Black beauty entrepreneurs in the nation’s capital just got a major win. Yeleen Beauty Makerspace has officially opened its doors, standing tall as D.C.’s first-ever manufacturing hub for independent beauty brands, Black Enterprise reports.

The 3,000-square-foot facility is designed to take small businesses from the kitchen counter to the big leagues, giving brand owners access to production equipment, technical support, and training programs all under one roof. No more juggling mixing bowls and label printers at home, this hub is where scaling up becomes real.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 8, founder and CEO Rahama Wright didn’t hold back on the vision behind the space. 

“Manufacturing access is the missing bridge for so many promising beauty founders,” Wright told reporters. “Today, we turned that bridge into a runway—where production equipment, technical support, and training meet a community committed to inclusive growth.”

For Black entrepreneurs, who often face uphill battles when it comes to capital and resources, the makerspace is a launchpad for thriving in an industry that has historically overlooked them. With support from partners like the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, Wacif, JPMorgan Chase, Inspire Access, BRED, and SEED Commons, the hub will help creators access funding faster and operate with professional tools usually reserved for bigger companies.

Alicia Blair, owner of the vegan hair and skincare line HerSolBeauty, is one of the founders ready to seize the opportunity. 

“What excites me about the Yeleen Beauty Makerspace is the access to professional equipment—like filling and labeling machines—that would otherwise be outside my budget. This space will allow me to scale, save time, and reach more people with products that truly make a difference,” Blair said.

Even Mayor Muriel Bowser got in on the celebration, learning how beauty manufacturing works firsthand in scrub-making classes. She also unveiled the city’s new Fast Beauty Initiative, which will train barbers and cosmetologists at an accelerated pace so they can start their careers sooner. 

“This is what investing in and believing in our community looks like—a hub where beauty entrepreneurs and small beauty companies can manufacture locally, collaborate, and scale beyond their home kitchens,” said Mayor Bowser. “This is exactly the kind of innovation we’re proud to support through our DC Locally Made Manufacturing Grant, and we can’t wait to see all the DC success stories that begin at Yeleen Beauty Makerspace.”

For Wright, this is more than a business venture; it’s a continuation of her mission to create impact globally and locally. She is also the founder of Shea Yeleen, a social impact beauty brand that creates living-wage jobs for women in Ghana through shea butter products sold at Macy’s, MGM Resorts, and Whole Foods. A former Peace Corps volunteer, she serves on the Presidential Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa and previously launched the DC Pop-Up to spotlight women- and minority-owned businesses in the region.

Now with the makerspace, Wright is giving D.C.’s beauty entrepreneurs the resources they need to glow up on their own terms.

Cover photo: Yeleen Beauty Opens D.C.’s First Manufacturing Hub for Indie Beauty Brands/Photo credit: Yeleen Beauty