As protests continue across the United States, calling for an end to police brutality and justice for the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, and countless others, there are many ways you can take action in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and the Black community. Apart from donating to organizations combatting racial injustice (find a list of resources here), you can also support and shop Black-owned businesses.
Buying from Black-owned shops, stores and brands is one of the many ways to be an ally and show support to a community that has been deeply affected by systemic racism. Not only are Black business owners turned down for loans twice as often as their white counterparts, but they have also been hit the hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. Your money can make a difference, especially when you continuously choose to buy Black for everyday lifestyle staples like makeup, clothes, food, and more.
Food & Beverage
Pipcorn
This family-owned company started small when siblings Jen and Jeff Martin discovered their love for heirloom popcorn (the kernels are smaller and purer in flavor) at home. It’s grown significantly since 2012, thanks in part to a Shark Tank deal with Barbara Corcoran. Now with help from Jeff’s wife Teresa, the trio sells not just popcorn, but also cheese balls, corn dippers, and crackers.
The Sip
The Sip’s founders Erica Davis and Catherine Carter are on a mission to make discovering new luxury sparkling wines a breeze. The subscription-based bubbly company sends three mini bottles every other month straight to your door — and they offer promotions on full-size bottles once you’ve decided on a favorite.
Partake
Founder Denise Woodard’s ultra-successful, allergy-friendly cookie company was born out of needing to find a treat safe for her daughter Vivian, 5, to eat. Gluten-free, vegan, and free of the top eight allergens, Partake, sold on their site and nationwide in Target stores, comes in flavors like chocolate chip, birthday cake and carrot cake. The brand even has the backing of Jay-Z, who invested $1 million in 2019.
The Furlough Cheesecake
Though the name likely resonates with millions of Americans who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company was actually a result of the federal government shutdown in 2018. When sisters Nikki Howard and Jaqi Wright were put out of work, they started selling cheesecake on social media.
Trade Street Jam Co.
Smoked peach, blueberry lemon basil, plum and rose. If you couldn’t already tell from the options, these are not your average jellies. Founder Ashley Rouse sells low-sugar jam without thickeners or stabilizers for a smoother spread with big flavor.
BLK & Bold
Get your caffeine fix and give back — both are possible when you buy BLK & Bold. The Iowa-based coffee and tea company donates 5% of profits to support at-risk youth. Buy by the bag or subscribe to receive deliveries as frequently as you brew them.
Golde
Golde is a Brooklyn-born brand focused on making superfood-boosted essentials for health and beauty. Like this Tumeric Latte blend. Or this Clean Greens Face Mask. Over the weekend, Founder & CEO, Trinity Mouzon Wofford shared this note with subscribers, committing 100% of their profits from May 30th through June 1st to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
McBride Sisters Collection
Good wine and a good story — what could be better? Half-sisters Robin and Andréa McBride were raised on opposite sides of the world in New Zealand and California, but when they finally met in 1999, they bonded over their shared love of vino. They’ve since been in the business for over 15 years, bottling wines that speak to both of their backgrounds.
Lomar Farms
This relatively new, family-run company hand pours beeswax candles and raw honey fresh off of their New York farm. Give their Instagram a follow for an education on beekeeping, too. “It took me two years to calm the panic that set in when I was in the hives,” says founder Yvonna Kopacz-Wright. “But now this sound is medicine to me.”
Love Cork Screw
You have full permission to judge this wine by its bottle since the cute labels are just the start of the appeal. Choose from six refreshing varietals including Pinot Grigio and Concord at affordable prices.
Milky Mama
Breastfeeding mother of two Krystal Nicole Duhaney, a nurse and lactation consultant, started Milky Mama in 2015 when she realized that a “milk-making cookie recipe” she made “dramatically increased her supply” of breast milk. Now, her website offers cookies, brownies, drink mixes, smoothie mixes, herbal drops, and more to help fellow nursing moms reap the same benefits she found. Duhaney even offers a breastfeeding course through her website, as well as a free meditation sample track.
A Dozen Cousins
Beyond making flavor-packed slow-cooked vegan beans, A Dozen Cousins also provides an annual grant to non-profit organizations working to provide healthy lifestyle education in underserved communities.
Salt N Sprinkles
All of the cookies at Salt n Sprinkles are dairy-free, egg-free and super delicious. If you want to create your own batch at home or give one as a gift, the brand now sells mason jar baking mixes.
Uncle Nearest
When Fawn Weaver heard that a formerly enslaved Black man named Nathan “Nearest” Green taught Jack Daniel (yes, that Jack Daniel) how to make whiskey, she knew she had to make his story known to as many people as possible. And she did just that by founding Uncle Nearest, a premium whiskey brand in honor of Nearest, the first-known African-American master distiller.
Zach & Zoe Sweet Bee Farm
What started as a beekeeping passion project for Summer and Kam Johnson has become an epic brand selling raw wildflower honey. Their unique jars, blended with good-for-you ingredients like beetroot powder, matcha and ginger root, are the perfect addition to any sweet or savory dish.
