Coco + Breezy

They’re doubling down on mental health. Corianna and Brianna Dotson—aka Coco and Breezy—are already well known in celeb circles for their DJ sets and fierce accessory designs seen on Serena Williams, Lady Gaga, and Nicki Minaj. But despite their high-profile work in Hollywood and beyond, the identical twins always knew their talent came with a bigger purpose: showing kids that being “different” is an asset instead of a curse. “We were bullied so badly as children,” says Breezy. “Even though we overcame it, bullying affects millions of kids’ mental health, and especially stigmatizes children of color. We wanted to help make things right for them.”

Enter Planet CB, a hub for positive change and anti-bullying programs in conjunction with Zenni. The project includes optical frames for children, donations to the Child Mind Institute, and digital content about bullying and self-empowerment. Here’s what Coco and Breezy are doing to help the next generation of self-described “originals,” and what they want adults to know about children’s mental health—and our own.

You were bullied as children—which is crazy, because you’re so cool! How does that experience from the past impact who you are today?

BREEZY: I kid you not, in 2008, we said, “We live in the year 2020.” Because when we were still getting teased, we wanted to look into the future… At the same time, we had this big online following, so we felt like we were on our own planet. We had a crew of people in our online community that told us they were outsiders. They stressed individuality, and people didn’t understand it. And that was how Planet CB happened!

COCO: It’s about empowerment, affirmation, and giving everyone a space in the middle of COVID and a civil rights struggle. We want to give hope and positivity, because we know what it’s like not to have that.

You serve your community but you also run a fashion line, and you make digital content for major brands like Disney and Lego. How do you balance being true to yourself with being successful commercially?

BREEZY: It’s a good question, but the answer is, if you want to do things right, you just do. For example, we go to underserved communities and speak during career days. We don’t put it on the ‘gram, but we’ve been doing that for years… Then when you’re at work, you make sure the environment you’re creating is inclusive and positive. Do you know how many fashion campaigns still have zero Black and brown models? It’s crazy. Growing up, we never saw people that looked like us. So it’s always our goal to make sure that when kids are shopping, they can see themselves on billboards and on TV.

COCO: But we’re not trying to check off boxes; we’re genuinely trying to build a community of respect and talent… We’re extremely outspoken about our beliefs in what a company culture should be… If you’re making a video about a Pride collection and there are no LGBTQ+ people on your team, that’s wrong. If you’re talking about supporting women, but only one type of woman is welcome on your leadership board or in your campaign, that’s wrong.

How does that adult exclusion mirror the bullying of childhood?

COCO: It goes back to mental health more than we often acknowledge, because if you feel isolated at work, or you feel that you don’t belong on a group project or in a position of power, it affects you in very concrete ways. You start to doubt yourself and doubt whether any of your ideas or emotions are “valid.”

BREEZY: Mental health isn’t just what you feel in your personal relationships. It’s what you feel in the office or in your creative life. And it’s really important to us to expand the conversation about what “wellness” or what “happiness” can mean.

As the eyewear experts, please tell us how we can wear Coco and Breezy shades and a face mask without our lenses fogging up?

BREEZY: Well, you gotta wear the face mask! Keep it on!

COCO: Put on your face mask first. Then pinch the nose of your face mask and push it down on your face. Then put your glasses on top of that, and then press the mask down some more.

BREEZY: It’s totally possible to wear both at the same time! They look really cool together, actually—a mask and eyewear. It’s a new kind of superhero uniform.