The Link Entertainment

Connecting.Curating.Creating The Culture

She’s on a roll! This 24 year old designer styled Cardi B and now owns crochet vending machines

HKTL365Z5RAD5KYMIH4NUHNEGE

Heather Khalifa-The Philadelphia Inquirer

Share

Emani Outterbridge, aka Emani Milan, a native of Philadelphia, began crocheting at the age of 12. She learned from her great grandmother. She discovered she could turn her skill into a business after she was temporarily placed in a facility for girls due to truancy. At the time, President Obama was in office and she admired him and his family, from there she knew she could make a change in her life and that’s just what she did.

Milan wasn’t sure how to make crocheting profitable, but she started by selling head warmers in school for five dollars apiece. Her business was steady and only took off from there. Once in college, she expanded her brand doing everything from, swimsuits, skirts, and crop tops. Milan also offered consultations to customers for a small fee. She built her brand from the ground up using her social media platform.

 Soon she was gaining traction from customers around the country. However, she got one celebrities’ attention that propelled the trajectory of her company. She remembers the call vividly, in an interview with NBC News she reflected on the call with Cardi B’s stylist, “It was a Tuesday night. I was in African American studies. He asked if I could make pieces by Thursday.” Milan crocheted day and night to produce a three-piece red set, what she calls the “Lemonade Set.” After Cardi B tagged her in a photo of her wearing the custom-made piece on Instagram Milan’s following quadrupled. The celebrities that have worn her designs now include Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Baby, and Lousie Chantál.

Milan’s background in entrepreneurship, management, along with problem solving created what her brand is today. She further expanded into creating custom yarn called ‘Needles’, after growing tired of the bland options at the store. She was shipping her products to customers until she broke her foot. The time where she was unable to supply her products to customers sparked an idea to have yarn vending machines for her company entitled ‘Emani Milan.’

Her timing couldn’t have been better as shortly after releasing the eye catching pink vending machines the pandemic hit. In her first month of business she made $25,000. The business just continues to grow and expand Milan’s hopes to release another vending machine in Atlanta. She also wants a brick and mortar shop with 24/7 vending machine access. Milan hopes her machines are able to inspire young girls like her to develop and build a love for crocheting. Be on the look out for her pink machine, it may land in a city near you.

Check out her website to order her unique patterned yarn and apparel.

About Author