Song: How it feels to fly (Alicia Keys)

Dear Milano Dreamers,

Twelve years, wow! It’s hard to put into words how grateful I am for each and every one of you who has shopped or supported my brand. Reflecting on where Milano Di Rouge started and where we are now, it truly feels surreal. What began as two sweatshirts delivered from the trunk of my car has grown into a multi-million-dollar brand with a global customer base of over 750,204 Milano Dreamers and a team of dedicated employees who help bring the vision to life.

This year, I went deeper into my purpose, my faith, and my growth, and it’s been both challenging and beautiful. I took a huge personal step by getting rebaptized and surrendering my life completely to God. I’m learning that when I truly let go and trust Him, I find strength and guidance that keep me going even on the hardest days. My faith has been my foundation, my guide, and my light, and it’s only deepening as I move forward.

I also made a commitment this year to invest in my personal and professional growth like never before. I’m reading books that push my thinking. I'm currently reading Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0 by Jim Collins. It's sooooo good and I’m attending seminars, leadership conferences, and tapping into business podcasts, watching masterclasses and church sermons. I know I have a responsibility to keep growing, not just for me, but for my son, my family, my team, and every single one of you who believes in this brand..

And God… He’s just been showing out. The doors He has opened feel so surreal. This year, Milano Di Rouge is partnering with Shea Moisture and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. I’m still in shock, a girl from the hood who didn’t finish college (which I don’t recommend) yet built a brand and business that led to a partnership with an Ivy League school. I get to bring along nine minority businesswomen for a week of growth, learning, empowerment, business training, opportunities to connect with industry leaders, and a business certificate from Tuck that I’ll be proudly hanging in my office. I’m super excited, y’all! And Shea Moisture, a brand whose products I’ve been using since I was young. To have the chance to partner with a company I’ve admired for so long is proof that God is real, that anything is possible, and that your circumstances don’t define you

Over the past year, we’ve celebrated so much together. We partnered with the Atlanta Hawks to launch a limited Milano Di Rouge x Hawks capsule collection, and I was honored with the 2024 Entrepreneurial Woman of Impact Award! ✨ I had the incredible opportunity to deliver a keynote speech at Eric Thomas’s masterclass, one of my favorite motivational speakers. I’ve also spoken at major conferences such as Investfest, Essence Fest, BrainTrust Live, CultureCon, and more.

This year, I was featured in Forbes (and one day, I’ll make the cover—don’t mind me, just dreaming out loud, lol). I was deeply honored to receive the Change Maker Award from my church, Change Church. I also had the privilege to be part of EY Winning Women and their Entrepreneur Access Network, surrounded by brilliant minds who have inspired me to think even bigger. And to top it off, we were named one of Inc. 5000’s fastest-growing private companies in 2023!

I couldn’t have done any of this without you all. You are my reason for pushing forward, for dreaming bigger, and for striving to make Milano Di Rouge a brand that doesn’t just sell clothing but inspires, uplifts, and motivates.

For years, while building this company, I hardly received any recognition, awards, or accolades, but I never let that stop me. Now that I’m being honored, I feel grateful, but I’ll never let the praise get to my head or the criticism get to my heart. I’ll continue working hard for my dreams, regardless of validation, because God validates me.

​​This year’s journey hasn’t been easy. I’ve faced challenges that felt overwhelming at times, but I’ve learned that obstacles are just stepping stones to something greater. Just as God has opened doors, He’s also closed some, and before fully surrendering to Him, I couldn’t always understand why certain doors were closing or why certain things were happening. But I’ve learned to trust Him, and even when I can’t see it, I have faith that He’s working everything out for my good. I’m sharing this with you because, if you haven’t already (some of you may have heard through my broadcasts on Instagram), I want you to embrace the Milano Mindset. The Milano Mindset is understanding that things aren’t happening to you; they’re happening for you. Even in the midst of a storm, God is building us up, making us stronger and more resilient.

When I started Milano, I had limited resources, no mentors, and not much money. Yet, I didn’t let that stop me from dreaming. I didn’t let anything hold me back from what God destined for me. God gave me this dream for a reason, and I believe there are people whose purpose is connected to my dream.

Milano Di Rouge’s mission is simple: Making Dreams Reality. This brand started with that goal, and it’s been the heartbeat of everything we do. Whether it’s the person buying their first Milano tee or the young woman hustling to make her dreams a reality, I want everyone to know—if I can do it, so can you. I grew up in West Philadelphia, raised by a single mother, with a father who was incarcerated for most of my life. Statistically, I shouldn’t be here. But I chose not to be a product of my environment; I chose to be a product of my decisions. And if I can turn my dreams into reality, so can you. The only thing stopping you is you. Stop getting in your own way. Your dreams are waiting for you. It’s never too late, and it’s never too early to make them reality. 

Milano Dreamers, as we celebrate our 12th anniversary, I want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for believing in my dreams, for supporting this vision, and for being part of this journey. When you wear Milano Di Rouge you’re not just wearing clothing, you’re wearing a brand for dreamers created by a dreamer. Milano Di Rouge is a symbol of hope. It’s a badge of honor for those on a mission to Make their Dreams a Reality. 

Thank you to my amazing team, my mom, sister, Aunt Lisa, family, friends, followers, supporters and to my son Czar you give me purpose; you remind me daily why I’m doing this and why I can’t give up. You deserve to see what hard work and faith can achieve, I want you to know that anything is possible, no matter where you start.

And thank you, Jesus, for making it all possible.

With all my love and gratitude,
Milan Harris
CEO, Milano Di Rouge