Afro World has served St. Louis since 1970, when Russell Little, Sr. and Thelma Little opened a small shop for African clothing and beauty products. Located at 7276 Natural Bridge Rd, it became a gathering place for families to connect with their heritage. Today, their son Victor D'Wayne Little carries it forward. Afro World now supports the Afro World Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit for cultural education. Visit us at Natural Bridge Rd or call (314) 389-5194.
Afro World has never been only about moving product off the shelf. Russell and Thelma Little believed African clothing carried meaning worth sharing with the next generation. That belief led to the Afro World Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to workshops and community events across St. Louis. Staff explain the story behind a piece of Kente cloth, not just its price. For Afro World, culture is something you learn, wear, and carry forward.
Before African fashion gained wider popularity, Afro World was serving St. Louis with authentic products and respect for the culture. Those values haven't changed.
Fair pricing, honest descriptions, and straightforward service have defined Afro World since 1970. Those standards haven't shifted as the business has grown.
Afro World was never designed as a short-term venture. Fifty-five years later, that long-term thinking still shapes how the business is run.
Founder / Chief Vision Officer
Victor D'Wayne Little leads the Afro World Heritage Foundation® with a commitment to culture, wellness, education, and community service. He continues the legacy his parents started in 1970, expanding beyond retail into educational programming and community outreach. Victor is building out the Foundation's Board of Directors, Speakers Bureau, and Volunteer Circle, inviting others to join the mission of preserving African heritage, "one Little Victory at a time."
Founders, Afro World® (1970)
Russell Little, Sr. and Thelma Little founded Afro World® in 1970 to create a place where African culture could be celebrated and shared. What began as a store for African clothing, art, and beauty products grew into a cultural destination for St. Louis, connecting generations to their heritage. Their belief in education and community engagement laid the foundation for the Afro World Heritage Foundation®, still going strong today, serving families throughout the region.