About

Hi there, my name is danielle (I like to spell my name in all lowercase). I am born and raised in Montreal, Quebec (Canada), with Caribbean roots from Barbados. I am a graphic designer & illustrator by trade, and have been in the industry for over 12 years. Although I enjoy designing visuals for others, it has always been important for me to create projects for myself, and that is how Zuri & Dre started in 2019.

Zuri & Dre is a dream come true, to be honest, it’s a dream I didn’t even realized I had. As a dark skinned Black woman, who grew up being uncomfortable in her own skin, with her own hair, this brand is a love letter to my inner child. The child who didn’t realize that not seeing yourself often in media, fashion or shows, would be part of the reason she wanted to always straighten her hair, or felt like she couldn’t wear dark colours, because it was too close to her skin tone.

Zuri & Dre started as a personal project, which then turned into a self published colouring book, a board book and now the cute plushies, decor and accessories you see today. These soft cuddly companions are a visual representation of my art style as a graphic designer & illustrator, as well as a culmination of self-love that I’ve learned throughout the years. While I couldn’t have these cuties by my side as a little one, I hope that new generations will be able to enjoy them and feel loved and accepted just the way they are.