Aisha of Chloe + Chad
This week, we’re talking to Aisha Besson of Chloe + Chad who after experimenting with organic products to calm her son's eczema after doctor prescribed ointments failed to deliver, created her own botanical-based creations that in turn, birthed her skincare line. Learn more about her brand and journey, below!
BLK+GRN: Who are you and why do you do what you do? AISHA: I'm Aisha, an accountant, and mom. I've turned my kitchen into a virtual lab, creating a line of organic and natural, botanical-based soaps, balms, lotions, and body butters. BLKGRN: What was your “Aha Moment” and when did your vision start to manifest? AISHA: It all began in 2010 when my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer on two separate occasions. Having made the decision to have double mastectomies, my sister, Sherry, was still pretty down. During that time, I also had my first child, Chloe, and began experimenting with natural soaps, and lotions that were safe for both my sister and daughter. Then in September 2014, I had my son Chad who had severe eczema, so I sprang into full production mode making organic products to calm his eczema since everything prescribed by doctors didn’t seem to work. This time around I was consistent with creating my butters, and my family and friends were often requesting my creations., so Chloe + Chad was born!
BLK+GRN: Why do you think it is important to Buy Black? AISHA: I believe it’s important to support black businesses because this is the only way we as a culture can make a change. It’s the only way we can become employers and not just be the employees. It’s about the economic shift that happens when we support each other. BLK+GRN: How is your brand green? AISHA: We use plant-based ingredients, and we do not add chemicals to extend shelf life. We use glass containers for the majority of our products. I think that customers want transparency, they want to know exactly what is being used in their skincare products, which I think is a big deal to a lot of consumers.
BLK+GRN: Who are you and why do you do what you do? AISHA: I'm Aisha, an accountant, and mom. I've turned my kitchen into a virtual lab, creating a line of organic and natural, botanical-based soaps, balms, lotions, and body butters. BLKGRN: What was your “Aha Moment” and when did your vision start to manifest? AISHA: It all began in 2010 when my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer on two separate occasions. Having made the decision to have double mastectomies, my sister, Sherry, was still pretty down. During that time, I also had my first child, Chloe, and began experimenting with natural soaps, and lotions that were safe for both my sister and daughter. Then in September 2014, I had my son Chad who had severe eczema, so I sprang into full production mode making organic products to calm his eczema since everything prescribed by doctors didn’t seem to work. This time around I was consistent with creating my butters, and my family and friends were often requesting my creations., so Chloe + Chad was born!
BLK+GRN: Why do you think it is important to Buy Black? AISHA: I believe it’s important to support black businesses because this is the only way we as a culture can make a change. It’s the only way we can become employers and not just be the employees. It’s about the economic shift that happens when we support each other. BLK+GRN: How is your brand green? AISHA: We use plant-based ingredients, and we do not add chemicals to extend shelf life. We use glass containers for the majority of our products. I think that customers want transparency, they want to know exactly what is being used in their skincare products, which I think is a big deal to a lot of consumers.
Learn more about the Black-women creators and makers that make up the BLK + GRN Artisan family at www.blkgrn.com/collections.
