We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shirae Ravenell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shirae below.
Shirae, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
The mission of Curls in the Hood is to curate a platform that resonates with individuals who are multi-passionate – encouraging them to embrace their diverse interests in lifestyle, beauty, fashion, literature, and social commentary. I believe in the power of informed and engaged readers who seek not only inspiration, but also a sense of belonging within our virtual neighborhood. Curls in the Hood is a haven where the richness of our readers’ stories and aspirations is celebrated. I’m seeking to form connections that transcend the boundaries of age, background and interests.
Shirae, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
By trade, I am a fashion industry professional. I started as a merchandising intern at Louis Vuitton, and went on to have a successful career at brands such as Alexander Wang, COACH, and Bandier. I have always worked back of house, product development, production, textile development, etc., however I have been an avid reader and collector of magazines my entire life.
The fashion industry is notoriously siloed. Even switching between product categories can be frowned upon, most people have extremely linear ways of creating workflows. I tried to spread my wings more creatively within the business, but it was always shut down. I was a “math and science” girl, the more artistic endeavors were out of scope for me.
So I created Curls in the Hood. In the process of conjuring up what started off as a newsletter, I realized that I actually did not care about keeping up or reporting on the fashion industry at all. I was inspired by music, and literature, and wellness. Not the buy an expensive skin cream kind, the link up with your homies and create a village, kind. The art direction is my favorite part of creating the magazine every month. Once my writers submit their articles based on the concept, I get to visually bring it to life. You can always count on Curls in the Hood to keep it real. I get the most feedback from our readers in the 60-70 age range, and I am so proud of that. We have found a way to create an intergenerational village of Black women, ages 20-until.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Like most people, 2020-2021 were trying times. I burned out. In 2021 I was the senior director of product development and production for a fashion brand that all but required 60-70 work weeks. My team was exhausted, and I was pulled in more directions than I was being paid to exist in. I received a call from a recruiter to interview with a women’s wellness, CPG company, and I took a leap of faith (and a pay cut) and accepted the role. My quality of life increased exponentially. I also learned that so much of what I had done in the fashion industry was extremely valuable in this new sector. Once I learned the language of my new product category, I was off to the races. Taking that leap of faith freed up the space to work on my magazine.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding part of being an artist and creative is when the work ends up where it belongs. The women that Curls in the Hood have brought into my life are nothing short of amazing. The fact that I have created a platform that allows folks to sometimes publish their first bodies of work, or collaborate on a column or playlist is extremely humbling. My work is a bridge, helping folks get from ideation to execution.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.curlsinthehood.com
- Instagram: @curlsinthehood
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirae-d-ravenell-2aa36684/
- Youtube: @curlsinthehood