The new shop will spotlight returning brands like Refine Studio as well as a curated selection of independent labels across apparel, accessories, beauty, wellness, homeware, including Armantia, and Pink Root Products. Originally focused on brands spanning the diaspora, the revamp shows the platform expanding its reach. Labels from South America, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the US, provide a truly global shopping experience. Newly introduced filters allow brands to support companies based on country, owner identity, and more. Say you want to support an emerging Latinx LGBTQIA+ brand or an eco-friendly femme AAPI-owned brand—the search feature helps you intentionally shop. “There’s nothing out there right now where you can touch 44 different countries and be able to filter and find exactly what you’re looking for,” says Rasool.
Understanding that one of the “biggest barriers to working with independent brands, especially those in distant emerging markets, is shipping,” the shipping structure has also been streamlined. With the new platform, customers will benefit from shipping deals that cap costs at $35 to $45 for orders from multiple brands, making it easier and more affordable to explore and purchase from a diverse range of labels.
In addition to the online enhancements, the platform is gearing up for a series of consumer pop-up shops set to take place in New York and Accra, with the first The Folklore Residency taking place in Los Angeles, October 17–30. “We are, giving you the passport to access these products that you would probably [would] never have access to otherwise,” Rasool says. The goal of these events is to provide an immersive, in-person shopping experience that brings the brands’ stories to life and strengthens the connection between consumers and the creators. Echoing back to the brand’s ethos of exploration and accessibility.
