Merchandise With A Message

Once an old motel, Ferguson's Downtown is now home to a variety of locally owned shops and eateries.

Tofu Tees is one of them. It's an eclectic mix of hand-made jewelry, books and collectibles. But, take a closer look, and you'll see why this shop stands out.

From tees to bags, there's a message behind the merchandise. "Racism is Trash" or "Social Issues Are Not Trends," are just two of the messages displayed on shirts, hats and bags.

The store's owner, Kumei Norwood, also stands out. She's 16 years old.

"It's been really fun. A lot of people ask, 'how do you go to school and run a business?" says Kumei.

The teen attends Las Vegas Academy of the Arts every day before heading to the store. The young entrepreneur says it's all possible with support from her parents.

"Whenever she's in school, we're here," says Devon Norwood. "We've seen her journey, from 7 or 8 years old to now. I mean…we're proud of her."

Kumei's journey to artistry and activism started with a message she wrote and designed in a notebook. She was 6 years old. It read, "Why are people so sensitive?"

Kumei began designing tees that sparked conversation through creativity. At just 8 years old, she took her items to pop-ups and markets. She landed her first brick-and-mortar store when she was 12!

Her dad said, "What she's built, it's really remarkable."

Kumei credits her parents for helping her find the message behind her merchandise.

"Ever since I was little, they've made a point to let me know what's going on in the world," says Kumei.

The young store owner said she didn't want people to forget what they saw, discussed and learned during the pandemic − from George Floyd to the social unrest.

She continues to tap into the conscience of the community. She's organized rallies promoting social justice.

"During a BLM protest, I had more than 600 people show up," said Kumei.

She's connected parents and kids through important conversations.

"I decided to have books [in the store] that are important to talk to their kids about. These are just important for kids to be able to see," said Kumei.

And she's held events encouraging people to make their voices heard.

"So, speaking of that, I will be having a voter registration, as well," Kumei said.

At just 16 years old, Kumei proves what's possible when you're rooted in purpose and driven to make a difference.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.