Malaika Apparel
An international apparel and lifestyle company that aims to bridge the gap between the Pan-African diaspora through various forms or accurate and dignified forms of representation.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
$3.9k | Seed | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
Malaika Collective, formerly known as Malaika Apparel Co., operates as a community-based multimedia collective and creative agency headquartered in New York City. The firm's evolution began with Malaika Apparel, founded in 2015 by Rita Bunatal while she was a college student, with the goal of celebrating African culture through fashion. This venture was financed with scholarship money to produce the initial run of t-shirts. In 2020, the enterprise rebranded to Malaika Collective to reflect its expanded mission beyond clothing.
The founder, Rita Bunatal, holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication Management and Design with a focus on Corporate Communications, alongside minors in African Diaspora Studies & Communication Studies. Her background includes marketing roles at SheaMoisture Hair Care and Come Back Daily, a CBD wellness center in NYC. A first-generation Ghanaian and Kenyan American, her personal journey and experiences, including a viral photo campaign called "The Real Africa: Fight the Stereotype," directly fuel the company's mission to reshape narratives and empower the Black and African creative community.
The business is structured around two main pillars: Malaika Apparel and Studio Malaika. Malaika Apparel is the fashion brand dedicated to narrating Black and African stories through its merchandise, with designs inspired by the culture and history of the African diaspora. Studio Malaika functions as the 360 creative agency arm, providing services such as brand strategy, web and graphic design, creative direction, and production services like photography and videography. This division serves small businesses, non-profits, corporations, and individual creators. Revenue is generated through the sale of apparel and by providing these creative and consulting services.
Malaika Collective's core mission is to provide a platform and safe space for Black creatives and entrepreneurs to thrive. It aims to preserve and promote Black culture by offering resources, workshops, and an exclusive online community for connection and collaboration. The collective intentionally fosters opportunities for artists, designers, and entrepreneurs in New York City and across the African diaspora, bridging the gap between heritage and contemporary creative expression.
Keywords: creative agency, Black creatives, African diaspora, brand strategy, multicultural marketing, creative design, community building, apparel brand, cultural preservation, content creation, social impact, event curation, web design, graphic design, NYC creative agency, empowering entrepreneurs, Black-owned business, storytelling through fashion, multimedia collective, Rita Bunatal