Meet Zaija Ruth | Writer, Poet, Creator of BiiBL HAUS Lifestyle Brand

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zaija Ruth and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zaija, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
(it’s pronounced bībəl and zīyuh)

Well, to be honest, I’ve always known that I wanted to have my own business. We didn’t have the most growing up, but since I was a child it was instilled in me on some level. My mother always supported and encouraged it. Along the way I’ve had a few hits and misses, but this was the first time I started a business that I could see myself growing over a long period of time. Something that could be meaningful and impactful. I created BiiBL HAUS, an online lifestyle boutique for casual flyness with meaning, in 2020 in my grandmother’s basement, amidst all of the chaos at that time. I was sitting thinking about all the things that were happening. There was all the anxiety around the Covid-19 pandemic and quarantine, lack of employment and uncertainty around finances, and the heightening of the Black Lives Matter movement in response to multiple unnecessary killings. I remember driving down MLK Jr. Dr. in Atlanta (where I’m from), headed to the westside thinking, “What happens after the marches? After everyone goes home? What then?”

While contemplating, I remembered a conversation I had with my grandmother a few years ago. I remembered asking her if she marched back during the Civil Rights protests. She told me no. She was a single mother in the 1950s. She couldn’t afford to march because she had two little girls to take care of and couldn’t risk not coming back home to them. Instead she decided to ‘paint her way out of poverty’ by pursuing her passion as an artist. She finished school and became an art educator and coordinator for APS (Atlanta Public School System), then she designed and built a house that would create generational wealth and serve as a safety net for her family as her protest. That way they would always have somewhere to go home to if they needed it. The older I get, the more I realize how important that part is as well, particularly in the Black community. As a matter of fact, I don’t think it gets enough recognition.

As an artistically inclined autodidact, the daughter of a writer/author/director/actress, granddaughter of a visual artist and all around descendant of flyness, freedom of expression is in my bones. So I decided to put my natural creative and writing talents to use by building a business around inspirational messaging, wit, art, style and poetry. What better way to do that than on everyday clothing and accessories? Speak without speaking. Because I think people should be able to walk around looking as good as they feel, while saying something meaningful and it shouldn’t have to break the bank. It is part of our mission at BiiBL HAUS to create fashionable lifestyle and streetwear looks at affordable prices without sacrificing quality, while building a community around inclusivity, sustainability and universal goodness. Speaking as a Black, fluid, woman-owned business, I believe our success is our protest. Our joy and free creative expression are too. As we grow, a part of the profits will consistently be contributed to growing safety nets to support the communities we are from and represent.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Aside from the mixture of inspiration, wit, art, style, poetry, and affordability, I think one of the biggest things that sets us apart as a brand is the built in irony. BiiBL HAUS is a bold choice for a name, specifically because it is not associated with what it sounds like. We play off of some principles in a way that is clever, yet still full of meaning, but we are not a faith based brand. At least not in the traditional sense. BiiBL stands for BiG iDEAS iN BOLD LETTERS and we mean it. No. We are not affiliated with any religion. However, we do believe in humanity and the innate ability to be good and better than decent.

The RED iis are a symbol. A statement. An homage to all of my ancestors who didn’t get to sleep. Whose blood, sweat and tears paved the way for me. BiiBL HAUS is more than a brand. It is the expression of an intent. A purpose. To literally be the change we want to see in the world. To be bigger, bolder, smarter, kinder, more loving, more fresh, more fun and more fly. We are really excited about the future of the brand and the story we are about to tell.

That being said, nothing about starting this brand was easy. It’s still not easy. We’re still getting started. We are still overcoming challenges everyday, but it’s worth it. One of the biggest lessons I have learned so far as the brand owner is to just stay in my own lane. A lot of well intentioned advice people try to give me may not necessarily be meant for me, even if I asked for it thinking they had answers I needed because of their expertise. As the business owner I am still learning to be open enough to accept relevant advice and useful constructive criticism, yet also aware enough to follow my intuition and stick to my own vision. If I can see it clearly, that is more than half the battle, but it takes up a lot of space. Organizing or scheduling my time helps with the brain clutter most of the time, and resting. That feels counterintuitive, but it helps. The other big lesson I have learned is to take my time and do it right. To lay the groundwork, the foundation. BRiCK by BRiCK. It seems slower at first, but over time the little things add up. That’s important to remember.

