ABOUT US & THE BLACK ROOM

Bedstuy Location

 173 Malcolm X Blvd (btwn Madison & Monroe Street)

Brooklyn, NY 11221

📞 Phone: 646.801.1412

Open: Wednesday - Saturday 12-8 pm, Sunday 12-6 pm 

Closed: Monday & Tuesday

 

The Black Room is more than a retail space—it is a cultural hub dedicated to celebrating Black creativity, history, and innovation. Located in the heart of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, The Black Room serves as the home of black N ugly, a brand that pays homage to the resilience and brilliance of Black culture. Our space reflects our deep commitment to storytelling through fashion, art, and community engagement. Here, history and style converge, creating a one-of-a-kind experience that honors the past while shaping the future. Welcome to The Black Room—where culture lives, and Black excellence thrives.

   

It was all a dream…until Sherifa made ‘Black N Ugly’ a reality.

As the visionary behind Black N Ugly Clothing (BU), Sherifa breathes life into the African diasporic community, using fashion as both a statement and a celebration. A Harlem native through and through, her designs reflect the audacity, individuality, and effortless style that define the very heartbeat of her city.

Armed with a Communications degree and a Psychology minor from The City College of New York, Sherifa understands the power of language and perception. Her brand’s name, inspired by The Notorious B.I.G.'s One More Chance, reclaims and redefines words that once carried weighty connotations, turning them into symbols of pride and resilience.

"Black N Ugly demands attention—it challenges, reclaims, and transforms. I want to take something once dismissed and make it powerful again."

Through BU, Sherifa intertwines fashion with storytelling, paying homage to cultural icons like Malcolm X, Basquiat, and Nina Simone. Her designs, rich with historical and contemporary references, connect wearers to a legacy of strength, artistry, and identity. Her work has been spotted on cultural tastemakers, including Kid Fury and hip-hop legend The Lady of Rage.

Beyond her own brand, Sherifa collaborates with businesses—from restaurants to nonprofits—creating custom merchandise that fosters unique identities. She also invests in the next generation, working with institutions like Democracy Prep and Achievement First, where she leads workshops on design, self-expression, and self-esteem for young Black girls.

A creator, educator, and cultural architect, Sherifa Gayle is a force. Her work is more than fashion—it’s a movement, an homage, and a revolution. She is, without question, her ancestors’ wildest dreams.