MARA BROCK AKIL IS HELPING BLACK WRITERS FIND VOICE THROUGH LATEST LUXURY LEATHER GOODS LAUNCH

By Kenneth Williams  | November 25, 2022 | EBONY

When Mara Brock Akil set out to tell the fabled stories of Black women, she broke the mold. Using her creative genius to bring these nuanced experiences to life has solidified her name in Black television lore as a legend. Now, she’s using that same creativity in another arena—leather goods.

Akil and designer Agnes Baddoo recently teamed up again to release a second installment of their limited-edition leather goods collection— this time an aged sac mini bag in natural leather and aged utility cases in very limited quantities. There were only 27 pieces of each item created, a number that has had special meaning in Akil's life before she was even born.

“This collaboration is based on me slowing down in life and figuring out my personal mission,” shares Akil.  “That mission is to live a creative life with a full heart. I've been blessed enough to be able to have fun in fashion, to shop and do the things that I want, but being a conscious person now, I was like, ‘How do I want to do that?’ It started with finding my forever bag, and my forever bag started with a tote.” 

When the Los Angeles native met Baddoo for the first time, she was instantly attracted to her products and the fact that they were designed by a Black woman. The two creatives later came together for something truly special—sustainable products that help other Black creatives in the process. All proceeds from the sales go to support The Writer's Colony, a program started by Akil to help up-and-coming as well as established Black writers.

Read the entire Ebony article here.