Empower Cocktails
Empower Cocktails was conceived by Tiffany Hall. She is passionate about community service. Her desire to empower women to be bold, confident and celebrate life encouraged her to create this product while holding a full-time professional position. Empower has been featured in Forbes, CNN and Essence Magazine’s Holiday Gift Guide. The cocktail was also selected for the MTV Video Music Awards gift bag for nominees, presenters and performers, the official cocktail in the backstage celebrity retreat at the NAACP Image Awards, the Writers Guild Awards and featured on an episode of Essence Live and the WE Network’s David Tutera’s CELEBrations.
Jones Bar-B-Q
Jones Bar-B-Q is a barbecue joint in Kansas City, Kansas, owned and operated by Deborah and Mary Jones. They make their family’s secret BBQ sauce from scratch daily at their restaurant in Kansas City. Now you and your family can experience the love and art of Jones Bar-B-Q in your own home.
McBride Sisters Collection
McBride Sisters Collection was founded by Robin & Andréa McBride and it is a wine club. Now the largest African-American-owned wine company in the United States, their collection of wines represents a genuine sense of place. Both New Zealand and Central Coast of California wines are true expressions of each region’s terroir and their signature style; a blend of old-world elegance and new-world finesse.
Sanaia Applesauce
Sanaia is a category-disrupting applesauce brand created by CEO & Founder, Keisha Smith-Jeremie. Capitalizing on trends such as the plant-based movement and the re-imagination of childhood treats for adults, the sanaia brand has the makings of a household name. Sanaia has all the makings of the next 1BN entrant to the adult snacking category. Not only is sanaia’s launch perfectly timed with adults increasing desire to consume dairy-free, plant-based all-natural snacks but their exotic flavors, decadent texture, and elegant single-serve package make it certain that the four most important demographics in the snacking market will embrace sanaia wholeheartedly.
Tasteful Innovations
Tasteful Innovations is born of a lifetime of entrepreneurial spirit and professional perseverance. As a premier catering company, they strive to provide the best service and culinary experience by going above and beyond their clients’ expectations. As they grow our brand, they will leave a positive legacy for their families and communities by providing professional growth, employment opportunities and positive leadership.
Home & Lifestyle
Jungalow
Justina Blakeney’s lifestyle empire started in her own plant-filled bungalow, the “jungalow,” and she’s since brought her bohemian vision to life in products ranging from wallpaper to band-aids. Her latest creations include these painted face bookend vases.
Clare Paint
Clare makes paint shopping simple with designer-curated colors, mess-free peel and sticks paint swatches, and premium, zero VOC paint delivered to your door. Nicole Gibbons, Founder and interior designer, saw that no paint brands were offering an easy or convenient way to shop for paint, so she decided to fix that.
AphroChic
Jeanine Hays runs a lifestyle magazine, a decorating business (she recently worked on Orange Is the New Black’s Danielle Brooks’ New York home) and an online shop, where you can buy items like these Cameroonian-inspired “juju hats,” which she makes in collaboration with South Carolina-based Maman Afrique Boutique and uses as wall decor.
Nicole Crowder Upholstery
Washington, D.C.-based upholsterer Nicole Crowder’s main business is recovering custom furniture for private design clients, but she also sells colorful one-of-a-kind cushions with her favorite patterned fabrics. They’re intended as “meditation pillows,” but also make for a stylish decorative accent.
Eva Sonaike
This London fashion editor turned textile designer sells everything from pillows and poufs to rugs and fabric in graphic West African-inspired motifs. Her pieces are high-end but come in a wide range of prices — a makeup bag is $44, a throw pillow goes for about $87. And most importantly, she ships to the U.S.!
Unwrp
Founder Ashley Fouyolle sells paper gift wrap ($18), reusable fabric wrap ($22), cards ($4.50) and more, in original patterns from a group of artist collaborators. Patterns range from a blush pink take on classic cheetah and tropical leaves to several depicting women of all colors that look more like fine art than run-of-the-mill wrapping paper.
Love Notes Candles
This Brooklyn-based business sells hand-poured, soy candles in cheeky packaging and dreamy scents. Owner Nya Kam has formulated custom-blended scents like jasmine, aloe, coconut and cocoa butter (Love Note No. 1) and lemon verbena, ginger and mint (Love Note No. 6, above). Those looking to spoil their body as well as their nose, should check out Kam’s Self-ish collection of “body teas” for the bath.
Goodee World
Founded by Montreal-based twins Byron and Dexter Peart, Goodee World is a one-stop destination for the most beautifully curated selection of items for your home and closet – not to mention unique, inspiring and thoughtful gifts. From handmade ceramic pieces to responsibly sourced basics (everyone needs a Goodee Hoodie!), Goodee is dedicated to making the world a better place through good design, poverty reduction and eco-minded sourcing, along with other socially responsible practices.
