Building community, one patch at a time.
In honor of Black Business Month, we are thrilled to present our Founder mini-series, where we spotlight inspiring stories of Black-owned businesses from the ICA Fund community that are making a significant impact in their communities and beyond. We sat down with Regina Harris, founder of patch boutique, Prideful Patchez, to talk about her business journey, challenges she faced setting up her first storefront, and how she’s bringing together a community in Oakland, CA, with custom statement patches.
Why did you start your business?
Prideful Patchez was a result of the pandemic, a pivot from a hobby that I had making patchwork clothing. I was preparing for a large festival, and had hundreds of patches ready to go. Then COVID hit, and everything shut down. I asked myself, ‘What am I going to do with all of this merchandise?’ So I decided to hold patch parties on Facebook, and it took off. I realized that there was something here. Patches I had been purchasing were everyday patches that did not represent me. This was an opportunity to make patches that represented me and my culture.
You just opened up your first retail location. Can you talk about the challenges you faced in getting it up and running?
My main challenge was just getting open. I rented an older space in North Oakland that was older and needed a lot of work, with expenses and renovations I hadn’t anticipated. But we made it through. Now we are a local hub for people who are looking for culturally-inspired items. Not only do we sell patches, we sell clothing, tote bags, duffel bags and earrings that are all culturally-inspired. We are the place where people can find all the things they need to represent themselves and their culture, and I’m grateful to be offering a service that the community really appreciates.
"During our patch parties, people can come in, be creative, and make things they never thought they would make. They come in not knowing one another and leave as friends. In a world where there is a lot of negativity, we are bringing together the community on a positive note."
Entrepreneurship can be challenging. What inspires and motivates you to keep going?
My community is my biggest inspiration. Seeing how happy and joyful people get to see a patch that says ‘Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud’ is the best. I’ve also been able to hire and build jobs for the community. I have 3 younger team members, and it’s inspirational for me to be able to pass on my knowledge and help prepare them for their lives and professional careers.
What advice would you give to a new entrepreneur?
If you have something you’re passionate about, push it. Push yourself. Don’t give up. There are going to be a lot of ups and downs, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
How do you measure success?
As long as I am doing something to benefit the community and my team, that is success to me. There is a lot more to wealth than the monetary, like creating jobs. I get so much satisfaction from working with my staff everyday, sharing knowledge and seeing them learn, giving them opportunities to run with things and be creative. I am really pushing to increase my employee salaries and provide more benefits for them.
What has been the biggest benefit of being a part of the ICA Community?
I don't think that I would be in the position that I am in now if I had not gone through ICA. I was really lost when I signed up to be a part of the cohort. I didn't have a lot of sense when it came to finances, and a lightbulb went off during my time in the Lab. It allowed me the opportunity to get my stuff in order. The framework was there, and I used that to get my books straight. People jump into entrepreneurship all the time. Learning how to set up my business and evaluate whether or not my business was profitable was huge.
The other thing that stands out to me is the community. Entrepreneurs all have the same problems, but it is a lonely state to be in because we’re working so much. When you have a group of people you can call on, it really helps. ICA is always there. Always supportive. The whole community base is great and I'm looking forward to engaging with ICA more.
Regina Harris joined the Lab at ICA Fund in 2023. Check out the Prideful Patchez Instagram and Website.
—
ICA Fund accelerates great businesses through mentoring and investments to close the racial and gender wealth gaps. We support small businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area led by founders of color and women by providing capital, coaching, and connections. ICA Fund helps entrepreneurs grow the value of their businesses and create wealth for themselves and their employees, driving toward our vision of an economy that works for all.
