Featured in xoJohn: Celebrating 10 Years of HUE Affair

This spring, The Dappled Wood had the opportunity to participate in the 10th Anniversary HUE Affair Marketplace in New York City, an event that has spent the last decade creating space for Black-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, creatives, and community.

Founded by HUE Affair, the annual marketplace has become much more than a shopping event. It serves as a platform where brands can connect directly with customers, build relationships, and celebrate Black entrepreneurship in a meaningful way. Reaching a ten-year milestone is no small achievement, and it was an honor to be part of this year's celebration.

The event brought together an incredible mix of businesses spanning beauty, fashion, lifestyle, wellness, and handmade goods. Throughout the day, attendees explored new brands, supported small businesses, and connected with founders whose stories and products reflect the diversity and creativity within our communities.

For The Dappled Wood, the experience was especially meaningful because it provided an opportunity to introduce our nature-inspired statement jewelry to a new audience. We had countless conversations with shoppers, fellow entrepreneurs, and supporters who shared stories, style inspiration, and encouragement. These moments are often the most rewarding part of participating in events like HUE Affair.

We're also excited to share that The Dappled Wood was featured in xoJohn's article, Ten Years Later: Why HUE Affair Continues to Matter. The piece reflects on HUE Affair's impact over the past decade and highlights some of the brands and founders who participated in this year's marketplace.

One of the things we love most about events like HUE Affair is that they remind us that small businesses do not grow in isolation. Behind every brand is a network of customers, organizers, fellow business owners, and supporters who make that growth possible. The marketplace created space for those connections to happen naturally, and the energy throughout the event reflected that shared commitment to community.

As a Black-owned, woman-owned business based in Maryland, we are grateful for opportunities to share our work beyond our local community and connect with people who value creativity, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship. Experiences like HUE Affair reinforce why we continue to create bold, lightweight statement jewelry inspired by the beauty of nature.

Thank you to HUE Affair, xoJohn, and everyone who stopped by our booth, shopped our collection, shared our story, or simply took a moment to connect. Your support helps make opportunities like this possible.

You can read the full feature here: https://xojohn.com/ten-years-later-why-hue-affair-continues-to-matter/