Tackussanu Senegal
Bronx native Jasz started selling artisanal baskets inspired by her family’s gifts from Senegal to support herself and her three daughters. With the help of her friend and business partner Cheikh Biaye, they launched a business that supports female craftspeople and turns out beautiful — and useful! — decor, like the Black Confetti basket above.
54Kibo
54Kibo, named for the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro, is an online marketplace stocked with the goods of 30 creators. Founder Nana Quagraine sells everything for the home from pendant lights and full-size furniture to knit kids’ toys and soft goods, like the Gabi Ethiopian throw blanket above.
xN Studio
Nasozi Kakembo’s degree is in architecture and planning, but today she’s focussing on creating beauty on a much smaller scale. Her brand, which she’s dubbed “a lifestyle without borders,” creates upholstered benches, cotton face masks (for just $12!), and mud cloth and Batik pillows, like the dotted style above.
Under the Sunlight
This stationery company started with a deck of cards printed with daily affirmations designed by founder Sinan Franklin and meant to encourage her to “choose joy” and practice self-care. It’s since expanded to a line of thoughtful paper goods, including notebooks (on a table) and calendars (above left). The latter can be disassembled after it’s used and each month’s image becomes an art print (above right).
Etsy
Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. It’s home to a universe of special, extraordinary items, from unique handcrafted pieces to vintage treasures.
Onekingslane
This stationery company started with a deck of cards printed with daily affirmations designed by founder Sinan Franklin and meant to encourage her to “choose joy” and practice self-care. It’s since expanded to a line of thoughtful paper goods, including notebooks (on table) and calendars (above left). The latter can be disassembled after it’s used and each month’s image becomes an art print (above right).
Good Vibes All Purpose Cleaner
Good Vibes All Purpose Cleaner is a powerful, plant based household cleaner that comes in amazing fragrances. With scents like Frankincense & Myrrh, Sandalwood, and Nag Champa you can clean your home and change the whole vibe.
Minted
Minted is a design marketplace. Thet source creative content from a global community of independent artists, then sell the best content in the form of art, home décor, and stationery, directly to consumers. An early pioneer of crowdsourcing, Minted has held art and design challenges monthly since April 2008. Challenges are open for both submission and voting, the ‘crowd’ curates Minted’s product selection by rating products, and Minted utilizes analytics to evaluate votes.
Linoto
Lighten up your home with Linoto’s natural linen bedding, curtains, towels, and table linens. The fabric, which comes straight from Belgium and Italy, is handcrafted into heirloom-worthy pieces by artisans in Westchester County, New York. After each item is cut and sewn, they are washed in all-natural laundry detergent and shipped off in plastic-free packaging, so you can feel better knowing that everything’s cared for from start to finish.
Bolé Road Textiles
Bolé Road Textiles is a New York-based design studio that specializes in vibrant home decor. All of their pieces are handwoven in Ethiopia. They are dedicated to helping their clients create spaces they love while supporting artisans in Ethiopia.
Expedition Subsahara
They created Expedition Subsahara to connect and excite you with handmade African goods that are as unique as you are. Adding beautiful design elements to your home and style is easy with their stunning woven baskets, authentic African bags and one of a kind beaded jewelry. Twenty percent of profits goes into an education fund to be used to build a girls’ STEAM school in Senegal, West Africa.
LM Organics
LM Organics is a personal care brand whose products are suitable for customers of all ages from babies to the elderly. The biggest feature of their products is that they are made of 100% organic ingredients and are suitable for everyone.
Crate & Barrel
Founded in Chicago in 1962, Crate & Barrel is the premier destination for modern and contemporary furniture, housewares and decor. By connecting the creative work of artisans and designers to people and places around the world, Crate & Barrel curates inspiration for the home that welcomes life in. With over 100 stores in 9 countries, Crate & Barrel’s lifestyle brands offer high-quality products, exclusive designs, and timeless style.
April Blooms
April Blooms is a clothing boutique in Pasadena, they strive to empower women of all ages and sizes to thrive. They stock a carefully curated selection of casual clothing, accessories and home decor, all chosen to help women embrace their unique assets. They want their items to help bring out the best in you, and that’s exactly what they look for in every item we carry.
Aspire Marketplace
Aspire Marketplace is your local source for new overstock, like-new, open box, box damage, and customer returned merchandise that is sourced from many big-box retailers. Retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target, Kohls, Macys, Home Depot, Lowes, CVS, Rite Aid, etc. liquidate excess (overstock), box damage/open box, and customer returned items through warehouses located in various places throughout the United States. They can purchase this inventory at a discounted rate and then offer it to their customers at a discount, in some cases up to 60% off normal retail prices.
BLK MKT Vintage
BLK MKT Vintage is a Brooklyn, NY-based antique/ vintage concept shop, specializing in collectibles, cast-off’s and curiosities, which represent the richness of Black history and lived experience. Curated by founders Jannah Handy and Kiyanna Stewart, the collection includes found items like vintage literature, vinyl records, clothing, art, housewares/decor, furniture and other goods.
