Pretty and Black Owned is a celebration of brilliance, beauty, and bold business moves. This series spotlights Black women who are building powerful brands, creating impact, and owning their lane with confidence and purpose. From passion to profit, these women represent what it looks like to lead, thrive, and win.

Felicia Bennett is a creative with a real love for fashion, storytelling, and culture, and she’s been doing it long before “content creator” became a thing. One of her earliest standout moments came in 1997, when she was chosen to present a curated Caged Creations by Felicia gift cage to Dr. Maya Angelou at her Lifetime Inspiration Award ceremony in Rochester, New York. Iconic, to say the least.

For over 20 years, Felicia was a contributing editor and fashion columnist for About…Time Magazine, one of the longest-running Black-owned publications. Her writing brought style, confidence, and cultural insight to the page, helping shape how readers thought about fashion and self-expression.

She’s also the founder of The Well-Heeled Society, a shoe blog that made waves and landed on multiple “Top 10 Best Shoe Blogs” lists. If it involved heels, style, or stepping out with intention, Felicia was already there.

Felicia later stepped into authorship with her self-published novella, How To Stylishly Fall From Grace, and turned social media into a real-life moment, hosting book signings in high-end shoe boutiques in both New York City and Atlanta.

At her core, Felicia Bennett is about owning your style, telling your story your way, and doing it with confidence. Fashion isn’t just what she writes about it’s how she shows up.

What inspired the start of “Hand Knit by Felicia”?

I had to put down my beloved soul dog of 11 years.  Creativity has always been my source of coping with trauma, and after selling hand-knitted dog beds and “woofinity” scarves years ago, I needed to immerse myself in a project.

What has been the biggest challenge of running a brand like “Hand Knit by Felicia”?

I don’t see challenges as energy-draining; I see opportunities where most wouldn’t consider them. When I opened up my gift cage business, I had so many naysayers saying it wouldn’t work because I opened with no overhead signage, no business cards, and low inventory. Yet I ended up with local news station features, three newspaper articles, and a minority business grant that covered radio station commercials.

How does “Hand Knit by Felicia” impact its local community?

Since it’s still in its infancy, I have yet to network.  But I will be joining the @blackownedinrochester directory.

How can women in particular benefit from what your brand has to offer?

I celebrate uniqueness, and women who don’t want to be styled like everyone else will embrace my bespoke handbags.

Where do you hope to see your brand in the next 3-5 years?

I see my brand being clutched by well-manicured hands throughout the country! My first sale was a customer in California, so that lets me know it’s possible!

What advice do you have for the next generation of entrepreneurs?

Never take advice from someone who has never created anything beyond their opinions.

What does being “Pretty and Black Owned” mean to you?

“Pretty and Black Owned” means our culture continues to contribute to society because our swag is so undeniably attractive.

Social Media Links:

http://instagram.com/styled_2_a_tea