About
Meet the founder & designer
Phylicia Dove was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY; moving to Buffalo, NY shortly after graduating from Hobart and William Smith College, then later receiving her Master of Science from Daemen College. Creative Director and owner of IamPhyNomenal LLC, a fashion company( from which Black Monarchy was bore) Phylicia is a lifestyle image consultant and personal shopper. Dove has worked with many of Buffalo, NY's notables as well as styling the cover of local magazine Black WNY, WNY’s Women to Watch Issue April/May issue, visual merchandising for local boutiques and hosting styling specials on News Channel 4 WIVB.
It's flagship store notably called Black Monarchy New York embodies culture, language, and is a symbolism for a monarch for kings and queens to reign. This mantra details the importance of celebrating diversity in our globalist society. Black Monarchy was founded in 2016 through inspirations from the architectural and cultural textiles, celebrating the uniqueness of global diasporas. The boutique curates the vividness of cultural clothing and jewelry made of raw authentic materials and authentic fabrics that recreate the conglomerate of our world.
These pieces have diverse origins from India, Africa, America, Mexico, Indonesia, Thailand and many more.
Recently, Black Monarchy became the 2017 winner of 43North's "The Pitch" competition, an MWBE business plan competition subset of the Governor's Buffalo Billion aimed to enhance the city's economics and entrepreneurial opportunities for small and thriving businesses. This competition was uniquely formed by the Mayor of the City of Buffalo, Byron W. Brown and Brand Strategist Jennifer Parker.
“Fashion has always been my personal form of expression that transcended all racial or societal constructed barriers," said Dove. "I just wanted to share this art form with the world, in a unique way.”
Phylicia was awarded the $15,000 Grand Prize Winner, and an additional $10,000 for the Five Star Bank People's Choice Award, making her the biggest winner of the evening.
"I wanted to make a brand where everyone could enjoy," said Dove. In addition to the fashion and artisan boutique, Black Monarchy offers jewelry design and fabrication for students in the neighboring community centers. Dove also offers classes for women called "Adjust Your Crown," which is a class that teaches the art of head wraps. These classes are approximately 1 hour which include a cultural head wrap for attendees. She has also launched Not for profit in November 2017 the "Black Monarchy Foundation, Incorporated" which focuses on providing resources for the local refugee community with business opportunities, skills, and resources, her annual Alabaster Box homeless outreach ministry and her collective of entrepreneurial events.
Black Monarchy has displayed its uniquely designs and fabrics throughout the City of Buffalo and Niagara Falls at events such as the Canisius College Fashion Show, Beau Fleuve Music and Arts Festival and recently at the All White Affair which featured Black Monarchy and Dove in the Gusto section of the Buffalo News. She continues to grow as she and her business has been featured in several publications including the Challenger News, Buffalo Rising, 43 North Podcast, and Upstart NY. She has a supportive college sweetheart turned husband and two sons from this union.