DC Mayor Muriel Bowser joined community leaders, entrepreneurs, and business supporters today to celebrate the grand opening of Yeleen Beauty Makerspace in Ward 7. Located at 3443 Benning Road Northeast, the state-of-the-art co-manufacturing facility is designed to lower barriers for small businesses in the beauty industry, providing local entrepreneurs with access to manufacturing resources, training, and collaborative opportunities.
The event also marked the launch of Grow DC: Strengthen Our Beauty Roots, a new initiative aimed at modernizing and streamlining licensing for cosmetology and barbering professionals. The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) is proud to support this effort, which helps beauty entrepreneurs save time and money while growing their businesses locally.
Mayor Bowser praised the project as a powerful example of vision and execution. “This is what it looks like when you have a vision, you put it together, and you over execute. Rahama said she would open a shared maker space in Ward 7, and then she did it. This is a fantastic space and an even better idea: a hub where solo beauty entrepreneurs and small beauty companies can manufacture locally, collaborate, and scale beyond their home kitchens,” said Mayor Bowser.
She also highlighted the importance of keeping DC’s beauty economy strong and local. “We love the beauty business, and I love the term ‘beauty entrepreneur.’ DC residents spend a lot on looking good, and we want to keep those dollars in our community. That is why Yeleen Beauty Makerspace belongs right here on Benning Road,” Bowser added.
As part of the event, Mayor Bowser announced the Beauty Initiative, which will reduce unnecessary training requirements for cosmetology and barbering professionals. “The initiative will reduce unnecessary licensing requirements, helping stylists save time and money so they can focus on their craft. It is about keeping talent in DC and making it easier to do business in the District,” said Bowser.
For Yeleen Beauty founder and CEO Rahama Wright, the Makerspace represents not just a facility, but a movement to change the beauty industry from the ground up. “This facility was designed specifically for small businesses and entrepreneurs who typically do not have access to manufacturing facilities. We created it to address those constraints and provide the tools and teaching needed to help entrepreneurs scale and grow,” Wright said.
She emphasized the need for equity in beauty. “In a 60-billion-dollar U.S. beauty industry, Black founders capture only 2.5 percent of the market, even though Black consumers account for more than 11 percent of sales. This space is sending a clear message: there is no room for inequality in beauty,” Wright added.
Ward 7 Councilmember Wendell Felder called the opening a milestone for the entire District. “This space, right here in the heart of Ward 7, is more than just a manufacturing hub. It is a launchpad for dreams. It is a place where Black and Brown entrepreneurs can access the tools, training, and resources they need to compete in an industry that has too often left them behind,” Felder said.
Looking ahead, Wright issued a call to action for the community to rally behind local businesses. “Let us make DC not only our nation’s capital, but the beauty capital of the United States. A few years ago, I said we would put DC on the map for beauty, and with this space, we are one step closer.”
The launch of Yeleen Beauty Makerspace and DC’s Beauty Initiative reflects the Bowser Administration’s ongoing commitment to making it easier to do business in DC while supporting entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic growth in every ward.