Today we’d like to introduce you to Raven Barrett.
Hi Raven, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Well, I’ll try to make a long story short:
I became a mother and wanted to pay homage to the very woman who poured so much for their time and love into my life, my pregnancy, and now my daughter’s life. It was important to me to create something that was unique to the Black community, let alone Black mothers. The first thing I could think about was designing shirts that had Black mom lingos on it i.e., “Stay outta grown folk business.” From there, it evolved into shirts that empowered us, empowered our children, bodysuits that made us feel sexy as we adapt into our bodies as new mothers, to weekly conversations that promote growth within motherhood, womanhood, and Black culture, to now a podcast in the works.
A lot of people always ask where I got the name “Cocoiv” from, and the coco represents the various shades of brown that Black women come in. The “iv” represents my daughter. She is the fourth generation, born in April (the fourth month), born at 8:22. 8-2-2 is four. Four is also a life-affirming number and a lesson you must learn in order to move forward in life, and my baby girl embodies just that.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Baby, it’s been potholes, construction zones, literally everything but a smooth road.
From trying to balance motherhood and a business, learning everything about a business all by myself, to my account balance being below zero and trying to figure out how I was still going to purchase inventory, it has all been a learning experience to say the least.
As you know, we’re big fans of Cocoiv. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
My business is called Cocoiv (ko-ko-i-vy), which is a part lifestyle brand, part motherhood community that illustrates the spectrum of Black motherhood through apparel and conversations. Our mission is to curate spaces where Black women can authentically be heard, seen, and celebrated while encouraging growth of our community through conversations. Our cultural references and experiences are represented in our products, and each piece tells a story of its own.
Outside of our products, every Wednesday on our Instagram, we have a “grown folk business” session where we discuss a topic that surrounds motherhood, womanhood, or Black culture. Once a month, typically the last Wednesday of every month as well, we do an IG live with our coco mamas and have a virtual dialogue where we are able to answer questions about whatever topic is at hand. We also have a blog on our site called HERstories, where Black mothers submit their stories as a way to release and remind one another that we are not alone in our journeys.
The thing that sets Cocoiv apart is that this is more than just a t-shirt company. It is a real person, a real Black woman, a real Black mother behind the operations of everything that genuinely enjoys seeing Black women be the main event in any and all aspects. I create for us. I give us space for our stories to be told by us. I want us to look good. I want us to be celebrated.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
To be honest, I do not believe in luck. Everything is divine timing or either God’s will. There have been seasons where business has been slow, or I have questioned why certain things are happening at a certain time, but hindsight looking back, I know that I wasn’t prepared for the blessings I was asking God for, and I realize that the “bad” luck was actually character development that I needed to fully step into my “good” luck.
Pricing:
- Tees- $28.95
- Sweatshirts- $55.00
- Hats- $30.00
- Rings- $30.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cocoiv.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/cocoivbrand
- Twitter: cocoivbrand
- Other: https://linktr.ee/cocoiv
Image Credits
mama photo
Ashley Qualls
Latrice Kilgo
