Ari Davis is turning matcha, fashion and community into something bigger than a business.
The founder of Stript and BUJI Matcha has built brands that place Black women at the center of the experience. Her approach combines clothing, beverages, pop-up events and social spaces where women can meet, shop, relax and connect.
Davis, a Howard University alumna, said her goal is not simply to sell products. She wants to create real-life experiences for a community that she previously connected with mostly online.
Ari Davis Builds a Community Around BUJI Matcha and Stript
BUJI Matcha has grown beyond the idea of simply serving an iced drink. Its pop-up events bring together fashion, music, shopping and social activities, creating spaces where Black women can spend time with one another.
The events have attracted hundreds of well-dressed Black women, according to EBONY. They offer an opportunity to get out of the house, meet friends and enjoy a welcoming environment.
That community focus connects directly with Davis’s clothing brand, Stript. While customers can shop for clothes online, BUJI gives the wider brand a physical place where people can gather.
Davis explained that matcha gives people a reason to come together in person. Customers can drink matcha, shop for Stript clothing and spend time with others from the community at the same event.
From Howard Law to a New Path in Entrepreneurship
Davis grew up in Washington, D.C., and also spent some time in the Virgin Islands. She comes from a family with strong academic and professional backgrounds rather than a family of entrepreneurs.
Both of her parents are HBCU graduates. Her mother is a doctor, while her father is a lawyer. Davis attended Howard University for her undergraduate degree and later returned to Howard for law school.
Her mother’s journey played an important role in shaping her approach to work and risk. Davis watched her mother raise two children while completing medical school and residency before becoming an OBGYN.
Davis eventually practiced law for three years before leaving the profession. She then moved into entrepreneurship full time, building Stript before expanding into the beverage and community space through BUJI Matcha.
How Japan Inspired Davis to Launch BUJI Matcha
The idea for BUJI Matcha came after Davis traveled to Japan. During the trip, she met matcha farmers and developed a strong interest in the drink and its culture.
She already had Stript, but wanted to build another business that could offer a different experience. She saw matcha as an opportunity to bring her online community together in real life.
The timing also worked in her favor. BUJI launched as interest in matcha was growing and conversations about a matcha shortage were taking place.
For Davis, however, the bigger opportunity was combining matcha with fashion and retail. That combination allowed her to create a setting where customers could enjoy the beverage while shopping and socializing.
BUJI Matcha Creates a Space Beyond the Traditional Cafe
Davis describes the BUJI experience as something that goes beyond buying a drink. The pop-ups are designed around the idea of giving people a place to simply spend time together.
Customers do not need a reservation or a ticket to attend. They also do not have to purchase matcha. Davis said the events are designed for the average customer rather than being created mainly for influencers on brand trips.
Small touches also help shape the experience. BUJI pop-ups can include activities such as tattoo stations and photo booths, adding entertainment and interaction to the beverage experience.
That approach has helped turn the events into social gatherings. Rather than focusing only on the product, BUJI creates an environment where people can talk, take photos, shop and make new connections.
Why Black Women Are Central to the BUJI Brand
Black women are a clear focus of Davis’s marketing and community strategy. She has intentionally built both Stript and BUJI around Black women’s experiences, while keeping the spaces open to everyone.
Davis said the company’s target audience is Black and Brown people. She also explained that the locations and timing of BUJI events are chosen intentionally based on where the community is and which cultural moments matter to them.
One example is BUJI’s planned October homecoming tour. Because Davis is an HBCU graduate and many members of her audience have HBCU connections, homecoming is an important cultural moment for the brand.
The strategy means BUJI can show up in cities where its audience is already gathering. Davis said the company recently visited Detroit, Cleveland and Virginia Beach, while also seeing strong turnout in Richmond.
The “BUJI Baddie” Connects Fashion, Beauty and Community
The connection between Stript and BUJI is also reflected in the identity of the “BUJI Baddie.” Davis describes this customer as someone who enjoys getting dressed, trying something different and being part of a social experience.
That identity helps connect the fashion and beverage sides of the business. BUJI’s social media content also intentionally features the products, interests and women who reflect the community Davis is building.
As a result, Stript and BUJI operate as more than separate businesses. Clothing creates one form of expression, while matcha provides a reason for customers to gather physically.
That combination gives Davis a way to build brand awareness while also creating experiences that customers can share with friends and across social media.
Customer Demand Is Helping BUJI Expand Across America
Social media has played an important role in BUJI’s expansion. Davis said the brand began with its first cart in the DMV area, but customers in other cities soon began asking the company to visit them.
Those requests have helped shape where BUJI goes next. Instead of relying only on a traditional expansion model, Davis said the company follows where its customers are asking it to appear.
The company also creates Stript shirts connected to individual cities. This adds a local element to each stop while giving customers another way to connect with the brand.
Davis’s approach shows how a business can use social media as more than a marketing channel. Customer conversations can also provide information about where demand exists and which communities want to experience the brand in person.
Ari Davis Is Building Around Culture, Not Just Products
Davis’s business strategy is closely connected to culture. Her HBCU background, experience as a Black woman and understanding of her customers all influence where BUJI appears and how its events are designed.
That connection is particularly visible through the company’s use of cultural moments such as HBCU homecoming. Rather than treating every market the same, BUJI looks for places and occasions that already matter to its audience.
For Black women, the story also highlights another side of entrepreneurship. Davis is not only creating products for a specific audience. She is building physical spaces where that audience can see itself represented and spend time together.
Her journey from attorney to entrepreneur also shows how professional experience can lead to a very different kind of business path. Through Stript and BUJI Matcha, Davis has combined fashion, beverages, culture and community into an expanding brand experience.
Ultimately, her work demonstrates how a product can become the starting point for something larger. For Davis, matcha is the reason people arrive, but community is a major part of why they stay connected.
