Hey now! I'm in the Spruce's list of 26 Black Owned Business to shop this Black history month! There are so many cool things on this list and I'm honored to be in such creative and amazing company.
They selected my 'Little George' print which you can shop here on the site or check it out the full list and the other Black owned businesses here: https://www.thespruce.com/26-best-home-decor-gifts-from-black-owned-businesses-and-brands-5086794
]]>I started All Very Goods almost two years ago. My goal was, and is, to create a brand that supports Black women and Black people through products and designs that celebrate our history, beauty, innovation, complexity and resilience. The products I create come from my own experiences and observations, hours of research and hundreds of design iterations.
I do my best to be honest when I'm designing. I think that is part of what people connect with when they see my stuff. I had someone tell me that she wears her Big Chop bandana when she gets her breast cancer treatments; that it’s like having a sister there with her. I can’t put into words how much that means to me.
I also get messages from other women who are running their own business and have shops that sell my goods. They see something special in what I do and want to work with me to help grow both of our businesses. They’ve taught me that the best way for us to succeed is to do this together.
I remain convinced of that.
A few days ago, at 11:20PM, I got a DM from someone threatening legal action and demanding that I immediately take my "Power Button" products off my website. She insisted that I was infringing on her ‘trademark’ because I used the phrase "fists up afros out" on one of the 25 buttons included in the designs. I had never heard of her or her brand. I did some research and pretty quickly understood that there was no infringement. I sent her a cordial response and then reached out to my lawyer. I wanted to make sure my understanding was correct and to get his advice on the best way to offer to work with her.
Unfortunately, LESS THAN 36 HOURS after I received her first DM, while I was waiting for my lawyer to get back to me, she went on the attack on Instagram and Twitter. She tagged me and called me “disgusting, disrespectful and lazy.” She accused me of stealing her “logo, concepts, and work.” She told her almost 80K followers to report me (report me to whom, exactly?) and posted a video where she says she wants to ‘fight me”
Look, I’m a Black woman, running her own business in the time of COVID-19 and Trump. Everyday there is something to be legitimately angry about. My gut reaction is often to want to fight first and ask questions later. But as satisfying as it is to set bridges and houses on fire, I’ve learned that my business has to be built with a cornerstone of patience and kindness, or at a minimum, civility.
2020 was frequently shitty and I’m sure 2021 is going to bring some tough lessons of its own. Nevertheless, this year, I will continue to grow All Very Goods while I help other women and while I move forward with deliberate, thoughtful purpose. I guess this is a kind of 'name it so you can claim it' testimonial. Now that it’s out there, I hope you will continue to support me and stay tuned for what’s to come. I'm really, really excited about it.
Best, Ama
]]>OFFICIAL PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM ALL VERY GOODS
ALL VERY GOODS VIA ATTORNEY ANDELL BROWN & ASSOCIATES HAS DEMANDED AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2020 THAT HAZEL A. DENNIS AKA BLACHAZ3 OF FISTS UP AFROS OUT IMMEDIATELY CEASE AND DESIST ALL DEFAMATION, SLANDER, AND LIBEL COMMUNICATION REGARDING ALL VERY GOODS' BRAND, CHARACTER AND REPUTATION, INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY VIA ALL HAZEL A. DENNIS’ SOCIAL MEDIA AND DIGITAL PLATFORMS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, AND SNAPCHAT, LITIGATION WILL BE PURSUED AGAINST HAZEL A. DENNIS AKA BLACHAZ3 FOR THE FALSE AND HARMFUL STATEMENTS MADE ON DECEMBER 30, 2020, PER THE CEASE AND DESIST LETTER SENT BY ALL VERY GOODS ATTORNEY. FURTHERMORE, ALL VERY GOODS ALSO DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE RETRACTION, WRITTEN AND VISUAL, OF ALL STATEMENTS ACCUSING ALL VERY GOODS OF STEALING FROM FISTS UP AFROS OUT, AND THREATENING TO FIGHT THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY ON VIDEO, INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY, VIA ALL HAZEL A. DENNIS AKA BLACHAZ3'S SOCIAL MEDIA AND DIGITAL PLATFORMS THAT INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, AND SNAPCHAT.
