Sunday, October 04, 2020

Startup African-American-Owned Eyewear Brand Vontélle Launches into Luxury Eyewear Space

Startup eyewear manufacturer Vontélle, LLC is launching a unique brand into the luxury eyewear space, offering awe-striking, ethnic patterns reflecting African, Caribbean, and Latin cultures. 

 Vontélle is planning to launch October 1st. Co-Founder Nancey Harris says, "Our eyewear is original, authentic, distinctive, and invites a conversation. Vontélle will add a cultural richness to the marketplace." Moreover, she stated that the tightly competitive industry lacks African American ownership and strong presence. Vision care is a multi-billion-dollar market in the United States, of which, African-Americans receive less than $3 million dollars annually. "We are under-represented and under-served in this industry," she says, "Through social media, African-Americans have brokered a seat at the table and are demanding that brands and marketers speak to us in ways that resonate culturally and experientially."  

The corporate vision is to become the leading African American woman-owned eyewear design company, that breaks away from the ordinary to be the extraordinary chic and luxurious fashion-forward eyewear brand in the market. Another distinguishing factor that sets Vontélle apart is their insurance replacement program. Vontélle offers a one-year/one-time replacement warranty from the purchase date of your eyewear for stolen, lost, damaged, or broken eyeglass frames. 

Vontélle translated from French means "there she goes," or "you go." These eyewear designs aim to turn heads and command the room. Vontélle's mission is to empower customers to "walk confidently in this world: for every occasion." The company's designs are inspired by highly identifiable African textile designs (including mud cloth and kente cloth), Ankara prints, and newly created trademarked Vontélle textile designs.  

Tracy Vontélle Green is the Co-founder and CEO leading the overall direction of the company, while Harris serves as COO with a focus on operations and product design. The two offer a highly-effective balance of leadership and executive skills.  

The concept for Vontélle was born out of a need of both the founders, who each lost their expensive eyewear within the same year and decided to focus their efforts on making their next purchases from a Black-owned brand. "After searching high and low for glasses that were stylish and had an ethnic flair, we realized they simply didn't exist." Harris says, "That's when Tracy suggested we start our own line."  

Vontélle is committed to celebratory cultural designs that represent global textiles, boldness and beauty. Vontélle is partnering with WIN (Women in Need) in New York, operator of 11 shelters, to provide proceeds and eyewear to women and families in need. This is one initiative illustrating Vontélle's commitment to addressing health disparities in deserving communities of color.

Web Site: www.vontelle.com  


Saturday, October 03, 2020

California to Study Reparations for Black Americans

California will develop detailed proposals for granting reparations to Black Americans under a new law.

The legislation, which was authored by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, a Democrat representing San Diego who is chair of California's Legislative Black Caucus, does not commit to any specific payment. Instead, it establishes a nine-person task force that will study the impact of slavery on Black people in California and recommend to the Legislature what kind of compensation should be provided, who should receive it and what form it will take.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the law on Wednesday.

The task force must give its recommendations to the state Legislature one year after its first meeting.

The law would not limit the reparations to slavery.

But it does require the task force to give special consideration for black people who are descendants of slaves.

Similar proposals have been introduced in Congress for decades but have never passed.

Friday, October 02, 2020

Late Rep. John Lewis' name goes on Troy University building

Just over a month after announcing the change, Troy University has put the new name on one of its signature buildings.

It used to be Bibb Graves Hall that was seated at the head of the quad on its main campus. But that name has been removed.

University officials renamed the building in honor of the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis in August. And on Thursday, the building’s sign officially went up.

Graves was Alabama’s governor in the the 1920s and 30s. He was also a member of the Ku Klux Klan. His name has appeared on multiple buildings in Alabama, as well as a bridge.

Lewis, who was born in Pike County, is best known as a civil rights icon and a political leader in Georgia. He was among those beaten by Alabama State Troopers while marching on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965.

Lewis died in July. Troy University was the site of multiple memorials for him.

[SOURCE: WBRC]

Barack Obama statement on Pres. Trump's Covid-19 diagnosis

Former President, Barack Obama released the following sttaement via Twitter in respose to President Trump's Covid-19 diagnosis:

Michelle and I hope that the President, First Lady, and all those affected by the coronavirus around the country are getting the care they need and are on the path to a speedy recovery.

Obviously, we’re in the midst of a big political battle right now, and while there’s a lot at stake, let’s remember that we’re all Americans. We’re all human beings. And we want everyone to be healthy, no matter our party.

Thursday, October 01, 2020

Black voters 'frustrated' by Trump debate comments

Some African American voters find it frustrating and exhausting that President Donald Trump did not condemn white supremacist groups and their role in violence in some US cities this summer.