Vanguard by Shopify Studios
20 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 27 ratingsHow unexplored communities and unexpected subcultures make money today.
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Episodes
How A Tribe Called Red Brought Activism to the Dance Floor
September 11, 2019 09:00 - 18 minutes - 23.9 MBBear Witness is a co-founder of A Tribe Called Red, a Canadian DJ collective that blends hip hop and EDM with traditional pow wow drums and vocals. As a teen, Bear was part of the local rave scene. He began to wonder what raves would look like if they had a more focused goal. In response, he created A Tribe Called Red. Site A Tribe Called Red Social Profiles Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Soundcloud Additional Music A Tribe Called Red - "The OG featuring Black Bear" Host Ansh...
This Latinx Bath Brand Is Bubbling with Nostalgia
September 04, 2019 09:00 - 18 minutes - 23.3 MBEstefania Rodriguez is the founder of Brewbles Studio, a bath and body shop that sells products based on nostalgia and Latinx culture. Estefania began making bath bombs as a form of self-care and a way to manage her mental illness. To make ends meet, she started selling them. And the business took off...fast. This is what happened next. Store Brewbles Social Profiles Instagram Host Anshuman Iddamsetty Producers Phoebe Wang Emma Fedderson Rachel Rath Anshuman Iddamsetty Senior Sup...
The Unique Voice Behind Gender-fluid Wellness Products
August 28, 2019 09:00 - 16 minutes - 22.2 MBGloria Noto is the founder of NOTO Botanics, an all-natural, multi-use, gender-fluid cosmetic line committed to activism and giving back back. After almost 10 years as a makeup artist, Gloria decided to start a company focused on making the beauty and wellness space more inclusive. Store NOTO Botanics Social Profiles Instagram Facebook Pinterest Host Anshuman Iddamsetty Producers Phoebe Wang Emma Fedderson Anshuman Iddamsetty Senior Supervising Producer Tammi Downey Engineer S...
Meet the Nigerian Publisher Heating Up African Romance Novels
August 21, 2019 09:00 - 21 minutes - 26.9 MBBibi Bakare-Yusuf is the publishing director of Cassava Republic Press and Ankara Press. After launching a publishing company to offer a platform for contemporary African writers, Bibi had another idea: why not start a romance novel-imprint that put black women at the center of the story? This is what happened next. Store Ankara Press Social Profiles Twitter Recommended James Baldwin's Another Country Sweet Honey in the Rock "Ella's Song" Host Anshuman Iddamsetty Producers Phoebe ...
This Artist Conjured a Magical World of Black Anime Characters
August 14, 2019 09:00 - 19 minutes - 24.7 MBJacque Amadi is the head magical girl of Adorned By Chi, a lifestyle business based on anime-inspired fashion. Jacque is quick to admit she runs her business with emotion first, facts and figures second. An approach that wouldn’t scale. But after launching the Adorned By Chi manga, a comic about Nigerian university students with magical super powers, Jacque’s ready for her next act: Licensing deals inspired by the Adorned By Chi brand. Store Adorned By Chi Social Profiles Facebook Insta...
How Northbound Leather Became a Thriving Fetish Wear Company
August 07, 2019 09:00 - 17 minutes - 23.3 MBGeorge Giaouris is the owner of Northbound Leather. While working in his family's leather business, George saw an opportunity to support queer and kink-friendly customers who had a profound connection with leather, like he did. Over the last 30 years, George turned the business into the premier destination for bespoke leather fashion and fetish wear. Store Northbound Leather Social Profiles Facebook Instagram Twitter Host Anshuman Iddamsetty Producers Phoebe Wang Emma Fedderson A...
He Ditched A Government Job to Start a Skin-Care Line for Men of Color
July 31, 2019 09:00 - 19 minutes - 24.6 MBPatrick Boateng II is the CEO and founder of Ceylon by Anim Labs. When Patrick was working overseas in Asia, he had it all: a stable job, opportunities for travel. But when he started having problems with his skin, Patrick realized that most skincare products weren’t made with black men in mind. Solving a problem for himself and in turn, others, he decided to leave his job and start a skin-care line for men of color. Store Ceylon by Anim Labs Social Profiles Facebook Instagram Twitter ...
The Lengths This Indigenous Jeweller Went to for Her Craft
July 24, 2019 09:00 - 20 minutes - 25.6 MBTania Larsson is a maker of Gwich’in fine jewelry. When she was 15, Tania left France and moved to Northern Canada to learn more about her Gwich’in heritage. The learning curve was steep, but Tania began making and selling jewelry created through traditional Gwich’in techniques, and her work has been featured in one of the most influential fashion magazines in the world: Vogue Store Tania Larsson Studio Social Profiles Facebook Instagram To learn more about the residential school syste...
She Traded a Career in Law For High Fashion Hijabs
July 17, 2019 09:00 - 22 minutes - 27.5 MBMelanie Elturk is the CEO of Haute Hijab, a brand that makes high fashion hijabs. Melanie left a successful legal career to launch a global brand dedicated to the hijab. This is how she came to that decision. Store Haute Hijab Social Profiles Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Host Anshuman Iddamsetty Producers Phoebe Wang Natalie Plourde Emma Fedderson Anshuman Iddamsetty Senior Supervising Producer Tammi Downey Engineer Jason ‘Metal’ Donkersgoed Musical Score Jim Guthrie
How a Single Mom Grew a Million Dollar Business Selling Textured Hair Extensions
July 10, 2019 09:00 - 22 minutes - 27.8 MBVivian Kaye is the CEO of KinkyCurlyYaki, a brand that makes premium textured hair extensions for Black women. When Vivian saw an opportunity to start a business that celebrates black beauty, she went all in, and grew it into a million-dollar company. This is how it happened. Store KinkyCurlyYaki Social Profiles Facebook Instagram Recommended Ebony Magazine Brand Nubian Host Anshuman Iddamsetty Producers Tanya Hoshi Emma Fedderson Anshuman Iddamsetty Senior Supervising Produce...
