November 5th 2023.
In 2015, Katrina Parris opened NiLu in Harlem, a boutique with a mission to provide a welcoming environment for creators to collaborate and customers to find unique and culturally rich products. Parris spoke to a local press outlet about why she started NiLu: “Harlem was a gift desert. Raising a young family, and finding a place for gifts for birthdays or housewarmings outside the drug stores was hard. We needed a place that was local and had quality merchandise but represented the culture.”
Parris and her husband had been running a successful flower shop, which had been featured in Oprah Winfrey’s O Magazine and New York Wedding. After getting the publicity, they decided to change the focus of their business. They changed the name of the business to NiLu, a combination of their children’s names Nigel and Luke, as a way to honor their children. Parris said, “We love representing Harlem through international gifts, many from local makers in the community and beyond.”
NiLu has now become a brick-and-mortar store in the middle of Harlem, selling everything from accessories and gifts to home goods. It has an extensive collection of merchandise from Black woman-owned brands, like Sheila Bridges, Adjourn Teahouse, Harlem Candle Company, Lomar Farms, Healthmade, and Frederick Benjamin.
NiLu is hosting a range of events during the holiday season. On November 10, the store will be hosting a self-care session with Harlem Chi, which specializes in alternative healing and acupuncture. On November 16, the Harlem Candle Company will be doing a new fragrance trunk show. On November 19, the store will be celebrating National Monopoly Day with an event hosted by the creator of Harlemopoly, a board game celebrating Harlem and the Harlem Renaissance. On November 21, the store will be hosting a shop-n-sip event as well as promoting Folkus Wrapping Paper, a Black-owned gift wrapping business. Finally, on December 5, the store will be hosting a Kwanzaa shopping and educational event.
AT&T has recently partnered with Silicon Harlem to open a unique new digital learning lab. This effort by AT&T, combined with NiLu's dedication to providing a place for creators to collaborate and customers to find unique and culturally rich products, is sure to make a lasting impact in the Harlem community.
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