The Collective Spotlights...

EXPLORING CULTURAL ACCEPTANCE WITH A BUMBLEBEE,

A T-SHIRT AND A DREAM

Beeing is a culturally inspired lifestyle brand aimed at spreading cultural acceptance through the iconic use of a bumblebee. This may sound easier than it actually is. How many people are completely comfortable in their skin? Now, how many are completely comfortable with other people’s skin? Co-founders Mfon Idiokitas and Feginse Youance set out to show the world that appreciating yourself and others is a basic and empowering concept. As straightforward as “Love Beeing Nigerian” or “Love Beeing Japanese.”

Officially founded in June of 2005, Beeing was first tested a year prior on NYU campus and the SOHO area before selling to a broader market. The line has since grown from a single t-shirt to a Men’s and Women’s Classic T-shirt and Signature collections. The Classic T-shirt collection consists of cottons tees emblazoned with various cultural acceptance phrases and images of the bumblebee. The Signature collection consists of T-shirts and thermals with the cursive Beeing signature logo. Hooded sweatshirts and zip-ups are also included yet have more intricate designs such as honeycombs, a compass for world positioning and a varsity style inspiring world education.

The two met as graduate students at New York University. Mfon and Feginse started Beeing with a single shirt to offer a stylish way to embrace and express one’s ethnic background. They chose an iconic bumblebee as the logo to inspire customers to cross-pollinate themselves with the cultures of the world. Before long the culturally inspired brand was developed. “We thrive on using style and fashion to empower people to embrace and express their identities as well as others,” says Feginse.

The company is based in Manhattan and is currently available at the online store http://www.ilovebeeing.com/. Consumers can soon purchase items at small boutiques around the world.