BLACK-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES TO SHOWCASE THEIR PRODUCTS AT ONE OF A KIND SHOW
One of a Kind Show and Sale will take place from Dec. 1-4 at The Mart. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ONE OF A KIND.
This year, One of a Kind is celebrating its 21st year. There are 500 artists and makers who are expected. There will be a number of Black Indigenous People of Color-owned businesses at this year’s event.
Cera Muchiri grew up in Kenya. She wanted to offer work to her community and give back to her community. She created Ecodunia in 2018. The business, which sells bags, aprons and wallets, sources its cotton and fabric from Kenya where everything is handmade and handcut.
As an African in America, she was frustrated that she would see goods that looked African, but weren’t made on the Continent.
“It’s such a beautiful Continent with so much beauty and vibrancy and all I see as a Kenyan living in America is all these things about how terrible Africa is, and how poor Africa is, and I’m not saying those things don’t exist, but there is so much beauty that is in the Continent and I wanted to bring some of that beauty,” Muchiri said.
Every product Ecodunia makes has a little bit of Africa in it, mostly a piece of African fabric incorporated in the bag design. Muchiri wanted to see more African goods in the marketplace.
Muchiri had been doing craft fairs and she just moved with her partner from California to Chicago. She learned about One of a Kind from another product vendor and decided to apply.
Jeremiah Shalo is an artist. Someone saw his art at Renegade Craft Fair and wanted him to participate in One of a Kind. Shalo will have his original prints, high quality giclee prints, postcards, block Lino carved stamps, and shirts, which he has been working on.
“I’d been to One of a Kind a couple of years ago, and I just know it’s a really great opportunity for artists to break into the scene a little more. I thought One of a Kind would be a great stepping stone because I think it’s going to be one of the biggest so far,” Shalo said, adding that he wants to meet new artists, see some work and get his name out there.
Shalo’s work has been on beer cans for Goose Island. Shalo’s family owns Kribi Coffee, located in Forest Park, Ill., and he does the illustration for the packaging.
Shanika Morette is the owner of . Karre Beauty. She launched the organic skincare company in August 2020. The company is named after a nickname given to her grandfather, which in Haitian Creole means to intimidate.
Morette has been making skincare since she was young, with her mother. During COVID, she started to make products and sell them. Karre Beauty products include the Sunrise Face Cleanser, Sunset Face Serum, Lip Gloss, Jelly Mask, Body Fluff, Body Lush and Stones Chebe Hair & Beard Oil.
The most popular product is the Petal Body Oil, which is also Morette’s favorite. Unlike other oils, it has oils that can penetrate the skin and it is not heavy. It also has a soothing scent.
This is Morette’s first foray doing vendor fairs outside of where she lives in Gainesville, Fla., but sees her business growing and blooming and wants to come to One of A Kind to reach out to other people.
For more information about One of a Kind, visit oneofakindshowchicago.com.
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