Introducing Vanguard Season 2
July 03, 2019 09:00 - 1 minute - 8.53 MBHere’s a sneak peek of our second season.
The Anti-Capitalists Selling Gender Confirming Products
March 20, 2019 09:00 - 23 minutes - 28 MBNoah Kloeze is one of three worker-owners of Gender Gear, a collective that sells gender confirming products for trans and gender variant people. After an uncomfortable encounter at their physical location, the collective had to radically rethink their business. This is what happened. Store: Gender Gear, Come As You Are Recommended: Feist, Peaches Host Anshuman Iddamsetty Producers Michelle Macklem Emma Fedderson Anshuman Iddamsetty Senior Supervising Producer Tammi Downey Enginee...
Monsters Are His Friends
March 13, 2019 09:00 - 24 minutes - 29.1 MBJerry Parrino is the owner of The Horror Dome. By the time he was 46, Jerry was burning out from a thankless day job. He decided to quit and bet everything on his dream of running a Halloween-based side business. How did he come to that decision? Store: The Horror Dome Recommended: Big Foot Claim a Fake, Ex-Enthusiast Says Host Anshuman Iddamsetty Producers Michelle Macklem Emma Fedderson Anshuman Iddamsetty Senior Supervising Producer Tammi Downey Engineer Jason ‘Metal’ Donkersg...
The Designer Making Truly Plus Luxury Clothing
March 06, 2019 10:00 - 27 minutes - 31.9 MBTamara Malas is the maker of a luxury plus womenswear collection offering clothes up to a size 32. Tamara was living the dream working in high-end fashion, but the body shaming and fatphobia of the industry was too much to bear. How did she recover from her trauma and launch a luxury clothing line for the truly plus? Store: Tamara Malas Recommended: The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Curvy Con Host Anshuman Iddamsetty Producers Michelle Macklem Emma Fedderson Anshuman Iddams...
The Critic Changing Comic Books
February 27, 2019 10:00 - 26 minutes - 30.7 MBZainab Akhtar is the publisher of ShortBox, a mail order box for independent comic books. Zainab wanted to change the way independent comics were sold but as a visibly Muslim woman, her efforts were often dismissed. How did she enter a market designed to exclude her? Store: ShortBox Recommended: Thought Bubble, Critical Chips, Toni Morrison’s quote on race Host Anshuman Iddamsetty Producers Michelle Macklem Emma Fedderson Anshuman Iddamsetty Senior Supervising Producer Tammi Downey...
What Drives an All-Femme Skate Crew
February 20, 2019 10:00 - 27 minutes - 32.4 MBArianna Gil is the cofounder of Brujas, a Bronx-based skate crew and streetwear brand dedicated to radical political action. But the politics behind their clothes are often overlooked by mainstream gatekeepers and too radical for social media. How do they get their message out? Store: Brujas Recommended: 1971, F2L, The Attica Prison Riot Host Anshuman Iddamsetty Producers Michelle Macklem Emma Fedderson Anshuman Iddamsetty Senior Supervising Producer Tammi Downey Engineer Jason ‘...
Why These Wigs Are Made By Drag Queens
February 13, 2019 10:00 - 27 minutes - 31.9 MBVanity is the cofounder of Wigs by Vanity, the makers of luxury synthetic lace front wigs for drag queens. Vanity quickly cornered the drag market, but her business was always a side hustle. What made her decide to go full-time? Store: Wigs by Vanity Recommended: RuPaul’s Drag Race, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert Host Anshuman Iddamsetty Producers Michelle Macklem Emma Fedderson Anshuman Iddamsetty Senior Supervising Producer Tammi Downey Engineer Jason ‘Metal’ Donkersgoed Music...
The Asian Gay Thing
February 06, 2019 10:00 - 33 minutes - 37.2 MBAnne Ishii is the co-founder of MASSIVE GOODS, an agency and lifestyle brand featuring art from queer and feminist artists from Japan. In a single year, Anne suffered two tragic losses — any one of them would have destroyed her business. How did she survive the impossible? Store: MASSIVE GOODS Recommended: Gengoroh Tagame, Opening Ceremony, New York Art Book Fair, Toronto Comic Art Festival Host Anshuman Iddamsetty Producers Michelle Macklem Emma Fedderson Anshuman Iddamsetty Senior...
The Beyoncé of Tarot
January 30, 2019 10:00 - 35 minutes - 39.5 MBCourtney Alexander is the maker of Dust II Onyx: A Melanated Tarot, a Tarot deck designed for a black audience. Dust II Onyx was an instant hit, but the emotional toll of success almost destroyed Courtney. Was it worth it? Store: Dust II Onyx Recommended: University of South Florida, Wangechi Mutu, The Hoodwitch, Dust II Onyx: An Interview With Courtney Alexander Host Anshuman Iddamsetty Producers Michelle Macklem Emma Fedderson Anshuman Iddamsetty Senior Supervising Producer Tammi...
Welcome to Vanguard by Shopify Studios
January 18, 2019 17:36 - 1 minute - 8.63 MBVanguard by Shopify Studios explores the human stories of entrepreneurship from unexpected corners of our current moment.