Ross Imaging Center/CT Prints
CT Prints/ Ross Imaging Center has been in business for over 13 years. With having professional photographic experience your photos are in good hands. Before printing they adjust all photos, if necessary, to ensure proper brightness. Which, most photo printers no longer do and the computers do all the work. Ross Imaging Center handles all your projects with care.
Natural Hair Goddnesses
Natural Hair Goddesses was established in 2018. The brand was created to honor, uplift, inspire, and support women and young girls with natural hair. It is important that women and girls love themselves for who they are. All women are beautiful no matter what race, complexion, or hair type they have. Here at Natural Hair Goddesses they believe that every woman is a Goddess.
YOWIE
YOWIE is a home and life shop focused on curating small collections from friends, independent artists, and designers.
Beauty
Newchic
Newchic was founded in 2014, it aims to give people the opportunity to express themselves through high-quality fashion at a reasonable price. Newchic offers a wide range of products, including the latest trends for women and men, as well as bags, shoes, clothes and accessories.
Wigsbuy
Wigsbuy, founded in 2012, is a global online retail company. Wigsbuy offers a wide range of products: human wigs, synthetic wigs, colored wigs, cosplay wigs, extensions, accessories, and tools.
Dsoarhair
Dsoarhair is a leading online wholesale hair salon that offers a variety of hairstyles, including body waves, straight, curly, loose waves, deep waves and natural waves. You can choose different hairstyles. In addition, they have colorful I, U, clip and PU Skin extensions. Full-length and lace fronted wigs are the most popular among modern girls.
Hairsasa
Hairsasa is a young shop that a group of young people hopes to build their own business with their own hands. They choose the best quality manufacturer to make their wigs. Plan to use quality to enter the market. They are very concerned about the user experience that product quality brings to our customers.
Beautybakerie
Beauty Bakerie is a new American cosmetics brand founded in 2011. It mainly sells eyeliner, eye shadow, foundation, highlighter, lip gloss, and other products. Its products are inspired by the candy world. Beauty Bakerie wants to promote people’s concept of beauty, and its team has brought together many resources to create a manifestation product, the most famous of which is a liquid lipstick, which is favored by the majority of women who love Beauty.
CurlMix
Kim and Tim are the co-founders of CurlMix, a clean beauty brand for curly hair. Their innovative take on clean beauty hair products has won them praise from top industry publications such as Refinery29, Essence Magazine, Ebony Magazine, and ABC TV.
Beneath Your Mask
Beneath Your Mask sells its products and services in the skin care industry. It was created as a skin, body, and hair rejuvenation line designed to restore, repair, and reverse the toxic effects of environmental hazards, health challenges, stress, and the damage done from countless other unforgiving aspects of lifestyles.
Fenty Beauty
Fenty Beauty (stylized as FEИTY BEAUTY) is a cosmetics brand launched in September 2017 by Rihanna. The brand is popular for its broad inclusivity across skin tones and gender, especially its Pro Filt’R foundation. The original foundation launch included 40 shades, since expanded to 50. The inclusion of Fenty Beauty concealer includes 50 shades offering a wide variety to all skin types.
Buttahskin
Buttah was founded in 2018.They unite the best of nature and science in highly effective products for both women and men, formulated to reveal more radiant results.Each Buttah Skin product targets the issues face every day – dryness, discoloration, oiliness and blemishes with simple, proven-effective, good-for-you ingredients that leave customers skin glowing, healthy and renewed.
All Butter’d Up
All Butter’d Up is a skincare company, specializing in whipped, scented Shea body butter. All Butter’d Up products are made in small batches using the finest natural & organic ingredients for maximum freshness. Their products are preservative-free and have never been tested on animals.
Black Girl Sunscreen
BGS is a revolutionary sunscreen for women of color. SPF 30 broad-spectrum moisturizer with natural ingredients. Paraben, fragrance, and oxybenzone free.
CARA B Naturally
CARA B Naturally® is a family business based in Charlotte, NC, founded by sisters Landra Booker Johnson and Kristi Booker. They offer a premium quality, genuinely all-natural alternatives to products that are currently available for ethnically diverse babies, children and their families.
Délali Robinson Cosmetics
Adodo Délali Robinson is an internationally certified beauty professional and licensed cosmetologist. Délali Robinson Cosmetics was created in 2016 by owner and CEO Adodo Robinson as the result of her inability to find a good match for her darker complexion. Throughout the process and after converting with other women she understood the overall struggle other women experience and saw the needs and the gap Délali Robinson Cosmetics will cover. The Brand is Melanin focused on the love for all Queens. With over 40 different shades in liquid, cream and powder foundation.
