Amira Rasool

Amira Rasool is an American entrepreneur and former fashion journalist. She is the founder of The Folklore, a company that distributes fashion and lifestyle products from Africa and the diaspora.

Early life and education

Rasool was born and raised in South Orange, New Jersey. Rasool developed an early interest in fashion and started a fashion blog during high school. While attending Rutgers University, she interned at various magazines, including Women's Wear Daily and Marie Claire. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in African American and African Studies from Rutgers and later earned a Master of Philosophy in African Studies from the University of Cape Town.

Career

Rasool worked as a fashion assistant at V Magazine and has contributed to Marie Claire, Glamour, Teen Vogue, and others. Her work primarily focused on Black culture in relation to fashion, travel, music, visual arts, and social justice.
In 2018, Rasool founded The Folklore, an e-commerce platform offering fashion and lifestyle products from Africa and the diaspora. The company initially began with a $30,000 investment. It later expanded to include The Folklore Shop, an e-commerce platform offering a curated selection of sustainable and diverse global brands.
In 2022, Rasool raised $1.7 million for The Folklore, making her one of the youngest Black women to raise over $1 million in pre-seed funding. In 2024, she raised an additional $3.4m in funding for The Folklore, led by the venture capital fund Benchstrength.
In 2024, Rasool was included on Forbes 30 Under 30 list.