Marcia Smith
| Marcia Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 1986 El Paso, TX |
| 🏳️ Nationality | African-American |
| 🎓 Alma mater | Howard University |
| 💼 Occupation | Activist, Designer |
| 🏅 Awards | FORBES Next 1000 2021 |
Marcia Smith is an American activist, designer, and 7-year Army veteran from Washington, D.C.[1]
Early Life
Growing up, she usually spent time in vintage boutiques looking for all the clothes she grew up seeing in amazing music videos. Her favorite pieces included oversized trousers, throwback hoodies, and dope denim jackets. Marcia decided to start designing outfits that not only reflected that style, but also had a message – a strong statement that highlighted Black culture and would be well received by members of the Black community.[2][3]
Smith boldly wore and created clothing with Pan-African hues and phrases like “educated black queen”, “return to the motherland”, and “black power.” She incorporated the nostalgic mood of the 1990s, as well as Black pride and consciousness, into her designs.[4][5]
Her quest began with the design of unique t-shirts for Black fraternities and sororities, and from there, HGC Apparel, formerly Haute Greek Couture, evolved into what we see today.[5][6][7][1]
Education
After being scouted for bowling as a high school sophomore, Smith was offered a full athletic scholarship to Howard University in 2004. Smith went on to be one of the most notable bowlers in the Mid Atlantic Eastern Conference (MEAC), holding a 198 average[8]. She graduated with honors in 2008 with a degree in Sociology.[9][10]
Awards & Achievements
In 2018, Smith’s “Respect Protect Love Black Woman” sweatshirts were highlighted as the featured piece in the Black Women In Hollywood gift bag.[11]
More items were introduced in 2020 and 2021, such as the “Respect Protect Love the Black Woman" scarf, which was featured in the Grammy Awards gift bag as a tribute to African-American culture.[12][13]
As part of its commitment to assist Black businesses, Foot Locker approached Marcia Smith to carry the brand. The footwear retailer promised to invest $200 million in youth-centric Black-owned businesses, increase its marketing spend with Black-owned companies and entrepreneurs, and donate to organizations that promote economic development and advancement for people of color over the next five years to its Black team members and customers.[14] [15]
She was also featured in Forbes as part of their first iteration of the “Next 1000” businesses – a four-part list curated to highlight the top influential businesses of 2021.[1]
Other websites
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Marcia Smith". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
- ↑ Gardner, Chris; Gardner, Chris (2021-03-12). "This Year's Grammy Gift Bag Is Stocked With Inclusive Swag… And Flamin' Hot Chips". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
- ↑ "Support These Black Women Owned Businesses". Bombshell. 2020-06-03. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
- ↑ Gardner, Chris; Gardner, Chris (2021-03-11). "Inside Recording Academy's Most Inclusive Grammy Awards Gift Bags". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Holston, Paul (2017-07-07). "These HBCU entrepreneurs' Afrocentric focus continues to change the clothing game". Andscape. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
- ↑ Peters, Shannon Adducci,Samantha; Adducci, Shannon; Peters, Samantha (2022-02-01). "41 Black-Owned Fashion and Shoe Brands to Support". Footwear News. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
- ↑ "HBCU Grad Creates Seven-Figure Clothing Brand That Empowers". Retrieved 2022-05-27.
- ↑ "w bowl stats 2005 2006 2006ecactournteam by team html". University of Maryland Eastern Shore Athletics. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
- ↑ "2008 - Howard University Commencement Program".
- ↑ "Marcia Smith - Women's Bowling". Howard University Athletics. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
- ↑ "See What It Looked Like Behind The Scenes At The 2018 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards". Essence. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
- ↑ Shenk-Bellamy, Karissa (2019-08-08). "marcia smith: the powerhouse behind hgc apparel". AFROPUNK. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
- ↑ ashleyjoy (2021-03-14). "Sneakers, Skincare, Snacks, More: Check Out The Swag Celebs Will Find Inside The Official Grammys Gift Bag". OK Magazine. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
- ↑ Anyanwu, Obi; Anyanwu, Obi (2021-07-28). "Foot Locker Launches HGC Apparel Partnership Collection". WWD. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
- ↑ Samaha, Barry (2021-07-30). "Sunny Summer Shirts, Collabs Galore, and More of This Week's Coolest Menswear Releases". Esquire. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
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