Interiors: Don't Sleep, Dream Big And Bold!

Don't Sleep Interiors is a Black-owned business that creates unapologetically Black home decor. The brand combines interior decor and culture from the African diaspora with social and political consciousness. Their products include wall hangings, mugs, and pillows featuring quotes and portraits of Black visionaries like Angela Davis and James Baldwin. Don't Sleep Interiors operates under the tagline Free your mind and liberate your space, with the hope that their pieces will add style to homes, offices, and businesses while also invoking meaningful conversations, promoting free thinking, and encouraging exploration into our collective past.

Black history

Don't Sleep Interiors is a Black-owned business that creates unapologetically Black home decor. The company was inspired by artist Emory Douglas and designers Sheila Bridges, Joshua Kissi, and Travis Gumbs of Street Etiquette. Don't Sleep Interiors aims to bring literal African Diasporic culture to interior home decor, which is rarely seen in the market.

The company's products celebrate historic people and places in Black history, including Black visionaries, liberation icons, and activists such as Angela Davis, James Baldwin, Nina Simone, and Marcus Garvey. Their product line includes wall hangings, mugs, and pillows, with the latter gaining the most attention on social media. The pillows feature quotes and portraits of Black activists and have been featured in various publications, including Essence, Shoppe Black, HGTV, House Beautiful, and Oprah Magazine.

Don't Sleep Interiors operates under the tagline, "Free your mind and liberate your space." The brand hopes that their products will not only enhance the style of homes, offices, and businesses but also spark meaningful conversations, promote free thinking, and encourage exploration into Black history and collective past.

African diaspora

Don't Sleep Interiors is a Black-owned business based in Atlanta that aims to bring unapologetically Black home decor to the market. The brand's tagline, "Free your mind and liberate your space," reflects its mission to combine interior decor and culture from the African diaspora with social and political consciousness. The hope is that these pieces will not only enhance the style of spaces but also spark meaningful conversations, foster free thinking, and encourage exploration of our shared history.

The African diaspora encompasses communities of people with roots tracing back to the African continent. While Afrocentric design might traditionally evoke thoughts of African artifacts and Ankara fabrics, the artistic scope within Black culture is incredibly diverse, mirroring the variety found in Black stories, music, and cuisine. From southern farmhouse aesthetics with vintage quilts to Caribbean beach bungalows bursting with vibrant hues, the design spectrum of the African diaspora is as varied as its people and omnipresent as its culture.

Modern African Maximalism, one such design style, is a reaction against minimalism, embracing opulence and excess. This approach blends ornate European elements, such as chandeliers and ceiling tiles, with African wax print fabrics and traditional art. Another style, Art Deco a La Harlem Renaissance, emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, fusing modernist Art Deco with African and jazz-age influences, creating culturally significant and aesthetically innovative spaces.

The Gullah Geechee culture, native to the Sea Islands and coastal regions of the southeastern United States, has also inspired a unique aesthetic. This culture, with roots in various African traditions due to the forced migration during slavery, is celebrated by artists like Arianne King Comer and Amiri Farris, who create breathtaking textiles and paintings using indigenous plants like indigo and rice.

The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) in San Francisco, California, hosted an exhibition titled "Liberatory Living: Protective Interiors & Radical Black Joy." This exhibition featured designs, artworks, and environments that emphasised the need for Black people to shape their domestic interiors as spaces of revolutionary action, radical joy, and revolutionary rest. Curated by Key Jo Lee, the exhibition invited contemplation on contemporary interior design as a tool for dismantling colonial legacies and creating spaces of Radical Black Joy without fetishising Black strength and resilience.

The African diaspora is making significant strides in the world of design, with creatives from Africa and its diaspora emerging as influential forces in interiors, fashion, and music. Designers like Tosin Oshinowo, Eva Sonaike, and Peter Mabeo are reshaping the interiors landscape by drawing on their cultural heritage and infusing traditional elements into modern environments.

Social and political consciousness

Don't Sleep Interiors is a Black-owned business based in Atlanta that creates unapologetically Black home decor inspired by African Diaspora culture. The brand's tagline, "Free your mind and liberate your space," reflects its mission to bring products celebrating historic people and places in Black history to the market.

