Today we’d like to introduce you to Mona Shanell.
Hi Mona, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am the owner and designer of The Brown Girl Bag Company. This journey began in 2016 when this was originally a t-shirt business named MentaliTees. My brand was focused towards Black empowerment and being proud during a time of division in our country. As time moved forward we as people began gaining traction in getting our voices heard. Right as the pandemic hit, there was shift in the movement where I feel the narrative became less angry and we as people became more proud. Proud of who we are. Proud of what we have and will continue to overcome. This is the type of pride we carry with us every single day.
In 2021, The Brown Girl Bag Company was created with this exact concept in mind. Representing all that we carry with us throughout the day. Each bag that I design embodies a story and a sense of pride that sets the tone within our journey. We carry a variety of children’s book bags, lunch bags, canvas totes, travel bags, gym bags and more.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The life of an entrepreneur is never smooth, but the work is so very rewarding. Giving someone a reason to smile is worth every hardship that I have faced.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in creating beautiful vibrant pieces that represent the African American culture. I am most proud of the custom book bags I make for African American children. To see their faces light up when they see their bookbag for the first time and the image looks like them. I love to see the first day of school pictures and how proud they are walking into class in full representation. We didn’t have that growing up. I came from a time where there weren’t any bookbags or school supplies with black or brown images. Our babies are growing up in an era where they no longer have to adapt to fit in but are now celebrated for standing out. I am excited to be a part of that.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
So there is definitely a few key components to be successful. One of the most important is your ability to fail. It is only through failure that we learn the greatest lessons. So fail often and fail forward. It is also imperative to be coachable. A person who thinks they know everything doesn’t really know anything at all. Last but not least is self-discipline. Such as getting up earlier to have more time to work on goals; pushing through on the days you don’t feel like it; or turning your favorite show off to update your website. Success is something you can’t cheat. It only gives back what you put in.
Contact Info:
- Email: browngirl@bgbc.co
- Website: www.bgbc.co
- Instagram: instagram.com/_browngirlco
- Other: linktr.ee/BrownGirlCo