Hanahana Beauty
Hanahana Beauty is a consciously clean skincare + wellness brand whose mission is to disrupt the global beauty industry. Their products are made with love and shea butter directly from the Katariga Women’s Shea Cooperative in Ghana combined with natural oils. Their intention is to increase accessibility, transparency, and sustainability in all aspects of what they create.
Kinky-Curly
Kinky-Curly TM brand is a proud signer of The Compact for Safe Cosmetics. They are committed to developing hair products that not only deliver results but also nourish your hair with natural ingredients that moisturize and strengthen.
Pear Nova
Taking inspiration from the runway, Pear Nova has created vibrant nail polish and lacquered it like silk. No annoying ingredients like formaldehyde, resin or camphor can be found in products that don’t contain 10 ingredients. The list of ingredients for these glazing agents is clean and contains gels, but do not sacrifice paint or wear.
The Crayon Case
Unlike other makeup brands that provide limited hues and inhibiting ideas of what people should like, Supa gives us everything in THE CRAYON CASE so people can experiment with what they could look like.
Queen City Beauty Group
Queen City Beauty Group offers transformational skin and body wellness services in Charlotte NC. Start experiencing real results today. We treat the cause of skin conditions, not merely dealing with the symptoms.
Glossier
Glossier, Inc. was founded in 2014 on the belief that beauty isn’t built in a boardroom—it happens when you’re a part of the process. We got our start with Into The Gloss, a beauty website devoted to people sharing the products they love, and our source for inspiration and information.
The Honest Company
Founded by two new parents, The Honest Company filled the gap they saw for baby and child-friendly products that were safe, effective, beautiful and environmentally friendly. It took some time and research, but the team landed on the perfect recipe for body washes, diapers, and cleaning products that do good for both baby, parents, and the wider world.
Proven Skincare
The founders of PROVEN Skincare wanted to simplify the process of finding the right skincare products, so they developed customized beauty products using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Tarte
It’s not just our formulas that are both hardworking & fun – that applies to the Tarte corporate family, too. interested in joining us? our team is made up of innovative individuals who love what they do & strive to make the world a more beautiful place every day, whether it’s through developing pure, powerful cosmetics or giving back to the environment or our community.
Alaffia
Alaffia offers sustainable, fair trade skin and hair care products for the whole family, from shampoos to face and body washes, in large sizes at affordable price points. The company’s products contain high-quality ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil, and its Authentic African Black Soap even won a Good Housekeeping Sustainable Packaging Award in 2019. Product sales also help fund the brand’s foundation, which gives back to the African communities that harvest their ingredients.
Bee Love
Bee Love employs formerly incarcerated individuals as a way to offer them a second chance at establishing a new life. The company makes everything from honey to honey-infused skincare products like indulgent body balms and sugar scrubs.
Briogeohair
If you don’t know about this amazing haircare brand, you’re missing out. The Be Gentle, Be Kind shampoo and conditioner will leave your hair feeling fresh, vibrant and soft. Bonus: No harsh sulfates, silicones, or parabens are used in the products.
Camille Rose
Camille Rose is known for its collection of skin and hair products in an array of delicious scents and textures. The brand’s Cane and Sugar Balm is one of our Beauty Director’s all-time favorite body scrubs: The rich solid sugar, shea butter, and sweet almond oil formula is so decadent and leave skin silky — and it smells like warm brown sugar!
Eu’Genia Shea
Founded by a mother-daughter team, Eu’Genia Shea donates 15% of the profits from sales of its pure shea butter balms for skin and hair to the female workers in Ghana who produce the ingredient. The tins are cute, portable and spill-proof, too.
UOMA Beauty
Uoma (pronounced uh-mah) means “beautiful,” and that’s exactly how you’ll feel when you use their makeup products. From the Stay Woke Concealer to their Black Magic Color Palettes, UOMA’s product names are just as good as their formulas, too. In response to the killing of George Floyd and resulting outpouring of social media posts from brands, UOMA Beauty CEO and founder Sharon Chuter is also launching #PullUpOrShutUp, a campaign to bring awareness to the underrepresentation of Black people in leadership roles in corporate America.
Oyin Handmade
This clean beauty line was founded in the early aughts by Jamyla Bennu and her husband Pierre and inspired by Jamyla’s desire to find good-for-you products for her highly-textured hair. Fast-forward almost 20 years, the duo make over two dozen products hair and skin-care products for women and men.
Bevel
Tristan Walker created this mens’ grooming line to address the specific skin needs of men of color. The sleek assortment ranges from a cordless trimmer to affordable skin-and-body-care such as a $15 face serum for dark spots and scars and a $10 streak-free deodorant.
Charlotte Mensah
London-based hairstylist Charlotte Mensah has worked with celebs including Janelle Monae and Erykah Badu is an award-winning authority on natural hair and was the first Black woman inducted to the British Hairdressing Hall of Fame. So, yeah, it was only fitting for Mensah to launch a hair care line. Featuring market oil and other organic and sustainably sourced ingredients, Mensah’s shampoo, conditioner, finishing mist, and hair oil leaves hair soft and hydrated but never weighed down.