The company was founded with the desire to combine interior decor and culture from the African Diaspora with social and political consciousness. The brand's products, including wall hangings, mugs, and pillows featuring quotes and portraits of Black visionaries, aim to add style to homes, offices, and businesses while also invoking meaningful conversations, promoting free thinking, and encouraging exploration into our collective past.

The social and political consciousness of Don't Sleep Interiors is evident in its commitment to showcasing and celebrating Black history and culture. The brand recognizes the rarity of finding literal African Diasporic culture in interior home decor and seeks to fill this gap. By bringing Black history and culture into people's homes, the brand creates a space for education, reflection, and dialogue.

The products offered by Don't Sleep Interiors provide an opportunity for individuals to learn about and engage with Black history and culture in their daily lives. The brand's focus on social and political consciousness encourages conversations and free thinking, allowing individuals to explore and question their understanding of the past and present.

Additionally, Don't Sleep Interiors challenges the traditional norms of interior decor by infusing social and political consciousness into its designs. The brand's unapologetic approach to celebrating Black history and culture disrupts the status quo and invites individuals to reconsider their notions of style and aesthetics.

Overall, Don't Sleep Interiors' commitment to social and political consciousness is reflected in its dedication to educating, inspiring, and sparking meaningful conversations through its unique and thought-provoking designs.

Home decor

Don't Sleep Interiors is a Black-owned business that combines interior decor and culture from the African diaspora with social and political consciousness. The brand's unique offering includes home decor items such as wall hangings, mugs, and pillows that celebrate historic people and places in Black history. With the tagline, "Free your mind and liberate your space," Don't Sleep Interiors aims to add style to your home while also provoking meaningful conversations, promoting free thinking, and encouraging exploration of our collective past.

The brand was inspired by artist Emory Douglas and designers Sheila Bridges, Joshua Kissi, and Travis Gumbs of Street Etiquette. Don't Sleep Interiors fills a gap in the market by offering unapologetically Black home decor. Their products feature quotes and portraits of iconic Black figures, such as Angela Davis and James Baldwin, bringing an activist sensibility to your living space.

One of their popular products is the James Baldwin Double-Sided Pillow, which has received a 5-star rating on Etsy. Don't Sleep Interiors has been featured in numerous renowned publications, including Essence, HGTV, House Beautiful, Vice, Oprah Magazine, New York Magazine, and Huffington Post, among others.

If you're seeking to enhance your home's style while embracing the culture and consciousness of the African diaspora, Don't Sleep Interiors provides a distinctive and impactful range of decor options. Their pieces not only add aesthetic appeal but also serve as conversation starters, fostering a deeper exploration of Black history and promoting free thinking in your space.

Art

Don't Sleep Interiors is a Black-owned business that combines interior decor and culture from the African diaspora with social and political consciousness. The brand's pillows, wall hangings, and mugs celebrate historic people and places in Black history, with a particular focus on liberation icons. The owner and art director, Kori Miller, has collaborated with photographer Quinton Cameron to art direct and shoot compelling lifestyle and product photos for the brand.

The art of Don't Sleep Interiors is unapologetically Black and serves as a revolutionary touch for any home. The pieces are designed to add style to homes, offices, and businesses, while also invoking meaningful conversations, promoting free thinking, and encouraging exploration into our collective past. The brand's pillows, in particular, have gained attention on social media for their bold portraits and quotes featuring Black visionaries like Angela Davis and James Baldwin.

The Katherine Dunham Afro Dance Poster is another example of the brand's art. This piece celebrates the renowned African American dancer and her contributions to Haitian dance and Afro-Caribbean culture. The poster serves as a vibrant and stylish addition to any wall, while also paying homage to a significant figure in Black history.

The Dr. John Henrik Clarke Pan-African Liberation History Poster is another powerful piece of art offered by Don't Sleep Interiors. This poster celebrates the renowned historian and author's contributions to Pan-African history and liberation. The brand also offers a pillow featuring a quote from Dr. Clarke, further emphasizing the impact of his work and words.

The Malcolm X Double-Sided Pillow is another notable piece of art from Don't Sleep Interiors. This pillow features an iconic portrait of the civil rights activist and is designed to make a bold statement in any space. The brand also offers other pillows featuring influential figures in Black history, such as Marcus Garvey and Angela Davis.

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