Bronzeville Collective is more than a storefront; it’s a commerce movement that celebrates diversity, embraces representation, and elevates minority-owned businesses and entrepreneurs right here in Milwaukee.
We spoke with Lilo Allen, one of the co-founders, to learn more about the vision to bring Bronzeville Collective to life and the impact it’s had on the historic neighborhood.
How did Bronzeville Collective get its start? What is your background?
The Bronzeville Collective was founded in October 2019. Its inception was the result of a collaborative effort between myself and cofounder Tiffany Miller. I have always been a creative; I am a poet, an educator, a jewel maker, and a business owner. I’ve owned my brand, Papyrus & Charms for over 10 years.
How long have you been in business? Have you faced any major challenges with growing your business or any triumph stories?
The Bronzeville Collective just celebrated seven years in business as of October 4th. About a year ago, we faced one of our largest hurdles to date. Our rent at our former location increased by almost 70%, and so we had to make the hard decision to move to a new location in a short window of time. We moved one Black down the road to MLK and North Avenue, where we just celebrated our one year anniversary in our new space.
It’s been a beautiful road of ups and downs, but we have persevered through a pandemic, a recession, and personal tragedies that have tested our mettle. Despite that, we manage to find our way in every circumstance. We were recently awarded the Mantia memorial fund grant, and those funds will allow us to continue to serve the community!
What is Bronzeville Collective, and why did you feel it would be a good fit in Milwaukee?
The Bronzeville Collective is a collaborative storefront that features the works of over 30 Black, Brown, queer, and ally-owned brands. Many of which are local to Milwaukee and handmade. When we opened our doors in 2019, we were the only brick and mortar of this kind so close to downtown Milwaukee, where folks could walk in and see their culture and their identities reflected back to them.
We wanted to create a space where local artisans are able to not just survive but thrive off of their art year-round as opposed to paying for numerous expensive craft festivals throughout the summer.
Not only is Bronzeville the arts and culture district, it used to be the very heart and soul of black culture in Milwaukee. Businesses, Banks, dress shops, doctors, all called this community home before red lining eliminated many of those institutions. I named the business to pay homage to those who came before us.
What’s the mission behind Bronzeville Collective?
Being a small business owner can be challenging in times such as these, but it is our mission that keeps us focused on the work. The Bronzeville Collective intends to be a safe space where we meet creatives and the community at the intersection of accessibility and visibility. We provide access to local entrepreneurs who are in need of a retail home, and visibility of local talent that deserves to be highlighted.
What do you like about being in Milwaukee?
Milwaukee is a rich and diverse city, and we’d like to think that we are a mirror to the community that we serve.
What can people expect when going to Bronzeville Collective?
When people step into our doors, they can expect to see the labors of love from so many different artisans. They will experience culture, history, and hometown pride.
Anything else we should know about your business or anything you’d like to mention?
We look forward to seeing more beautiful faces at our new location at 2236 N. Dr. MLK Boulevard and collaborating with America’s Black Holocaust Museum. Anchor brand Papyrus & Charms will be hosting Kwanzaafest, on Sunday, December 28 at ABHM. We will have local vendors, free giveaways, a children’s activity corner, and lots of fun. We hope to see you there!