and culture that deserves to be acknowledged.”
SHEER: What advice do you have for entrepreneurs as they navigate managing and scaling a business while staying true to their vision?
EBONY: I'm definitely still figuring it out as I go but something I remind myself often is that it's okay to not know! Everything isn't always going to work so sometimes you'll need to pivot - that's just the name of the game.
SHEER: How would you like EBONY/ORO to evolve over time?
EBONY: I'd like to see EBONY/ORO evolve as a community for us and by us. I'd like people to look to EBONY/ORO as not only a place to find brands and discover designers but also as a safe space for fellowship. I'm excited to see it grow :)
By Tiara Starks
Zhané Aliya is a content creator based in the Nashville bringing her own flair to the fashion, lifestyle, and DIY beauty content niches while speaking in-depth about her experiences as a Black creator navigating the platform’s ever-changing algorithm.