Personality defines us, and our personalities are developed through the people we have encountered. The owners of Zarkpa’s Purses & Accessories prides themselves on their goal to “find a bag to match your pursonality.” Its unique and eye catching designs make it a store worth stepping into; with fabrics and materials imported from places such as Libya and Morocco.

Tracey Garley, the CEO and founder, with close friend Courtney Sims, the Creative Director, came up with the idea to open Zarkpa’s Boutique after Garleys’ mother lost her job back in 2009. Garley shares the credit for the idea with her mother, pushing and supporting her throughout her entrepreneurship. She was a sophomore in college at the time and by her junior year she started networking and traveling around to learn the ropes. The name “Zarkpa” is of West African descent and is actually Garley’s grandmother’s name.

The purse and accessory store has been open for about two years and relocated recently to Woodward Ave. With its popular “Pop Up” Events, which spotlight artists and designers, they have managed to pull together a community. They are in high hopes of recreating this welcoming community in their new store.

Each designer they host at their store stays for about 3 to 6 months. Zarkpa has now started to recruit aspiring artists as well as designers to come and display their work. Each person whose work has made an appearance are found locally, by word of mouth, or online.

The store stresses the importance and outreach that social media provides; they have a Facebook account along with Twitter and Instagram. This helps encourage others, like Garley and Sims, to attract customers and support from the community. Their hard work and dedication has paid off.

Zarkpa has done numerous fundraisers and is continuing their passion for helping others in the new store. They are particularly proud of an event that raised over a thousand dollars for victims of Ebola. They promise more charity events in the future, giving us the inside scoop about a Prom dress drive for schools around the Detroit area.

Zarkpa’s Boutique is a beautiful display of entrepreneurship in Detroit. Tracey Garley and Courtney Sims have done more than build a successful business; they are helping bring people together.