VALLEJO, Calif. – Following a professional journey guided by her faith, Academy of Art School of Fashion Merchandising graduate and pioneering member of the Urban Knights' two-time National Champion women's track & field team Briana Stewart literally made her dream a reality with last year's opening of Milk and Honey Gallery. Located at 1501 Tennessee Street in Vallejo, Milk and Honey Gallery is a chic fashion boutique that features Stewart's own clothing designs, accessories, and a bistro operated by her mother.
 
Upon earning her degree from the Academy of Art, Stewart began a career in retail where she held positions ranging from stylist to general manager for many popular contemporary brands. She embraced an early opportunity to manage the fine apparel department and a group of personal stylists for one of the country's leading high-end department stores, facilitating trunk shows for designers such as Brunello Cucinelli, Carolina Herrera, and Roberto Cavalli while setting her sights on her own business in the future.
 
"My focus was management in my profession," Stewart said. "In management I would oversee all processes pertaining to hiring and training teams, increasing revenue, and driving successful business results. Being a great manager prepared and developed me to essentially own and manage Milk and Honey Gallery."
 
Building her skills and experience for over a decade, Stewart would achieve her goal in 2023, celebrating the grand opening of Milk and Honey Gallery, a title fittingly connected to her Christian faith.
 
"The name 'Milk and Honey' was given to me by Jesus Christ as I was studying the Bible and praying," Stewart said. "Milk and honey represent the land of promise. I was at home in Dallas in January 2023, and God sent me a dream of this beautiful office, and in the dream, I said, 'Man, I wish I had a space like this!' And my friend's mom said to me, 'Stop saying that - you do have a space like this!' Then I woke up. So, in February I established my business as an LLC."

With the foundation of her business in place, Stewart relocated from Dallas back close to her hometown of Oakland in Northern California. She boasted double-digit years working in the industry yet could not secure the right opportunity in the Bay Area until she followed a path toward her own enterprise.

"As I was dropping off an application to another location, my mom noticed a new place for lease," Stewart said. "We reached out to the real estate agents and asked to take a tour. When I came upstairs to see the property, it was an office space; the same space that Jesus showed me in the dream that I had. Imagine my excitement! My mom and I converted the office space into a retail space, added a bistro in it, and we opened on November 11, 2023 in Vallejo, California. This was the birth of Milk & Honey Gallery, Boutique & Bistro."

In the months since its first patrons were welcomed, Milk and Honey Gallery has stayed true to a mission Stewart had been steadily formulating even while at Academy of Art. Her business has delivered custom-made designs and curated fashion, empowering those who dress luxuriously modest while fostering community.

"Opening Milk and Honey Gallery has been such a blessing," Stewart said. "Looking back at the business plans I created as a Fashion Merchandising student and now seeing how it's come into fruition is amazing to me and I thank God every day for it."

Touted as "where faith, fashion, and food meet," the boutique directly puts into practice Stewart's management, design, tailoring, and seamstress skill sets all within a unique one-stop location.
 
"Experience is such a great teacher because it has helped me discover strengths that I didn't know I had," Stewart said. "It's been beyond what I could have prayed for. As a business owner, I wear many hats, but God prepared me for it and Fashion Merchandising was the best major for the building and opening of Milk and Honey Gallery. It's so satisfying when my clients are satisfied with their purchases."

Outside of her hard work in the School of Fashion Merchandising preparing for her professional career, Stewart was busy helping Academy of Art make NCAA Division II history with National Championships in both indoor and outdoor track & field in the Urban Knights' first year of postseason eligibility. She was an integral contributor to both titles, finishing fifth or higher in multiple events during each. When all was said and done, Stewart concluded her career as a five-time All-American, an eight-time All-Region honoree, and still owns 12 top-five marks in ART U history including records in the 400m hurdles, 4x100m relay (fifth all-time in NCAA DII), and 4x100m shuttle hurdles relay (tied for the all-time record among all NCAA divisions) which all incredibly came in the same day at Drake Relays.

"Being a student-athlete really taught me how to plan, process, and execute and these are tools that I use as a business owner," Stewart said. "Being a student-athlete also taught me never to give up on my goals. I was a hurdler and I've never let any obstacles stop me – I ran over them and made it to the finish line every time."

Stewart's relentless drive and steadfast devotion shines through in her advice for the next generation of student-athletes.
 
"I would encourage them to have faith and understand who they are in Christ and tell them to let God lead them into what He has for them," Stewart said. "God exalts the humble in his appointed time and it requires patience. Learn all you can and make yourself available for fashion internships and opportunities when they're presented. Stay focused on God and your goals and persistently build with the gifts and talents that He gave you. I would also say, start as early as possible. As a student-athlete you have a great community of people who will support your goals and business."

As Milk and Honey Gallery continues to prosper, Stewart will pursue further goals of sharing in the promised land.
 
"In the future I hope to open more locations," Stewart said. "My desire is to open in Dallas, Texas next and wherever else The Lord allows me to. I would also like to open a business consultation company and help other small business owners start, grow, and expand."