Aaliyah Taylor and Gelenda Norman have a unique mother-daughter bond, strengthened by their shared entrepreneurial journeys.
Aaliyah Taylor is the owner of Exalting in Beauty, and Gelenda is the owner of Geez Dezignz. Both jewelry makers have been Woodlawn Street Market vendors since 2016 and are both featured in the first virtual market. Their creations reflect each of their personalities in very different yet beautifully complementary ways.
From the beginning, Aaliyah and Gelenda have inspired each other to pursue their artistic talents.
“Even though I was younger, I was able to see these artistic gifts in my matriarchs,” Aaliyah said. “They have all inspired me – every female in my family.”
Her mother Gelenda says it was Aaliyah’s own boldness that brought the artist out of her.
Their journey has been intertwined as Aaliyah and Gelenda worked to grow as creators and small business owners. At first, Gelenda didn’t think of making jewelry as a business; instead, it was a fun hobby inspired by her love of unique accessories.
Six years ago, Gelenda began to sell her creations. She didn’t realize it at the time, but her entrepreneurial spirit was rubbing off on her daughter, too. Once Aaliyah moved back to Birmingham from Atlanta, Exalting in Beauty officially became her focus. Now, Aaliyah and Gelenda share a work space, where they encourage and inspire each other.
“They have all inspired me – every female in my family.”
“We’re so close as a mother-daughter team, and we balance each other out as small business owners, too,” said Aaliyah.
They try on each other’s jewelry for new perspective, purchase pieces from each other, and creatively challenge each other.
“If I take it to Level 8, then she has to take it to Level 20,” Gelenda said. “When I see that, it fires me up that I can at least make it to Level 15!”
Participating together in the Woodlawn Street Market has been important to them. Originally, the two shared a single space at the market. Now, Aaliyah and Gelenda have grown into their own booths – but they still request to be next to each other for continued physical and emotional support.
Bekah Fox, market co-organizer whose goal is a positive market experience for every vendor, makes this a priority.
“When they are together, it feels right,” Bekah said. “They are beautiful and vibrant, optimistic and empowering. I really believe in who they are as people, and it comes through their art.”
Now the mother-daughter duo are sharing another new experience: the first virtual Woodlawn Street Market. Aaliyah said that posting about the virtual market has created online intrigue on her own platform, and she’s excited to see its effects. After reaching a wider audience virtually, she hopes even more people will make plans to attend the market in person when it returns to 55th Place in Woodlawn.
“[Woodlawn Street Market] took me to another level and introduced me to other opportunities to learn more about myself as a designer, and even to begin to look into how to brand myself and sell it,” Gelenda said.
“We’re so close as a mother-daughter team, and we balance each other out as small business owners, too.”
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