Noiraud Shop LLC was born from the personal journey of Thérèse Mbaye, who was born and raised in Senegal, West Africa. As a creative director, Thérèse transformed her childhood insecurities into a celebration of self-acceptance and empowerment. Growing up, Thérèse was often called “Noiraud”—meaning “swarthy”—because of her dark skin, experiencing the painful reality of colorism. Like many who have felt out of place, she struggled with self-esteem, even considering skin bleaching to fit in.

But Thérèse’s story is also one of resilience, inspired by the powerful women around her—especially the African women who, in the face of adversity, carried the heaviest of burdens with unwavering dignity and strength. As a young girl, Thérèse was one of those women: walking miles to fetch water, balancing 17-gallon buckets on her head, and enduring long periods without water or electricity. In those moments of scarcity, these women did not complain or wait for rescue; they took action, finding solutions and providing for their families and communities, no matter the obstacles.