Lome Clutch Bag by Babatunde. Purchased at The Silver Room-Chicago
If you follow my blog, then you’ve seen the last post about shopping during the holidays with companies that respect black people. I will continue to write and share pictures of my purchases that make me a proud, cognizant shopper.
I recently acquired yet another clutch bag by Babatunde, a South African company that is in the business of creating beautiful, handmade items from African fabrics in the most vibrant patterns and colors. My latest coup has fabric with my beloved sorority colors strategically placed.
I didn’t have to travel all the way to South African to buy my bag (although a trip there is definitely on my list for 2017). Instead, I walked over to The Silver Room, a Chicago, Wicker Park neighborhood staple since 1997. The owner, Eric Williams, has been able to make the word “community” not just be a word, but a feeling. The Silver Room, now located in the Hyde Park neighborhood, just makes me happy and grateful that I can spend my dollars knowing that the recipients of my hard-earned money (and as a makeup artist and an educator, I. WORK. HARD. AS. HELL) respect my culture and gender.
The saying, “You get what you pay for” is my reality. I pay for quality, unique products created by people who had me in mind and I am thankful that my money is going where I want it to go. When people buy from small, black-owned businesses or companies that create with black folks in mind, everyone benefits. Shop where your dollars make sense.
Until next time,
Tiffany
Filed under: Beauty and Other Items on My Agenda Tagged: 1997, African fabrics, Babatunde, community, culture, Eric Williams, gender, Hyde Park, Lomo Clutch Bag, Money, quality, Respect, South African, The Silver Room, unique products, Wicker Park
