
Stand out with custom art, clothing and accessories from this boutique that Nefetari Dennard started in 2007. “I started it because my parents wouldn’t let me get a job. They wanted me to focus solely on education,” she says. “So my dad gifted me $100, took me to a craft store and told me if I wanted to work, I would work for myself.” Her one-of-a-kind tie-dyed clothing pieces were an instant hit; the jewelry is also popular.
Nef runs the business with help from her sister Nzinga Dennard, owner of Tallahassee’s Zing Bakery. “I love that [our entrepreneurship] inspires others. They see someone they can relate to and begin their own small business journey,” says Nef, who supports her community by hosting an annual arts festival, scholarships and more. “We subconsciously encourage others to believe in themselves no matter their age or race. I also love that we can showcase ourselves as ourselves. You can see that we aren’t a monolith, and that is super important. When you see our pictures, you see afros, braids, Bantu knots, pineapple buns and care-free joy.”
This Business Supports “Minority Economic Development