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“Our mission is to make black and brown bandages the norm,” Heal In Colour founder Tianna McFarlane told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview on Sunday, noting that her bandages come in two sizes and three shades (honey, almond and chestnut).

“I want Black and brown people to have the opportunity to feel confident in their skin as they heal. And get to have that exact match that doesn’t stand out as much as the lighter, white ones.”

The idea for her startup began while her skin was cut on vacation in 2019. She scoured a handful of stores but couldn’t find bandages which matched her black skin and “wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb.”

“What I saw on shelves when I went looking for bandages was white and more white,” she said.

McFarlane had to settle with whatever was there, but in that moment, she saw an opportunity.

So over the past two years, McFarlane has been coming up with the look for her bandages and working out manufacturing deals. And last month, she officially launched her company and its website.

And because of the pandemic, McFarlane, an administrative assistant at York University, was able to focus and “really got to put the pedal to the metal.”

Since launching, McFarlane said she’s sold nearly 300 boxes of Heal In Colour bandages and generated just under $2,500 in sales. She said orders have come in from a wide swath of Canadians, including doctors, teachers, coaches, and personal trainers.

The marches to end police brutality and anti-Black racism last year led to multiple companies pledging to change hiring practices and rename long-held problematic names. For its part, Band-Aid launched bandages for black and brown skin in the U.S., a move that came 99 years into the company’s history.

But McFarlane couldn’t help but feel the action was performative and asked why Band-Aid and its parent company, Johnson & Johnson, had taken so long to do it.

“Why did they not want to cater to the Black and brown community for all these years?”

“We’re proud of the fact we were first to market in Canada with this unique product,” McFarlane said, noting that similar products are mostly based out of the U.S. “Our success is further proof that startups – in this case, one that is Black owned, and woman owned – can innovate rapidly and use diversity as a strength to reach new markets.”

She wants to see her brand become a household name and is currently in the process of getting her Heal In Colour line into chains such as Wal-Mart and Shoppers Drug Mart. Beginning this summer, they’ll be available in the York University bookstore.

“I just want to be inspiring and show other Black women that they can start something too from nothing.”

Source: CTV News

Website : https://www.healincolour.ca/

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TAJ CHARLES is the namesake label of Ottawa born, Toronto based designer Tajah Charles.

She had a dream of being a fashion designer since the age of 12, but found a specific love of lounge and lingerie as a young adult.

TAJ CHARLES aims to add color and life to your lounge and lingerie wardrobe whether day to day at home, or for a special occasion. She believes everyday deserves luxury and one of the areas we often overlook a touch of luxury is in our “home clothes”. 

“Why not wear your favourite satin robe when no one is around on a Tuesday evening. Why do we always have to wait to dress our best or for someone or something special to come around. You are the special one and the special occasion is anytime you decide. I really wanted to find more options in addition to the ultra sexy lingerie, that people would turn to day to day that aren’t “basic” in terms of the fabrics and colours used.” – Tajah Charles

PRODUCTION AND SUSTAINABILITY

All of our items are handmade in Toronto, Canada by Tajah and her small team. We do our best to source local and Canadian as much as possible. We currently work on a Pre Order system to ensure we are only using the fabric that we know is being made into a final product. We also cut to ensure we maximize the use of our fabric and actively recycle or donate our fabric scraps.

We aim to have as little plastic as possible in our packaging and we encourage our customers to recycle what they can according to their local recycling programs.

As we grow we will continue to look for ways to ensure our business is making as little a footprint as possible in the world we live in by finding new innovative ways to package and produce our products.

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Who We Are

Cup of Té is a premier online retailer of loose leaf organic teas and teaware. Based in Ontario, Canada, we are dedicated to enriching lives through the experience of premium teas specially made from organic ingredients with each taste offering unique benefits to tea lovers all over the world and every drop telling a story.

Our journey began in 2008 when founder Taylor Lindsay-Noel, an aspiring Olympic gymnast, suffered a devastating accident while in training that left her paralyzed and in a wheelchair.

Driven to overcome her challenges and transform her situation into something meaningful and extremely valuable to lives, she launched Cup of Té in 2018 with the goal of providing the world’s finest loose leaf organic teas and teaware.

Our Products

At Cup of Té, we offer the very best organic teas and teaware. From organic Sencha Green, Organic Jasmine to Organic Earl Grey, we love to bring aromatic heritage blends that are naturally enriched with antioxidants without falling short on their savory tastes. Whether you appreciate something sustainable and wholly natural with refreshing flavors, we provide an exclusive range of crafts from Berry, Coconut, Lemon Ginger, and Chai – all enwrapped with super freshness, and ethically sourced from authentic growers across the globe.Our core values set us apart from our competition, as we take pride in the quality and unique blends of our products while ensuring that each tea is hand selected, organic and ethically sourced. We are incredibly proud to be your one-stop destination for extraordinary teas, crafted to stimulate all of your senses while promoting health and wellness.

Our Mission

Driven to overcome her challenges and redefine her situation into something meaningful, Taylor launched Cup of Té with the aim of transcending her passion for organic teas while infusing something extra-benefitting to communities by donating $1 from each Starter Kit to mental health awareness.

Customers Service

Here at Cup of Té, customers satisfaction is at the forefront of everything we do. We love our customers and ensure every step of the way is taken with love and profound commitments to offering exceptional value to our customers. For every moment you spent on our site, we strive to make your experience as memorable as possible!

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At So Supple Organics, we believe that simple and natural is better when it comes to skincare. We offer handmade skincare and hair care products made from all natural and organic ingredients.Our formulations are inspired by ancient beauty recipes used from time immemorial to maintain beautiful and healthy skin and hair. We are proudly located in TORONTO, CANADA! Our products are made of the highest quality natural and organic butters, oils and herbs sourced from Ghana, India and Australia.Our products are handmade, so you can be sure that each ingredient is carefully chosen for a beneficial purpose. We do not use any unnecessary ingredients such as fillers or deodorants.Our facial skincare line is fragrance free, only the natural fragrance of each ingredient is present. This is perfect for people with sensitive skin!If you have any questions, feel free to email us at info@sosuppleorganics.com.

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The Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) is a partnership between the Government of Canada, Black-led business organizations, and financial institutions. With an investment of up to $221 million over four years, it will help Black Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs grow their businesses and succeed now and into the future.

Components of the program

National Ecosystem Fund

The National Ecosystem Fund will support not-for-profit Black-led business organizations across the country in their capacity to provide support, mentorship, financial planning, and business training for Black entrepreneurs.

Call for concepts closed: December 21, 2020. We are no longer accepting applications.

Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund

The Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund is a partnership between the Government, Black-led business organizations, and several financial institutions. It will provide loans up to $250,000 to Black business owners and entrepreneurs across the country.

Details to come

Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub

The Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub will conduct research on Black entrepreneurship in Canada. It will help identify barriers to success and opportunities for growth. The Hub will be led by not-for-profit Black-led community and business organizations in partnership with educational institutions.

Deadline for applications: January 18, 2021, at 2 pm (PST)

For more information

Information sessions were held on December 4 and December 11 regarding the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Fund and the Knowledge Hub. If you would like a recording of these sessions or a transcript, please send your request to ic.bep-pecn.ic@canada.ca.

Canadians who would like to provide feedback or find out more information about the Black Entrepreneurship Program, please contact ic.bep-pecn.ic@canada.ca.

Visit Managing your business during COVID-19 for more information about other financial support available to Canadians.

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