From Magazine to Cultural Vanguard
Launched in 2017 via Kickstarter by founder Mike Nicholls, Umber has evolved from a magazine into a groundbreaking media platform, leading a cultural movement through storytelling. Independently releasing print publications and hosting transformative activations, our team of editors, writers, photographers, and videographers curates content that shapes and reflects the nuances of culture globally.
Photography: Kevin Allen
Originally envisioned as a graphic journal for creative thinkers, Umber now thrives as a collective of tastemakers, cultural shapers, and movement-builders redefining how we engage with the world. It meets the demand for media that represents the depth of narratives from Black, Indigenous, Latin American, African, Asian, Arabic, Pacific Islander, and other communities of color.
Umber sets the standard for innovative, intersectional storytelling, bringing together readers and contributors who share a passion for shaping the future of culture. We cultivate authentic worldviews and spark creative inspiration, attracting socially conscious individuals who actively influence culture, style, and innovation.
Souls of Mischief - 2019 at de Young Museum, San Francisco
Photography: John Crisp
With over 100 contributors spanning Armenia, Amsterdam, Brazil, Chile, China, Copenhagen, Guadeloupe, Lebanon, London, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, Sudan, Switzerland, and beyond, Umber highlights the thought leaders and cultural innovators who are reimagining our collective futures, such as:
Apache Skateboards, Armand Hammer, Ashara Ekundayo, Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, Deanna Van Buren, Edgar Villanueva, Amos Kennedy Jr., Mani Draper, MAVI, Niema Jordan, Saul Williams, Souls of Mischief, Thalma De Freitas, Thomas Pridgen, Tonya Rapley, and many more.
Team
Adria Bani, Charles Brack, Nia Coats, Iris M. Crawford, Monika Jo, Sean Johnson, sasha kelley, Josephine Lee, Shah Noor, Louis Rawlins
Our Partners Over the Years
Mike Nicholls
Founder & CEO
Mike Nicholls is the Founder and CEO of Umber, a pioneering media company amplifying the global voices of Black people and people of color through print, digital content, and activations. With a focus on innovation and authenticity, Mike leads Umber's creative direction, editorial strategy, and business development, collaborating with contributors worldwide to cultivate a network of tastemakers and cultural leaders. Under his leadership, Umber has become a hub for storytelling, inspiration, and discovery, blending thoughtful narratives with bold visual design.
Learn more about Mike here.
Photography: Bethanie Hines