We had the good fortune of connecting with Sylvia Gbaby Cohen Phillips and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sylvia Gbaby, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
My brand Gbaby was create 20 years ago. It’s goal was to put beautiful black women on handbags and items we use everyday at an affordable price. Though three licensing deals, Gbaby art has graced over 35 products that has been sold around the world. The product line can be purchased wholesale and used to start and or grow an entrepreneurs business. The most important factor is it is relatable and represents us in a positive light.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What started out as Gbaby hand painted handbags has turn into Gbaby Art Inc. We sell tote bags, pillows, magnets, shower curtains, floor mats, inspirational planners and wall calendars to name a few of our best selling items. Gbaby is one of the few companies that have a diverse line of functional products. Most proud of our inspirational planner produce by Shades of Color, Next year 2023 we will be celebrating the tenth Gbaby inspirational planner. When we started a black girl inspirational planner didn’t exist. I love love what I do so I enjoy everyday. I decided at 20 years old I didn’t want to work for someone else so I have been an entrepreneur every since. Lessons I learn along the way is to do what you love. Find your natural gifts and work within them. This will make you excited to wake up everyday and do what makes your soul happy. If you are working in your purpose when things get hard you have the drive and energy to keep going because you know what your purpose is and you love doing it. It makes my soul happy to see black girl art everywhere now and watch young black women using their art to express themselves and beautifully represent their culture. After painting black women for twenty years, I am still doing what I love and am soooo thankful the people still love and purchase Gbaby art/products.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well I would take them to my new storefront that just opened in Conyers Historic District at 1010 North Street, Conyers, GA called 1010 Artisan Collective. All of the Gbaby art and product line is located here for sale. In addition to Gbaby products we have art, home decor and fashion accessories by other artist. We have a beautiful front porch to sit and drink some lemonade. Once we leave their I would take them to my home. We can sit outside and enjoy the peace, quite, flowers, trees and birds. I would cook them a wonderful healthy lunch and we would sit outside on the deck and eat. After that we can do some art or some yoga. I am pretty simple and love to enjoy the beauty of every day.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shout out to Marvin Sims. He is an seasoned artist that still paints black women on leather handbags. I meet him when I first started . He was very easy to talk to, nice and uninhabited. He gave me a lot of good advice which I found strange at first because I was painting black women on Demi handbags. The main thing I learn from him was to be true to yourself and your style.

Website: Gbabyart.com

Instagram: Gbabyart

Facebook: Sylvia Gbaby Cohen

Youtube: Sylvia Gbaby Cohen

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