Shop Talk: Coco Bates (The Co Report)

A Conversation with Coco

Below, is an interview I did with Coco Bates, the founder of The Co Report, a fashion and lifestyle website featuring editorial content that targets the African-American community. Coco and Makeup Artist Jessica Harmon, co-founded the first annual Noir Beauty & Natural Hair Affair that I attended last month in Houston. I did a detailed review of this event in another post. Click here to read that post!

The Conversation

Coco, what year was the Co Report founded?

The Co Report was founded September 1, 2013.

What inspired you to start the Co Report? Was this a niche you thought was missing from the fashion and beauty industry?

Initially, The Co Report started out as a diverse platform that featured many different fashion and beauty genres as well as a plethora of lifestyle categories that was catered to readers of all races. I was living in New York when I first started The Co Report and although it was a success with me being invited to many different shows and events such as, NYFW & press viewings, I was left unfulfilled. It wasn't until the end of 2014 that I decided to change my target market and hone in on my niche. The change was sparked by the protests in Ferguson, Missouri in response to Mike Brown. At the time, since my audience was geared to many people of different races and backgrounds, I felt as though it was hard for me to say the things that I wanted to say in regards to the black community and white supremacy without upsetting sponsors and readers. Because of this, I decided to cease writing until I figured out what my passion through media would be. During this time, I researched many different media outlets that appeared to be "black owned'. Through this research, I found that many of these outlets, those that I wish not to name, were only a black face for white supremacy. Most of the times when black women are being represented by the media, we are being portrayed as every possible negative stereotype there is. Also, from my research, media outlets are continuously tiptoeing around subjects and choosing not to dig into the deeper root cause of the issue being presented, i.e., solely blaming black youth for the violence within their communities without drawing parallels to the lack of jobs and poverty within their communities. I felt that this was a problem that needed to desperately change when it came to the black media.

As far as the fashion and beauty industry is concerned, we are definitely underrepresented. However, it is not my goal to demand a designer or brand that's not of color to feature products that are geared to a black audience or to feature black women in their ad campaigns, runway shows, or to validate our beauty, our intelligence, etc. That's not their job and they should feature whoever they see fit. However, as black people, it is our jobs to support the many black-owned brands, unapologetically. Nine times out of ten, these black-owned brands are providing the same products of better quality and are already marketing to black women. Where they struggle, is when they are not supported or when their market-base doesn't value supporting brands within the black community. Black women are the number one consumers when it comes to the beauty industry, but unfortunately, we are not the dominant owners in this market.

I couldn't agree more. Do you have a background in editorial fashion or is fashion something you've just always been passionate about?

I went to The Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California and majored in fashion marketing. While living in New York, I had the opportunity to work at a few fashion-related public relations firms and other fashion-based companies. I've always been obsessed with fashion. It's extremely universal. It doesn't matter where you come from, your background, race/ethnicity, or even how much money you have. Putting a dope outfit together is an art-form, especially when you don't care about impressing anyone with what you're wearing.

For those that don't know, describe exactly what "Noir Beauty" means to you?

Noir Beauty directly translates to black beauty. Black beauty encompasses everything that we have ever gone through as well as what's to come, both good and bad. Our history, not just our history from the beginning of the transatlantic slave trade, but our history and culture from when we were on the continent of Africa radiates through us. It radiates when we walk, when we talk, and when we present ourselves to the public. As black women, or African women in America, as I prefer to say, we have a divine presence and energy about us and Noir beauty is about us capturing that essence. Noir beauty means original. We are the original people. We are the Eve to the African man's Adam. As African women in America who have recognized that, it can be a big pill to swallow. Knowing your history, as the original people of earth, you feel this accountability that you have to your people and to generations that will come after you. Keeping it short, sweet, and simple, Noir Beauty means embracing your Africanity.

How did you get the idea create this unique event?

I met Jessica, the co-founder of the event & head-MUA for The Co Report, about a year ago. Our vibes were both on the same frequency in terms of Black empowerment and producing dope content. We clicked instantly and both wanted to do something that was bigger than just producing videos. We really wanted an opportunity to connect with our followers and with black women of Houston. Thus, the Noir Beauty & Natural Hair Affair was born. We've both worked with many amazing Black-owned brands, both in the Houston area and nationally, and wanted an intimate platform to introduce these brands to the many beautiful and amazing black women of Houston. Because of the event's success, we will be doing a tour of the event this summer. There are many black owned brands that are seeking exposure and there are many like-minded black consumers that are seeking to be introduced to these amazing brands. Together, the black consumer and the black brand, are a force to be reckoned with!

Definitely keep me posted on the tour information. Obviously, as women of color, we both recognize that we are largely excluded from the bigger conversations regarding beauty for women. How does this event address that void for women of color?

Yes, but only from mainstream media, which is predominately white dominated and then Asian dominated, our physical presence is without a doubt excluded. However, we already subconsciously validate our own beauty; hence the reason why we are the number one trend influencers in the world! Everyone wants the beauty and fashion of being a black woman without actually carrying the burden that comes with being a black woman. The Noir Beauty and Natural Hair Affair addresses this issue by making attendees realize that the only significant void in the market is black women not consciously validating our beauty and unapologetically supporting makers of black owned products and service providers. Although we have a long way to go, for just about every product and service that you can think of, there's a black woman or black man that's making it. It is our job as consumers to support them. If it's something that's not right about the service they are giving you or the products that are being sold to you, let them know (not social media), but always continue to support them and continue to circulate your hard earned Black dollar within the Black community.

To visit The Co Report, visit http://www.the-coreport.com/ or click here.