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Feel Brooklyn - September 2022 -

Minority-Owned / Women-Owned Businesses in Brooklyn

Minority-Owned / Women-Owned Businesses in Brooklyn

#SUSTAINABLE #BEAUTY #ENVIRONMENT #FOOD #PRODUCTS #STORE

Sep.01 2022

In September 2022, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) announced that the city had achieved its goal of awarding $25 billion in contracts to Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises by 2025.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP × SUSTAINABILITY IN BROOKLYN

Over the last decade, Brooklyn has experienced a growing number of local businesses and entrepreneurs, particularly those dedicated to advancing sustainability for a brighter future.

This report aims to gain a deeper understanding of Brooklyn and explore why the community has become a hub for sustainable local businesses and startups. To highlight the stories of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in Brooklyn, I conducted interviews with eight female entrepreneurs.

YVONNE CHU: FOUNDER OF KIMERA

“ITS CLASSIC STYLES AND TIMELESSNESS MAKE MY CLOTHING MORE SUSTAINABLE THAN TREND-DRIVEN BRANDS.”

Since its launch in 1999, Kimera has remained committed to sustainability, providing a collection that features sustainable items crafted from upcycled, remnant, and deadstock fabrics.

TILLY D WOLFE AND CLAIRE FLEURY:, FOUNDERS OF VERS

”WE HELP CUSTOMERS FIND CLOTHING THAT MAKES THEM FEEL POWERFUL."

Vers is a multi-designer boutique that supports local designers dedicated to sustainable fashion, including those who embrace zero waste design, upcycling, and the use of deadstock fabric.

SHERYL ROBERTS: OWNER OF THE COLLECTIVE AT INDIGOSTYLE

"VINTAGE IS THE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION."

The Collective at IndigoStyle is a place that promotes inclusivity and accessibility in fashion for the entire community by offering a diverse range of vintage clothing.

JOANN MONTALTO FOUNDER OF BROOKLYN BAR BODY & BATH

“ONLY ONE PERSON HAS TO START REVOLUTIONIZING, AND YOUR ACTIONS WOULD HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT THAT IMPACTS MORE THAN OUR OWN SELVES.”

Joann is a friendly and dedicated female entrepreneur who takes pride in offering bar soaps, scented candles, and other body products, all crafted from a non-toxic ingredients.

LARASATI VITOUX: OWNER OF MAISON JAR

“I WANTED TO CREATE A PLACE THAT MAKES IT ACCESSIBLE AND EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO SHOP SUSTAINABLY.”

Maison Jar is a refillery and grocery store located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, introducing a creative approach to low-waste shopping.

NAOMI JOSEPHER: COFOUNDER OF THE CHOCOLATE ROOM BROOKLYN

“OUR PASSION IS PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY.”

The Chocolate Room has always been committed to preparing extraordinary chocolate desserts while delivering exceptional experiences to its customers.

KATIE BISHOP: OWNER OF PRINCIPLES GI COFFEE HOUSE

“I’M ON A MISSION TO CREATE A PLACE FOR EVERYONE. ”

With its strong and sustainable principles, Principles GI Coffee House offers a welcoming space for marginalized individuals in the community to enjoy a delightful cup of coffee.

JENNY COOPER: FOUNDER OF IXV COFFEE

“I WANT TO CHANGE THE WAY PEOPLE THINK ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY.”

Driven by a mission to reduce single-use coffee cups, IXV Coffee is committed to sustainability and is actively working to create a positive impact in the community.

Why Brooklyn?

＊I interviewed eight minority and female owners based in Brooklyn about their entrepreneurial journey, from idea generation to the challenges they've encountered. Through these discussions, I discovered two key factors that draw passionate individuals, artists, and creatives to Brooklyn.

SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY

Each owner/founder featured in this report brings their unique value proposition and strong principles to the table, but all credit their success and growth to the supportive Brooklyn community.

A MECCA OF CREATIVES & ARTISTS ALIKE

Brooklyn is home to a vibrant creative community of artists, designers, and artisanal discoveries, making it a continued magnet for like-minded creatives who are driving positive change in the world.

Eat & Shop sustainably in Brooklyn

You can find more information about each business featured in this report below:

KIMERA
400 3RD AVENUE, BROOKLYN
https://kimeradesign.com

VERS
1329 WILLOUGHBY AVE, BROOKLYN
https://www.versbk.nyc

THE COLLECTIVE AT INDIGOSTYLE
401 TOMPKINS AVE, BROOKLYN
https://thecollectiveatindigostyle.com

BROOKLYN BAR BODY & BATH
https://brooklyn-bar.com

IXV COFFEE
497C PACIFIC ST, BROOKLYN
https://www.ixvcoffee.com

MAISON JAR
566 LEONARD STREET, NASSAU AVENUE, GREENPOINT, BROOKLYN
https://maisonjar.nyc

THE CHOCOLATE ROOM
269 COURT ST, BROOKLYN
https://www.thechocolateroombrooklyn.com

PRINCIPLES GI COFFEE HOUSE
139 9TH STREET, GOWANUS, BROOKLYN
https://principlesbk.nyc

A membership and sustainability

#SUSTAINABLE #COMUNITY#LOCAL #ENVIRONMENT #FOOD #GROCERY #STORE

Sep. 20 2022

Today, I visited "Park Slope Food Coop" , which is a food cooperative located in the Park Slope of Brooklyn.
It's also one of the oldest and largest active food coops in the US.

Membership is open to the public. But if you want to shop here, you first have to become a member.
And you have to work a shift.
The store is filled with organic meats, vegetables, dairy products, and daily necessities.

In FOOD COOP, they're doing a couple things about sustainability.
One of these is initiatives to reduce food waste.
They provide food that can be eaten but not sold to local soup kitchens that are non profit organizations. If it's no longer edible at all, they give rotting crops to gardeners to compost them.
And also there is the problem that grocery stores would consume a lot of electricity, because they have their own buildings, refrigeration, and freezer cases.
They want to support the production of electricity by wind so they purchase wind energy.
They've covered food waste, and electricity, the other is big bales cardboard.

They receive goods and someone picks them out and they get recycled.
People have to bring their own bag, or they can use a box, because cardboard is very recyclable in NY.
They don't give out bags for people to take their groceries home.
Some people want to join because of the type of food they have. Maybe, they're vegan, they really want a lot of organic food or they're looking for grass fed meat.
I am not a member, but I was allowed to enter the store specially to take pictures.
Also, I was able to see both customers and workers communicating with each other in a friendly manner because they are both members.

If you're interested, why not become a member and be a part of our sustainable activities?

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