Mented Cosmetics
KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson founded Mented (short for pigmented) “over a glass of Pinot” to put Black women at the forefront in the cosmetics conversation. What began as a line of vegan, non-toxic nude lipsticks for all skin tones has grown to include foundation, brow pencils, nail polish, and more products.
Pattern Beauty
Tracee Ellis Ross’s hair care brand, Pattern Beauty, celebrates and addresses the needs of the curly, coily, and tight-textured hair community. The brand also gives back a portion of proceeds to organizations and programs that empower women and people of color.
Clothing and Accessories
The Helm
The Helm is a lifestyle brand committed to elevating and investing in female entrepreneurs.
Shopbabes
Shopbabes offers Dresses, leggings, plus size, maxis, bodysuits, crop tops and more.
Fanmmon
Some of the prettiest dresses you will ever find! With fun colors and festive florals, their designs have been known to sell out quickly.
Khiry
Jameel Mohammed designs modern and sleek jewelry that is polished and sculptural. It’s a celeb-favorite brand as well.
Lemlem
Liya Kebede is an Ethiopian-born model and founder of Lemlem. The entire artisan collection which includes women’s, men’s, children’s and home, is made solely in Africa. Lemlem is known for its classic African patterns and techniques that create coveted pieces that are loved by many celebrities, including January Jones and Molly Sims. You’ll find colorful modern stripes, light breezy dresses and texture which in each collection.
Maison de Mode
Parsons School of Design graduate and fashion designer Hassan Pierre joined forces with fashion activist and philanthropist Amanda Hearst as well as entrepreneur and investor Carmen Busquets in 2015 to launch the luxury ethical fashion platform Maison de Mode. Today he is the company’s CEO and a leading advocate for sustainability in the fashion industry.
Mixed Millennial
Co-founders Ruby Herrera and Taylor Clarkson started a business and community together to unite and celebrate people with mixed identities. The result is Mixed Millennial, a blog that sells gorgeous sterling silver and gold necklaces that symbolize the duality of the mixed experience and reuniting different cultures and backgrounds.
Nude Bar
Former dancer Erin Carpenter was always frustrated when she couldn’t find hosiery to match her skin tone. She used that frustration to create Nude Bar, a line of tights, bralettes and underwear that come in 13 shades.
Míe
For statement-making dresses, look no further than Míe. The brand was launched in 2018 and is located in Lago, Nigeria. Local seamstresses and artisans make the stunning apparel from natural and biodegradable fabrics.
Shades of Shades
Founder Marsha Douglas-Syndor couldn’t find a pair of sunglasses to match her complexion so she started her own company. The eyewear shade finder helps you find your perfect pair of chic shades.
Zou Xou
Founder and designer Katherine Theobalds want women to look and feel their best when they wear her shoes. Her handcrafted pieces are touted for not only being beautiful but also comfortable.
Cushnie
The lux ready-to-wear and bridal brand, established in 2008, is a celebrity favorite on the red carpet. Known for its sleek, sculptural silhouettes and black-tie ready designs, the label is now bringing its high-fashion sensibility to a more accessible price point. The brand’s founder Carly Cushnie has been very vocal about how the fashion industry needs to amplify Black voices and take a role in creating a new path forward. “The Black community needs mentorships, internships and development programs early on as this industry is so far out of reach for many Black people,” Cushnie shared withBusiness of Fashion in a recent article spotlighting Black industry tastemakers.
LaSette
The lingerie label is founded, designed and operated by New York-based Shiara Robinson, with the goal of empowering women with transitional pieces that make her customers feel “sexy, sensual, and confident” from day to night. Robinson uses her business platform as a place to give a voice to Black women everywhere. During the pandemic, she’s also been dedicated to hand-making face masks to donate to essential medical workers.
Telfar
The unisex line was established in New York City in 2005 by Telfar Clemens. The Liberian-American, self-taught designer — who first launched into the fashion spotlight with a hotly coveted line of leather carryall handbags and has now ventured into jewelry and clothing — won the 2017 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award for his work. “I just want to thank everybody for being down,” Clemens said while accepting the honor. “I know it’s been a hard, long road but that’s what pioneers do.”
Pyer Moss
Brooklyn-raised Kerby Jean-Raymond started Pyer Moss seven years ago and it has quickly grown to be one of the most thought-provoking and transformative brands in the industry, thanks to his ability to highlight powerful social, political and racial issues in his elevated sportswear-inspired collections.
t.a. newyork
Fashion buyer and business owner Telsha Anderson launched t.a. as a way to “provide a product that presents a renewed outlook towards luxury living.” The brands featured at t.a., including Eudon Choi, Ashya and Wesley Harriott, have been personally sourced by Anderson from locations around the world, including Tbilisi, London, Paris, Peru, Milan, South Korea, Los Angeles, New York and more. Although t.a. remains an online destination right now at shop-ta.com/shop, their brick-and-mortar location in N.Y.C. will be opening as soon as COVID restrictions are lifted.
