https://www.etsy.com/shop/UrbanSoulJah?ref=shop_sugg
It all started 4 yrs ago. My sister Amie Nogami and I were teaching Zumba Fitness classes together out of different church parish centers on the NW side of Rockford, IL. There was not too many people that would would take a chance with any business on our "deteriorating " side of town. We wanted to bring something positive to our "hood". Our classes consisted mainly of a hip hop, dancehall, and reggaeton music. Over a short period of time we had a large following of women who coined the name MAS CREW, "Women Encouraging Women". What developed was beautiful, a large crew of real women attending classes for more than fitness. These women came for emotional support, stress relief, and the sisterhood that was formed. My sis and I realized that there are a lot of broken, hurting women needing encouragement and support. Being that we had both experienced hardships in our own lives and conquered those trials, we felt led to help these ladies see their own worth. So many women are competitive with each other and tear one another down....my sis and I encouraged women to keep it real and not feel ashamed to admit when they are in a pit and need encouragement.... to help one another lending a hand to pull each other back up on top of the world. Over the past 4 years we developed many encouraging t-shirts, tanks, hats, and bags for our crew as a way to feel connected with these women. As people would say, we were always "hustling" shirts & hats out of the trunk of my car or at classes. We realized the power in words and designs on the t-shirts had so much meaning to us and those who wore them. No faster than we would print them, they would sell out. The shirts stood for all we believed in, and we all felt part of something beautiful "Women Encouraging Women". This is where the desire developed to start an online t-shirt business that would inspire and encourage the world. So 4 years ago at the Zumba Fitness Convention in Orlando, I met Daniel "BRAVEMONK" Haywood. He was not only a Zumba Fitness Instructor but a Chicago Artist, Performer, Choreographer , Educator, International traveler, and founder/creator of BRAVE MOVEMENT DANCE & TRAINING. Some have called him an "Ambassador of Hip Hop" in Chicago, as he is well known and respected in the Hip Hop B-Boying/Breakin Culture. We thought it was interesting how there were thousands of people from all over the world at Convention and we met...him from Chicago and me Rockford...so close. Instantly there was a spiritual soul connection like we had known each other all of our lives. I knew he was different and as i describe it...he "carried the light"... I had never met anyone with a more beautiful humble spirit & soul..We continued to stay in touch...the friendship between Daniel, my sister and I grew, and he became more like family... We all realized how we shared the love for dance, music, diversity, and authenticity in goods and people. We all shared the same desire to encourage and inspire others helping them revive their light and discover their gifts, talents, and worth. We have done several Dance/Zumba/Hip Hop events & projects together...I always have said that God had us meet for a divine reason...and that someday we will know what that reason is...I knew God had plans for us to bless & inspire others together. Over the past 4 years Brave, my sister and I have developed hundreds of shirt ideas/designs which have overloaded the memory in my phone lol...We have discussed for 2 years now starting a t-shirt/hat/merchandise website with our combined ideas...So for 2 years we have tossed names around for our brand. We have all been very busy...Daniel with dance/hip hop related work in Chicago..Amie and I with work, family/raising children and working hard to maintain a location for our students to do Zumba...the timing was not right until now. The past 3-4 months we really felt the urge to find a name. I recently have been making spiritual jewelry, and we felt this was a great way to get started by offering t-shirts and merchandise from the Etsy site along with the jewelry. Between the 3 of us we tossed hundreds of names back and forth...it was important to us that we were patient and waited for the right name to come and we knew we would know it when we heard it....It had to be a name that totally represented us and everything we believe in....and then it happened one afternoon in a matter of about 4 texts between the 3 of us....and it was DIVINE the way we each contributed...and finally the name was birthed...and we all knew that THIS WAS THE NAME...We have legally filed for trademark which is in process, and we are working on our website. We will slowly start to release shirts starting with our "logo" tee. We are very excited to announce the start of something amazing & beautiful that will inspire people all over the world. We are excited to announce our brand...Urban SoulJah.
