FWM: Who is the woman behind the creativity of Alicia Boateng Designs?
My name is Alicia Boateng, a Cuban mother of four. I was born and raised in Miami, Florida, from Cuban parents. Married to my dazzling husband, Edward Boateng for almost seven years and together we have a beautiful, blended family of 4. I am a mother, wife, daughter, sister, business owner, and lover of God.
FWM: Where did your inspiration for handcrafting mugs come from?
I am an avid coffee drinker and have been drinking the same coffee brand for 25 years. My coffee time is sacred. It’s when I get to indulge in my quiet time, my affirmations, and my time to reflect on what I want to accomplish for the day. I was a wedding planner for over 20 years. Although weddings will always be my passion, that profession no longer served me. The long hours, the stress and the laborious duties were affecting me physically. One day, while on my second cup of coffee, I turned to my husband and said, what if I enjoyed my coffee cup as much as I enjoy my coffee? Immediately after saying that, I grabbed a pencil and paper and that is when the Afro Glam Collection was born.
FWM: When you started out as an entrepreneur, did you envision that you would be as successful as you are today?
Yes, and I mean this is the humblest way possible. I’ve always had big dreams. They do not scare me. When my husband and I developed our brand, Alicia Boateng Designs, I knew that I wanted the brand to represent luxury along with a meaningful message to the woman that needed reassurance that she is confident, beautiful, and capable of achieving her dreams. I did not want our drinkware to be ordinary, I envisioned it to be extraordinary with a powerful message behind it and that is exactly what we have developed.
FWM: Tell us about your Afro-Glam Collection. Which celebrities are loving this collection?
The Afro Glam Collection is a collection that represents women of all colors and skin types. It is a collection made to make you feel confident, beautiful, and powerful while indulging in your favorite drink. We believe that our cups truly make your beverage taste better.
Some of the celebrities that love our cups include Tiffany Haddish, Kim Fields, Octavia Spencer, Debra Messing, Ana Navarro, and most recently Whoopi Goldberg.
FWM: Where did your inspiration come from for this collection?
My love for coffee and for creating a piece of art that represents all women around the world. Every single cup is different in that although they may look the same, there is no way that each stone can be placed in the exact same location. In some ways this represents us women. We may have similar features; however, we are each different and unique in our own way.
FWM: “Get my cups into the hands of as many women as I can.” Share your philosophy about building a successful brand.
I see the Afro Glam Collection as a way of paying it forward and a way of saying thank you. Thank you for your friendship, thank you for your kindness, thank you for your generosity. If every woman were to gift my cups as a token of appreciation, we’d be on the way to reaping the reward of uplifting and empowering each other.
FWM: Tell us about Girl Pride Africa.
Girl Pride Africa is an organization that teaches young teenage African Mothers life skills such as caring for their children, sewing, cooking and financial independence. GPA often provides monthly meals for the mothers and their children. They have volunteers in Kenya, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. They are looking to expand into Ghana which is where my husband’s family is from.
FWM: Do you plan on new collections for 2022?
We plan on adding to our Black Excellence Collection (B.E. Collection) for 2023. This collection was created to highlight women in history that have paved the way for so many of us. The new cup is revealed in January of each year and is available for a limited time offer.
In 2021, we inaugurated this collection with Madam CJ Walker. Madam was the first African American self-made woman millionaire. Her tenacity and perseverance for women to become entrepreneurs was admirable. Madam’s personality resonated so much with me; I knew I had to start this collection with a powerful figure. In 2022, we gifted the Madam CJ Walker cup to her great granddaughter, Ms. Alelia Bundles. She graciously accepted it and felt honored by such an inspiring cup.
In 2022, we revealed the Dr. Maya Angelou cup in honor of all her accomplishments and the upcoming release of her coin. I have always admired Dr. Angelou for her wisdom and wittiness. She accomplished everything she set her heart on and her legacy will live on for a very, very long time. Dr. Angelou is the true example of a phenomenal woman. Earlier this year, we met Dr. Rhonda Mattox, a psychiatrist from Stamps, Arkansas, that grew up in the childhood home that Dr. Angelou lived. Her upcoming book features a chapter on her childhood, her memory of meeting Maya and our Maya Angelou cup. Also, this year, Ana Navarro (from CNN and The View) gifted our Maya Angelou cup to Whoopi Goldberg in honor of Women’s History Month.
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