ALL VERY GOODS DID NOT STEAL OR INFRINGE UPON THE FISTS UP AFROS OUT TRADEMARK WHEN INITIALLY USING GOOGLE TO RESEARCH BUTTONS FOR ALL VERY GOODS’ POWER BUTTON BRAND. ALL VERY GOODS STATED THIS IN ITS INITIAL RESPONSE TO FISTS UP AFROS OUT EMAIL COMMUNICATION CONCERNING THEIR WORDMARK. IN ADDITION, WHEN NOTIFIED ON DECEMBER 28, 2020, ALL VERY GOODS RESPONDED APPROPRIATELY; AND WHEN ALL VERY GOODS RECEIVED A SECOND EMAIL IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS ON DECEMBER 29, 2020 AT 12:37 P.M., THE COMPANY SOUGHT OUT THE ADVICE OF ITS LEGAL COUNSEL BEFORE RESPONDING. NEVERTHELESS, HAZEL A. DENNIS AKA BLACHAZ3 OF FISTS UP AFROS OUT CHOSE TO, ON DECEMBER 30, 2020 AT 9:00 A.M., PROCEED TO CONDUCT A CAREFULLY CRAFTED SOCIAL MEDIA BLAST AND CALL TO ARMS TO PUBLICLY DEFAME, BULLY, SHAME, THREATEN TO FIGHT, AND ASSASSINATE THE CHARACTER OF ALL VERY GOODS - A BLACK OWNED, WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS - TO THEIR MORE-THAN 80,000 FOLLOWERS UNDER THE LIE THAT ALL VERY GOODS WAS UNRESPONSIVE, WHEN THERE IS CLEAR EVIDENCE TO PROVE ALL VERY GOODS WAS STILL IN COMMUNICATION WITH FISTSUPAFROSOUT@GMAIL.COM.
SHOULD THE CHARACTER ASSASSINATION AND DEFAMATION CONTINUE, AS STATED IN THE CEASE-AND-DESIST LETTER SENT TO FISTS UP AFROS OUT, ALL VERY GOODS VIA ITS ATTORNEYS WILL MOVE FORWARD LEGAL ACTION. ALL VERY GOODS TAKES THREATS OF TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, DEFAMATION, CHARACTER ASSASSINATION, AND BULLYING IN THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC AND SOCIAL MEDIA SPACE OR ANY DIGITAL MEDIA OR DEVICES SERIOUSLY.
ANY AND ALL FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE, INCLUDING EMAILS, HARASSMENTS OR THREATS VIA TEXTS, SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTS, DIRECT OR PRIVATE MESSAGES WILL BE FORWARDED TO ANDELL BROWN & ASSOCIATES AT 305.938.8385.
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"I've been around the world. Seen many faces"
By the time I was 14, I had lived in 4 countries and 3 states but DC was, is and will always be home.
I'm thrilled to be part of DC Design Week this year. The level of creativity, craft and innovation from the other designers and artists is off the charts. The fact that we get to show people how amazing DC is from our perspectives, makes it even sweeter.
Check out all of the companies, artists and makers in their directory here:
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We've got a full write up at Refinery29! And it's so good!! Thanks to Eliza and all the folks there for the feature and for understanding our mission and purpose. Click the image to read the article.
]]>We're featured in Jonathan Adler's 'J'Approve!' blog as one of trend expert and lifestyle guru Dayna Isom Johnson's favorite things!
Click on the image to see the full article!
]]>Our face masks and the Cherry Blossom Bandana are featured in the Washington Post's Going Out Guide: June 15, 2020. Click on the image to read the full article and find other local DC makers and brands!
]]>The Kente of Gees bandana is featured in the Washington Post Mother's Day Gift Guide 2020. Click on the image to read the article and shop other local businesses.
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