We were lucky to catch up with Chloe Jackson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Chloe thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with important influences in our lives. Is there a historical figure you look up to?

Throughout my business journey there is one person in particular that I have always looked to as an example of what one person can do with a dream- Nipsey Hussle. He’s taught me so much about the doors a simple clothing brand can open. I started my clothing brand in hopes of funding the community work I wanted to do, and he showed me that it could be done, and how to do it. I admire him for investing in his community, introducing technology in spaces we didn’t know could exist, and that your relationships with people are far more important than the money you make with them. It never sat right with me how people could be so callous to others and call it business, when business is about people, but Nipsey taught me that you can do business with integrity and humanity and I will never forget that.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve always been into fashion since I was a child. I dreamed of going to FIDM for fashion design but I was too afraid and chose a “safer” major- Africana Studies. I chose to be an educator but when I started to wonder who I really was, I returned to self- the young Black girl who dreamed of pursuing fashion. Learning about myself via my college education I am now more prepared than I could’ve been to create fashion that represents me, my culture, and Black women. Yeaux Mama is about encouraging Black women to practice self- care by embracing themselves and returning to self.

Yeaux Mama creates apparel and accessories that celebrate Black women. Black women aren’t allowed to be their full selves in society, & that is reflected in the apparel created for Black women. Our apparel celebrates the many versions of Black women and represents their full selves to the world. As someone on this self- care journey with Black women, I am no expert, but a sister willing to share her experiences so that we can go together instead of alone.

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is being featured in ESSENCE magazine. I never thought an opportunity like that would come so early in my journey and I am forever grateful for the Black woman who saw something in me and my business that led her to contact me. I still can’t believe it!

If you have multiple revenue streams in your business, would you mind opening up about what those streams are and how they fit together?

Yeaux Mama will be hosting more in-person events to add another stream of revenue to the company. We just launched our first event- #AUNTIEFEST this summer. #AUNTIEFEST is a Black women- centered gathering that celebrates “The Village”- the Black women who support other women whether they are kin or friend and the community. In Black American culture, Black women play a major role in supporting family, friends, children and even associates. We want to pay homage to these women by creating an event where they can learn, play and engage with Black women from all over, as a means to promote community, wellness through self- exploration. With our mission being to encourage Black women to return to self, engaging in childhood activities and in practices that help us meet our own needs are what make #AUNTIEFEST a unique experience.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Insecure has to be my most favorite show ever, because I identified so much with Issa’s experiences trying to figure out adulthood and the struggles of creating something that is your own.
An episode aired where Molly was wearing a “Somebody’s Auntie” tee, and everybody I knew and didn’t know, were either congratulating me because they thought it was my brand, mad about somebody copying my brand, or questioning the originality of my brand. In that moment I felt like a failure. Like I didn’t do enough to put my brand out there and build the relationships that would’ve put MY brand on my favorite TV show. I was already aware that this brand made this tee, but I never really felt a way about it until then and I honestly wanted to quit.

I had to take a couple days off social media and speak to a couple of my level-headed friends who provided so much support, grace and space to be human and feel how I felt even when I didn’t think I had the right to feel those feelings. And in that I was able remind myself of these three things: there is enough for everybody, no one is you and that is your power, and there is always an opportunity in a setback. And here I am today, still pushing forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yeauxmama.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/yeauxmama
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyo6VCv8ZRjNeaPRc0Y2NTw