So here we go, our first ever blog.  Firstly, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this. 

 

My name is Lara, Founder of Melanin World Plus, a small family run business based in Brighton, East Sussex, on the south coast of the UK.

 

I have three beautiful children and I also must mention my lovely mum Dee, who is also a vital part of the team.  I am of mixed Black-Jamaican and White-British heritage and found inspiration for this store from my Afro-Caribbean roots.

The idea for melaninworldplus.com came whilst in the early stages of setting up unicornworldplus.com in 2018.  I started to stumble upon many wonderful products, that I thought people like me, who appreciate African and Caribbean culture would love too.  Products featuring black people and African prints are not easily found on our UK high streets and I thought “wouldn’t it be great if there was a place where people could come to find these things without having to search endlessly on various sites”.

 

So, two years on, in the middle of the covid-19 pandemic I thought why not follow my gut and open an online store for those that appreciate Afro-Caribbean culture. I spoke to my family and friends, who thought this was a great idea, as similar products were selling well on unicornworldplus.com after we decided to diversify our product range in 2020.

 

So here we are, March 2023 and we stay positive and give thanks, as we continue to take orders.  So far, we are finding our halter neck dress available in red or yellow/blue is our top seller, although there are lots of bargains to be had in our sale department too.

 

We have over 1000 followers on our Facebook page which if you haven’t already, please follow and give us a like 👍, we really do appreciate it. Another place to keep up to date is our Instagram account @melaninworld_plus and TikTok Account @afro_caribbeanshopping

Question:     What do you like to do for fun?

Answer:        I really love all martial arts especially Capoeira (Brazilian martial arts), Tai-Kwon-Do, Judo and MMA, however due to my physical disability I now opt to watch rather than participate.

 

Question:     What’s your favourite animal and why?

Answer:        I love elephants because of their instincts to nurture one another and protect the young and morn their loved ones. In essence they never forget their family and that’s why I love them so much, as well as being gorgeous animals.

 

Question:     What is your favourite cuisine?

Answer:        I love Jamaican food, with curried goat being my favourite dish.

 

Question:     What is your favourite colour?

Answer:        This is a tricky one, I don’t really have one favourite colour. However, in clothes I like to wear black, red, white or occasionally I’ll throw in a splash of pink. For interiors I love teal and electric blue, then for cars it’s black.

 

Question:     What is your biggest personal struggle in life?

Answer:        Since the age of 12, I have suffered with a chronic condition called Fibromyalgia, which causes me to be in pain 24/7 and comes with chronic fatigue, that I have had to learn to manage over the years. I also suffer with many other health conditions, which only give me the drive to make Melanin World Plus the best it can be. It also helps me in my other (Part-time) job as an Employment Adviser for Disabled People, Lone Parents and the Long-term Unemployed, as it enables me to understand with empathy, many of the struggles my customers face.

 

Question:     What is your favourite motto in life?

Answer:        Beautiful things happen when you smile

 

Question:     What are your hopes for Melanin World Plus?

Answer:        Our aim is to open a physical store this year, for you to come and visit us in person.

 

Anyway, that’s it for now. Please be sure to subscribe on the website for the latest email news and exclusives offers. You could even create an account and start collecting points straight away.

 

Wishing you a blessed day!

 

Lara

❤️💛💚