Being a small business owner in a big city isn’t easy. Just ask Monisha Murray, owner of the San Jose-based Black & Brown clothing boutique; she knows. “It takes a lot out of you,” Murray says, recalling Black & Brown’s early days—when the store was located on West San Carlos Street. Back then, Murray says, she used to “eat ramen every day and have a coffee and try to survive on that.”
But after sticking it out for five and a half years, Murray was able to move Black & Brown to its current location—a much larger storefront on the Alameda, just down the street from the new Whole Foods.
“That’s always been the motto—taking risks and leaps,” the San Jose native says. And now, 10 years since opening shop, Murray is pleased to say that “it’s all worked out.”
To celebrate, Black & Brown will be throwing a fashion show curated by Murray and her team inside the recently opened SoFA venue, The Ritz, this Saturday. DJ Cutso of the Bangerz and Basura, resident DJ for the popular Thursday-night dance party, Atomic, will provide the evening’s soundtrack.
Though Black & Brown used to host fashion shows every fall and spring, they haven’t hosted an event like this for three years. Taking inspiration from the late ’70s and early ’80s arts scene in New York City, the evening’s theme is “Downtown 500”—a term used to describe the influential group of artists and makers living in NYC during that era.
“At that time, there was no clique-ish scene. It was just a scene,” Murray says, mentioning party footage from the era that captures art icons, like Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, rubbing shoulders with rapper Fab 5 Freddy and Madonna. “Our point with this show is depicting that time and how street style has become so relevant in the world.”
All items featured in the show will be available online the night of the show, for those who spot a particular piece they can’t live without.
Back in 2005, when she founded Black & Brown, Murray hoped to create a San Jose staple. Now, with 10 years behind her, she feels she’s accomplished that. And while she doesn’t see the styles she and her team curate in-store flooding the streets of San Jose just yet, she knows she’s created a place for fans of fashion to feel inspired.
“Wherever they’re hiding out or hanging out, I know they exist and they’re here and supporting us,” she says. “That gives me hope.”
Downtown 500: Black & Brown’s 10th Anniversary Fashion Show will be held at The Ritz, May 2 at 8pm. More info.
.Black & Brown Celebrating 10 Years At The Ritz
