Cultured Expressions, a Rahway-based specialty company promoting the creative use of African textiles in sewing, quilting and other DIY projects, has chosen five deserving African Fabric Entrepreneurs to receive its first business grants.
“We’re thrilled to announce the recipients of our first CE BUSINESS GRANT, celebrating African Fabric Entrepreneurship, which has exploded in the past two years,” explains Lisa Shepard Stewart, Cultured Expressions’ owner. The growth of her own business (due in part to the heightened interest in African fabrics, along with and a pandemic-related rise in stay-at-home activities like sewing and quilting), prompted her to create a vehicle to assist like-minded creatives.
The grant program was inspired by the many ways we’ve all had to adjust and pivot our lives in various ways in the COVID era; I felt it was the perfect time to connect with deserving individuals through our first Business Grant Program. It also gives me an opportunity to learn more about “who’s doing what” and to offer help to up-and-coming individuals in our special niche of the textile industry.” The three-part support comes in the form of a cash award, a Cultured Expressions gift card, and business coaching by Shepard Stewart.
Thanks to generous spotaneous donations, the original plan to award three grants was expanded to incude two additional businesses, for a total of five. The recipients are:
- Holland Ngowi, owner of PlushXHolland (designer, bespoke home décor accessories)
$500 Cash Award + $100 CE Gift Card + 4 hours of Artisan Business Coaching
- Sheila Burns-Owens, owner of Her2ndStitch (designer, custom quilted pillows)
- Kimberley Cartwright, owner of Kimberley Pierce Cartwright (instructor, quilting & fiber arts)
$200 Cash Award + $50 CE Gift Card + 2 hours of Artisan Business Coaching
- Lecretia Akines, owner of Dawning Day Creations (designer, sewing instructor, importer)
- Kianga Jinaki, owner of Kianga Art (fiber artist)
$150 Cash Award + $50 CE gift card + 2 hours of Artisan Business Coaching
“Congratulations to the recipients! And thank you to all of the applicants, to our selection committee and to our spontaneous donors, as well as our customers and friends, who made it possible for us to “pay it forward” in this unique way,” said Shepard Stewart.
For further information, email info@CulturedExpressions.com or visit www.CulturedExpressions.com