Why Imi & Cole?

I came to the conclusion that if I wanted to build something truly authentic I would have to do the one thing that goes against my private nature, get personal. I selected the 2 names most personal to me which reflect all of who I am, the two nicknames I had been gifted to me in life. I am Imi & Cole.

Imi, a shortening of my middle name, first dubbed by my god-mother when I was a baby. Adopted by my whole family and used up through my high school years. Imi loved back to school shopping more for the school supplies than the clothes. Imi collected stickers in the old-school sticker books. Imi journaled all the difficulties of growing up and often wrote poems about what she was feeling. Each season she would rearrange her room and give to goodwill all she had outgrown. She loved to visit her family in Jamaica and spend time with her grandmother in her garden.

Cole, a shortening of my first name, first dubbed by my beloved college clique, now lifelong friends. Cole known for being organized, and the one to call when you needed help getting yourself together, or just needed a ride somewhere. Cole killed it on the dance floor, she worked hard and partied hard. Cole would re-write the notes she took in class if she didn’t like how they looked or were in the wrong pen color. Cole was secretary of her college NAACP chapter and worked in the college admissions office to help her university recruit black students. And soon after graduation started her own business as a professional organizer.

I am, this is, Imi & Cole.

Imi & Cole provides products & content for the people who share my appreciation for planning, organization, minimalism, sustainability & activism. This brand is dedicated to the black women around me, the ones that gifted me these names, who keep me sane and grounded. Those who get it, welcome! Haters, we gone pray for you.

- Nicole