Meet the owners of

Black Paper Party

We love all occasions: soirees, get-togethers, date nights, holidays, showers, birthdays, and weddings. In a world of e-vites, status updates, and gift cards, some occasions call for substance and sass. Our well-curated collection includes gift wrap and ornaments with nods to the African Diaspora for everyone to enjoy. When you see our designs you will know it's gonna be a party!

Madia Willis (Chief Executive Officer)

Madia is a Liberian-American designer and entrepreneur hailing from Washington, DC.  She received her BA from Columbia and fell in love with fashion and textiles while studying abroad in Ghana, where she later returned to launch a clothing line named Biribelle.  She continued her studies of textile design at Central Sr. Martins School of Art and Design in London, Drexel University and Philadelphia University. She then worked as a textile designer at Target while also serving as the creative director of Retention Strategy informing solutions to create a diverse community in Minneapolis. She then transitioned to positions in product development and sourcing at Walmart, where she successfully launched a $1 billion children's brand and at Five Below, where she created trend and developed seasonal, home, and stationary products.

J’Aaron “Jae” Merchant (Chief Creative Officer)

Jae became the illustrator of Black Paper Party because of her passion for diverse representation through visual storytelling and digital media. Originally from the US Virgin Islands, Jae earned her BFA from Savannah State University and studied animation at the Savannah College of Art & Design.  She has worked with Disney, Sesame Street, PBS Kids, creating characters and stories that reflect the modern world.  Jae also volunteers at Havenwood, a 2-year program designed to help single mothers overcome the obstacles that lead to homelessness while providing transitional housing for their families as they prepare for economic self-sufficiency and permanent housing.  

Jasmine Hudson (Chief Merchant)

Jasmine is an entrepreneurial retail professional with a track record of developing, launching and scaling major national brands and products.  Born and raised in Cincinnati, Jasmine earned her degree in e-commerce and supply chain management from Tennessee State University.  Upon graduation, she joined the team at Walmart, holding several positions in merchandising including buying and financial planning of portfolios valued at over $2.3 billion in sales annually.