The Tiny Tassel
Mimi Striplin founded The Tiny Tassel in 2015 with the goal of “bringing a little joy to life” with her colorful, hand-made tassel jewelry. She’s since expanded to accessories (like summer-ready straw bags), clothing (which is made by her mom) and party decor. Every Tiny Tassel collection features bright colors and timeless prints. Shop The Tiny Tassel online, at select retailers across the country or visit Mimi’s shop, Cannonborough Collective, that she co-owns in Charleston, South Carolina.
DAEM
The luxury watch company is owned and operated in Brooklyn by Harvard graduate, Milo Dee, and each timepiece is crafted by the company’s head of design, Kirk Halliburton. Milo and Kirk’s latest collaboration was with The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, the late American artist who holds an indelible influence on Black culture and art around the world. “Basquiat’s work led the way for other Black artists, and we’re proud to highlight that in this collection,” the brand shared.
Misses Brie Swimwear
Model, blogger and designer Brielle Anyea started her swimwear company to celebrate “women that strut with confidence and define their own beauty.” The SI Swimsuit model search finalist is committed to giving back right now, donating 50 percent of the profits from her brand through June 4 to organizations that are providing support to peaceful protesters. “I am a black woman,” Brielle said addressing her Instagram followers. “I am a new black business owner, but I am willing to step up and do what I can do to make sure my people are okay.”
Edas
Designer Sade Mims started the Brooklyn-based accessories brand Edas in 2015 for the “the eclectic being.” The sustainably focused line includes handbags, jewelry, as well as special clothing accessories including the apron and the wrap top in the most recent collection. Shop the pieces (which typically range in price from $400 for handbags to under-$100 for jewelry) at Edas.store.com.
Vavvoune
Valerie Blaise is a self-taught designer who founded Vavvoune, a leather accessories brand, in 2015. The line contains thoughtfully created purses in a variety of cool and colorful variations (including the latest bucket bag, belt bag and wallet styles). The pieces are designed in Brooklyn, crafted in New York City’s Garment District, and all unworkable scraps of leather are donated to art programs across the country.
Shopbop
The Haitian-born, New York City-raised designer is known for his elevated and sexy take on knitwear. After working in the fashion industry as a publicist, design assistant and style director for various brands he launched his own inclusive eponymous label in 2006, and after a re-launch in 2015, he quickly became a celeb-favorite. (After Selena Gomez wore his red sweater in Vogue’s 73 Questions video, it sold out on Net-a-Porter.com.) “To me, sweaters are like jeans — you wear them all year round,” Glemaud said in an interview with Fashionista in January.
MUXE Nw York
The gender-free streetwear label is founded, designed and operated by New York-based Parsons alum Kadeem Alphanso Fyffe, with the intent of “creating unisex garments that comment on gender, politics and culture.” Kadeem is a passionate advocate, fighting for change in underrepresented communities, with a specific focus on the Black and LGBTQ+ communities. He’s also made it part of his platform to guest speak at different schools as a way to inspire and educate the next generation. A portion of all sales from MUXE are donated to Live Out Loud, the NYC based LGBTQ+ youth organization, which helps support queer minority youth.
Priscas Art
This Afrocentric wearable art company sells several different mask styles, all in African fabrics, Ankara prints, and batik designs. This one has a mesh filter and a wire at the nose, for greater protection and to help glasses stay de-fogged.
Banana Republic
Banana Republic is a clothing and accessory retailer that is a well-known brand under Gap Inc. They pride themselves on bringing men’s and women’s classic apparel a fresh perspective and giving their customers True Style with the creation of clothes that are both refined and easy. With special offers and featured shops along with extended sizing and collections, you can find everything you’re looking for including shirts, tops, pants, dresses, outerwear, blazers, and jewelry.
Beads Byaree
Beads Byaree is an innovative handcrafted jewelry line. All Beads Byaree pieces created out of the whimsy of designer Areeayl Goodwin’s imagination.
Jam + Rico
Established since June 2016, Jam + Rico is a fashion jewelry company providing bold, unique and colorful design. We travel to the Caribbean and Latin America countries finding inspiration from the people, culture, music and terrain.
Mateo New York
Mateo New York (mateonewyork.com) is a smaller women’s jewelry store that competes against brands like Alex and Ani, Pandora and Zales.
Melanie Marie
Melaniemarie.com is aware that shopping is a stressful activity for you. You plan, reach the destination, make decisions, buy something and then it comes about accepting it or no! Therefore, Melaniemarie.com has a policy of making things available to the customers and offering a calm environment. We have a huge store, there is a kids’ area with play equipment where you can leave your children and enjoy shopping.
Trill Paws
Creates pet tags and accessories that are inspired by pop-culture icons and sayings — anything from emoji designs, popular sayings, fun memes, and more.
