Las Vegas City Wire

Once an old motel, Ferguson’s Downtown is now home to a variety of locally owned shops and eateries.

Tofu Tees is one of them. It’s an eclectic mix of handmade jewelry, books, and collectibles. But, take a closer look, and you’ll see why this shop stands out.

From tees to bags, there’s a message behind the merchandise. “Racism is Trash” or “Social Issues Are Not Trends,” are just two of the messages displayed on shirts, hats, and bags.

The store’s owner, Kumei Norwood, also stands out. She’s 16 years old.

“It’s been really fun. A lot of people ask, ‘how do you go to school and run a business?’” says Kumei.

The teen attends Las Vegas Academy of the Arts every day before heading to the store. The young entrepreneur says it’s all possible with support from her parents.

“Whenever she’s in school, we’re here,” says Devon Norwood. “We’ve seen her journey, from 7 or 8 years old to now. I mean…we’re proud of her.”

Kumei’s journey to artistry and activism started with a message she wrote and designed in a notebook when she was six years old. It read, “Why are people so sensitive?”

Kumei began designing tees that sparked conversation through creativity. At just eight years old, she took her items to pop-ups and markets. She landed her first brick-and-mortar store when she was twelve.

Her dad said, “What she’s built, it’s really remarkable.”

Kumei credits her parents for helping her find the message behind her merchandise.

“Ever since I was little, they’ve made a point to let me know what’s going on in the world,” says Kumei.

The young store owner said she didn’t want people to forget what they saw, discussed and learned during the pandemic − from George Floyd to social unrest.

She continues to tap into the conscience of the community by organizing rallies promoting social justice.

“During a BLM protest, I had more than 600 people show up,” said Kumei.

She has connected parents and kids through important conversations.

“I decided to have books [in the store] that are important to talk to their kids about. These are just important for kids to be able to see,” said Kumei.

And she has held events encouraging people to make their voices heard.

“So speaking of that, I will be having a voter registration as well,” Kumei said.

At just 16 years old, Kumei proves what’s possible when you’re rooted in purpose and driven to make a difference.

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