These New Bedford teens couldn't afford designer clothes. So they created their own brand.
What started as a joke between a single mom and her two teenage daughters, has turned into an online shop called Vie Noire dedicated to bringing designer-style clothing to teens at a more affordable cost.
The New Bedford family has a familiar story of a single mom of four children trying to keep costs down, which makes it tough for teenagers who want the latest fashion styles. When Risha Green's daughters Yamyah "Myah" Green and Keyarna "Kee Kee" Green asked for Yeezy slides and a Louis Vuitton bag last Christmas she told them those high-end items weren't in the budget. The girls joked, "then we should start our own brand."
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After thinking about it, Risha decided if they wanted to put in work, then why not?
For almost a year, Myah a 17-year-old at New Bedford High School, and Kee Kee a 13-year-old at Normandin Middle School and their mom put money aside each month to create their vision, make designs and file for an LLC.
They found an online company to manufacture their designs and created a website to sell hats, bags, shoes, and clothes with their logo on them. The driving force behind the merchandise is to have affordable products that have a designer feel and quality.
They named their new endeavor Vie Noire (Haitian French Creole for Black Life) to encourage and show love to all members of the Black community. They decided to choose a name to represent what they have been through and what the community as a whole has been through. Growing up, Myah said," I didn't feel right in my own skin. Being a darker Black girl led to a lot of bullying."
"I felt like an outcast," added Kee Kee.
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All three are extremely happy and motivated with the support they have received so far. "I am proud of them and that they are sharing their story. I hope that people find a connection with the brand and the backstory," said Risha.
The sisters have big dreams and goals for the future of Vie Noire. Their first goal of introducing the brand in the New Bedford community is to have backpack drives and giveaways of Vie Noire backpacks to create a sense of togetherness through their merchandise.
Kee Kee's dream is to create a shoe line with her hand-sketched designs featured on them while Myah would like to use the brand to help in the community with makeup and hair sessions to help those in need.
To check out their designs and get updates on the brand visit https://vienoire.com.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Vie Noire is the brainchild of New Bedford sisters Myah and Kee Kee
