04/02/2026
Fourteen years ago, Brown Girl Surf launched with a $500 women’s business grant, a t-shirt table at Fort Mason, and a founder who wheeled herself onstage on a scooter with a ruptured Achilles to talk about Bluemind and the ocean’s effect on trauma and our wellbeing.
This month, the same organization awarded Brown Girl Surf a $10,000 grant — this time for our sustainable skin and haircare line.
Brown Girl Surf was not an easy thing to bring into the world— labor, time, personal investment, 40% retirement liquidation, more setbacks than I can count, and compensation of just $4,616 through 14 years.
This grant won’t pay me back. But it will fund half a year of maker space and help build out our website!
To our retail partners, our collaborators, and everyone who has carried this story forward — thank you. You’re part of why this is still standing.
To our Oakland friends — we’re looking for shared maker space. Small, a sink, some natural light. If you know of anything, please share. You’d be directly helping this next chapter take shape.
📸 1: BGS Debut pop up & founding community at Fort Mason Center 4/15/12
📸 2: Founder Farhana Huq about to wheel onstage 4/15/12
📸 3: Bluemind panel discussing the links between the ocean, wellness & healing trauma 4/15/12