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?
Funny enough, I usually refer my friends to other friends when it comes to things like that. I’m not shy, but I am extremely introverted (internally energized) and a super homebody. So unless we’re talking about going to somebody’s beach, I’m not really that interested. However, I do love to eat and I’m lucky because Atlanta is a foodie city. I love a good Punany wrap, Kale Chips and Spicy Popcorn from Tassili’s Raw Reality, so I would take them there. Or to Slutty Vegan for the experience. If they wanted something else fresh, probably Wadada or Local Green in the West End. And while we’re over there hit the mall real quick to visit my old high school teacher at her store Avant Garde Books and grab something like There’s Nothing Wrong With the Color of My Skin as gifts for my friend to give their kids. Maybe hit Insomnia for a late night cookie. I don’t drink, but I love Ziba’s Bistro in Grant Park for the food and everything in the bar looks amazing and other people love their specialty drinks. If my friend wanted something real Westside, I would take them to the Cafe in the plaza on MLK and get some Hot Lemon Pepper wings all flats, extra crispy, extra wet with a Peach drink and extra in-house Bleu Cheese.

I like to do simple things so that’s what I know about. We could go to Piedmont Park, the new Westside Park or stroll the Beltline. If my friend wanted to network for business or just meet some new people, we’d probably tag along with my brother to the Westside Future Fund Summit that he cohosts. If it was the summertime, probably catch one of my mom’s plays, a concert or festival like my aunt and uncle’s Jazz Matters on the yard at the Wren’s Nest. Or if my friend wanted a massage, yoni steam or some deep relaxation, I would take them over to see Yolanda at Iwi Fresh Farm Oasis in Lakewood. Maybe hit up Cascade to skate. But in all honesty, we’d probably just end up in Gran’s basement (or as we call it, The Legion) hanging out, playing games and catching up.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Ooo child. Too many people. But I’m going to try and not take up all your time. First I have to thank my mother. The loudest shoutout goes to you. You are one of my best friends, my biggest supporter, my first investor and the biggest part of why I do what I do. You are the reason I have the courage and the space to pursue anything at all. My writing talent comes directly from you. Thank you so much Lady for all you do! I love you so much. I want to do more than make you proud. I want to make all of your sacrifices worth it. I could write a whole dissertation around my gratefulness. Your protest was raising four wonderful children (and then some) with grace and unconditional love. You showed me how to survive and thrive by never giving up on your dreams. From you I learned how to stand all the way up in my creativity. You are continuously nurturing my nature, my expression and my intuition and I will be forever thankful. You deserve everything good. The absolute best. All of it.

I have to thank my aunties and my godfather (one of the first entrepreneurs I knew) for expanding my exposure, stretching my intellect and always supporting me however I need in my endeavors. I am extremely family oriented so shoutout to all of y’all. I am grateful for my Amazing TRiiB of brethren, best friends, beloveds, sister-friends, cousins and loved ones. Shoutout to all my past, present and future community of volunteers, team members, builders and customers. Thank you for putting your time, talent and money where your heart is. Shoutout to every mentor, business owner, consultant and fellow entrepreneur who has helped me and given me advice along the way. Shoutout to Atlanta, my city. Shoutout to The Realm of Ideas and Creativity. Thank you for sharing yourself with me. Shoutout to the process. I don’t always want them, but I appreciate all the lessons. Shoutout to Intuitia and all of my Living and Everlasting Ancestors who help guide me. A super special shoutout to my brother Ben for being my photographer and always willing to get the right shot. Shoutout to Shoutout for the shoutout.

And of course shoutout to my grandmother. Thank you. I am immensely grateful for the privilege you created and also your artistic abilities that funneled right on down to your grandchildren. I literally grew up in a house with my Gran’s art on all the walls. Thank you for the inspiration. Thank you for your basement. Thank you for always checking for my style and flavor. You and your sister are the reasons why I still can’t leave the house just looking any old kind of way and the reason why I believe in casual flyness at minimum. Thank you for reminding me to keep trying, that there’s more than one way to protest and we need all of them. We call you GRAN The G.O.A.T. And as you always say, “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.”

ersonalZaijaRuth__BiiBLHAUS

Website: https://biiblhaus.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biiblhaus/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BIIBLHAUS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biiblhaus

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClcJCYL4XZgY5Jtb6sM1a0A

Other: https://www.instagram.com/zaija_ruth/

Image Credits
BiiBL HAUS