Tembo NYC
Deborah Chusid
www.tembonyc.com
At the heart of Tembo NYC beats the captivating story of its founder, Deborah Chusid. Her globetrotting adventures in activism and her inexhaustible creative spirit have come together to stitch the vibrant fabric of Tembo — a testament to her dedication to social impact and artistic expression, and the transformative power of combining the two.
One summer, Deborah’s work as an activist took her to Zimbabwe, volunteering with Bhejane Trust, an organization dedicated to bringing water to wildlife and Elephant/Rhino conservation in Zimbabwe’s National Parks.
While in Zimbabwe, Deborah was introduced to a women’s co-op making woven and hand sewn goods to sell in their community. She learned how the co-op empowered women to participate in the workforce, giving them financial freedom that resulted in the improved wellbeing of their families and community.
Back in New York, Deborah had a successful career in the advertising industry as an Art/Creative Director. Inspired by what she saw in Zimbabwe, Deborah founded Tembo NYC and began working with the Artisan Sewing Co-op in Queens, a co-op consisting of Bengali immigrant women, to produce her fabric totes. As part of their partnership, Deborah ensures that these women earn fair-trade wages and have the opportunity to be creative. All goods at Tembo are made using only environmentally friendly and long-lasting materials, and 5 percent of all profits generated by sales support various nonprofit organizations.
Business took off for Tembo NYC during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Seeing a business opportunity and a chance to help people, Tembo made masks, utilizing a buy-one-donate-one promotion. Tembo was getting so many orders that Deborah decided to quit her corporate job to work at Tembo full-time.
In late 2022, QEDC reached out through the Made in Queens (MiQ) program and offered Tembo NYC a spot at a JFK Airport holiday market. This opened doors to the world of travel retail — which would go on to become Tembo’s most lucrative market — and forged important connections that would shape the future of the brand. Tembo products are also sold in major NYC museums, and pop-up markets around the city. “Made in Queens really started my business…it really gave us a boost by connecting us with JFK,” Deborah said. Now, Tembo is thriving, and its story is far from over.
Deborah’s journey in starting and running Tembo is one filled with success and achievement, yet the thing she is most proud of is the women who sew for her. “My grandparents were immigrants who started off in the garment industry…someone gave them an opportunity…to pass on the torch to someone else is what I’m most proud of,” she said. Deborah and her work at Tembo stand as a shining example of how art can serve as a catalyst to spark meaningful and positive social change.