BRWNGRLZ

BRWNGRLZ is a laser-cut jewelry company started by Gretchen Carvajal for Black and brown women. In 2021, BRWNGRLZ was featured in Vogue.[1]

Overview

Origin

Carvajal moved to the United States in 2001.[2] She grew up in the Bay Area.[3] In 2011, Carvajal won a spot to compete at the national youth poetry slam, Brave New Voices (BNV), in San Francisco.[4][5][6] At BNV, she met an artist selling handmade earrings, which later inspired her to start her own earring business.[7] In 2013, Carvajal was frustrated and inspired by the lack of representation of women of color in fashion accessories.[8][9][10] She started the business, BRWNGRLZ,[11] out of her dormitory,[12] creating laser cut jewelry for women of color.[13]

Inspirations

Carvajal is inspired by prominent cultures in the Bay Area, such as Black, Chicana, and South East Asian cultures.[14] Her creations mix technical fine art skills with symbols of social movements and cultural moments, such as the United Farm Workers movement and the international hotel strike. Each pair of earrings in the company's collection is named after a woman of color.[15]

Collaborations

The company has collaborated with Toro y Moi, Ruby Ibarra, Bayani Art, and Kehlani.[16][17][18]

References
  1. Allaire, Christian (December 9, 2021). "7 Artisanal Labels to Know From a New BIPOC Fair That's Perfect for Holiday Shopping". Vogue. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  2. "Gretchen Carvajal | Diabetes Patient Profile". Blood Sugar Rising. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  3. "BRWNGRLZ: Dope Earring Company Created By A Brown Girl From The Bay Celebrates Women Of Color". Welcome to YLWRNGR. November 4, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  4. "From Open Mic to the Spotlight". Newark, CA Patch. July 14, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  5. Staff, SF Weekly. "Teens Cover Prostitution, Parental Infidelity, Cancer — and Hope: Youth Speaks Poetry Slam Finals". SFWeekly. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  6. "Youth Speaks finds its Brave New Voices at this week's international poetry slam". San Francisco Bay Guardian Archive 1966–2014. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  7. "BRWNGRLZ". www.adolescent.net. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  8. Bines, Ari (November 12, 2020). "BRWNGRLZ jewelry is the small business that supports WOC". In The Know. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  9. BRWNGRLZ jewelry has a mission to bring representation to women of color everywhere, retrieved April 11, 2023
  10. student, GRETCHEN CARVAJAL artist and. "Bright Ideas 2017: Love yourself without apologies". The Cap Times. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  11. Kandula, Ikya (May 27, 2020). "How a Bay Area poet became obsessed with making jewelry for women of color". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  12. "BRWNGRLZ jewelry is bringing representation to WOC everywhere". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  13. Ostani, Marj (April 10, 2018). "Fashion Brands for Strong Women: Teen Idle, Yakang Yaka & BRWNGRLZ". April Magazine. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  14. "BRWNGRLZ: Dope Earring Company Created By A Brown Girl From The Bay Celebrates Women Of Color". Welcome to YLWRNGR. November 4, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  15. "Gretchen Carvajal – Interdisciplinary Artist, BRWNGRLZ". in the heart stories. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  16. "Retail Roundup: Have You Heard of These Bold Filipino Jewelry Brands?". Undiscovered Markets & Festivals. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  17. "10 Beauty, Wellness And Clothing Brands Owned By Filipinxs". HuffPost. October 14, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  18. "Toro y Moi Comes Full Circle With "MAHAL" | Wonder". April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
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