Adanne
Photos by Curt Saunders
“Growing up in a Nigerian household is tough — there’s all these expectations you gotta meet,” says Darlene Okpo, owner of Adanne bookshop. But the New York native, who grew up with three siblings in the Bronx and Staten Island, concedes that her parents never pressured their children to become doctors or lawyers, encouraging them to forge their own paths in life.
“I really admire how they just let us be free,” she says. For Darlene, 34, that freedom has led to a range of pursuits.
At age 22, along with her younger sister Lizzy, she founded the William Okpo womenswear line (named after their dapper dad), known in the fashion world for its innovative design, distinctive silhouettes and sharp tailoring. For 10 years she also led after-school arts programs before taking up teaching full-time in 2016. “The fashion industry is great, but I didn’t feel like it was my purpose,” says Darlene, who now teaches 9th grade African-American studies in Newark, NJ, while designing for William Okpo on the side. “Once I became a full-time educator, I was like, ‘Wow, *this* is where I need to be.’”
Despite her dual roles of teaching and running a fashion label, Darlene wanted more. When she saw drastic improvement in her students’ reading after giving them books that centered Black characters who looked like them, it sparked another idea.
“I wanted a bookstore, not only for children but for adults as well,” she says. “And I wanted to promote Black authors and Black culture in a one-stop shop.” Darlene brought this vision to life on May 1 with the opening of Adanne: a community bookstore in DUMBO offering a hand curated selection of Black books (especially rare, out-of-print titles) and a rich inventory of bags, tees and accessories.
“I pick books that really challenge the reader, that are going to make people slightly uncomfortable but encourage the mind to dig deeper.”
For Darlene, an avid reader since childhood, bookstores have always felt like home. She wanted to evoke this same warm atmosphere at Adanne. “I don’t want people to feel like they’re in a store and have to buy something,” she says, somewhat paradoxically.
Her small yet airy bookshop boasts cozy seating, colorful textiles, houseplants and art-adorned walls. Shelves and display cases are lovingly stocked not only with piles of books by Black authors — a unique collection of off-the-beaten-path and rare titles, mixed with classics and bestsellers — but also a treasure trove of candles, earrings, apothecary tinctures, bags, tees and other small goods, mostly by Black artisans and makers. The carefully chosen and thoughtfully presented objects invite you to take your time, explore and relax.
“When I first opened, people would ask, ‘Is this an apartment? Do you live here?’” Darlene says with a laugh. “No, I don’t — but that’s the vibe I was going for.”
At the same time, with its focus on Black writers, past and present, from across the diaspora, Adanne is a mission-driven space. “It’s about gaining knowledge and using that knowledge toward the community,” says Darlene, who opens up the bookstore weekly for discussions, workshops and other events. Recent happenings have included a book swap and discussions on bell hooks’ All About Love and education during the pandemic. Stay tuned for poetry readings, as well as talks on financial literacy and interior design.
Among other literary works, Darlene prides herself on Adanne’s selection of Black history books and rare titles that you won’t see on Amazon or at big-box stores.
“I pick books that really challenge the reader, that are going to make people slightly uncomfortable but encourage the mind to dig deeper,” she says, explaining her process of scouring used bookstores and estate sales and going down internet rabbit holes. “I want to be a hub especially for those older books that really record our history.”
Named for Darlene’s mother Pauline, who nurtured her childhood love of reading (Adanne, which means “She is her mother’s daughter” in Igbo, is Pauline’s nickname), the shop also carries a small but well curated collection of children’s books.
Running a bookstore on top of teaching 9th grade and working in fashion with her William Okpo line may sound overwhelming, but as far as Darlene is concerned, she’s living the dream. “It’s a lot of work, but finding balance in doing three different things makes me happy,” she says. “It makes me extremely happy.”
53 Bridge Street, adanne.co