FUBU
What began as a bunch of hats made in Daymond John’s Hollis Queens’ home by he and his close friends have turned the partners of FUBU into leaders in one of the most successful sportswear companies of all time and the creators of a whole category of marketing innovations that are now considered to be staples of the industry.
Grass-Fields
At Grass-fields we offer high quality and ethically made African inspired fashion. We create a range of modern African print dresses and clothing for women, men and kids that are all sourced and made here in the UK and Cameroon.
Kai Collective
Kai Collective (kaicollective.com) is a smaller women’s clothing store that competes against brands like Victoria’s Secret, LuLu’s and Free People.
Love Vera
Deals in Bra & Panty Sets, Bodysuits, Lingerie Sets, Garter Sets, Robes, Curvy Collection, and more!
Nubian Skin
Every skin tone can have “nude” lingerie. Nubian Skin is the solution for keeping it skin toned for women of color.
Public School
Public School NYC (publicschoolnyc.com) is a smaller fashion retailer store that competes against brands like ASOS, Uniqlo, and H&M.
Riot Swim
Riot Swim is a well-known women’s swimsuit brand that competes against brands like Swim Outlet, Lilly & Lime and Cupshe.
Shop Oasis NYC
Shop Oasis NYC is a premier online boutique delivering on-trend, high quality, undiscovered brands from emerging artists from New York to Africa and beyond.
An Oasis is a fertile spot in the desert, historically the place that fueled nomadic tribes to continue the journey ahead. Shop Oasis NYC represents that for our consumers, as they expect us to supply them with merchandise that is ahead of the curve, yet on-trend and prepare them to face the events looking and feeling their best.
The POC Brand
POC is a Swedish company with a strong mission to do the best we can to possibly save lives and to reduce the consequences of accidents for gravity sports athletes and cyclists.
Tapestry
Tapestry is the first New York-based house of modern luxury lifestyle brands. Our company’s portfolio includes the Coach, kate spade new york, and Stuart Weitzman brands. Tapestry’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TPR.
The Urban Tee Company
Urban Tee Farm (urbanteefarm.com) is a small fashion retailer store that competes against brands like ASOS, Uniqlo and H&M.
Unitees
To make you look awesome with quality apparel and accessories that reflect your brand beautifully. To provide you with superior service and expert advice when it comes to selecting the right products and decoration for your needs.
Brother Vellies
Brother Vellies was founded in 2013 with the goal of keeping traditional African design practices, and techniques alive while also creating and sustaining artisanal jobs. Now handmade artisanally across the globe, Brother Vellies creates luxury accessories that celebrate cultural histories and timeless design.
FUGGIT
FUGGIT is an emotion, action, and ideology. The phrase FUGGIT expresses a leap of faith. FUGGIT expresses the feeling of getting up and taking action to a problem. It is more than a slogan, it’s a culture adopted by those who take chances and go against the grain to make a change. Throughout life, we often have ideas that we fear will fail. It comes a point in every person’s life where we no longer fear the outcome of failure and they begin to do.
Kahmune
Here at Kahmune we believe that a good nude shoe should come in more than one hue. We’ve set out to ensure that all women have an option when it comes to finding that perfect match. Whether your’e one of our melanin supreme® ladies, or your skin is closer to porcelain, rest assured we’ve got you covered.
soleRebels
Every pair of soleRebels is made from the most sustainable materials available: a combination of recycled, organic and bio-based materials.
Y.J.Lacour
The YJL Sneaker collection is an intersection of luxury, fine art and fortitude. As a kid growing up in the Air Jordan era, a ‘sneakerhead’ long before the phrase was ever coined, I was a part of a subculture that would reshape the American landscape forever.
Kate Spade
Since our launch in 1993 with six essential handbags, we’ve always stood for optimistic femininity. today we’re a global life and style house filled with handbags, of course. also clothes, shoes, jewelry, home décor, tech accessories and so many other things that you use every day.
Outdoor Voices
Outdoor Voices is on a mission to get the world moving. We believe freeing fitness from performance starts with having fun and generating endorphins. That’s why we create high-quality products for Recreation that make you feel strong, confident, and ready for #DoingThings.
Parachute
Luxury bedding basics at an affordable price. Designed in LA, made in Italy, delivered to your door. Sleep well, dream big.
Reformation
Reformation’s design mission is to make effortless silhouettes that celebrate the feminine figure. The design process starts with us thinking about what we really want to wear right now. We source the most beautiful and sustainable fabrics possible to bring those designs to life quickly.
Rent the Runway
Welcome to Rent the Runway. The largest designer rental destination that gives you more style, more access, and more ways to rent than anywhere else.
SPANX
SPANX founder Sara Blakely was getting ready for a party when she realized she didn’t have the right undergarment to provide a smooth look under white pants. Armed with scissors and sheer genius, she cut the feet off her control top pantyhose and the SPANX revolution began! With a focus on solving wardrobe woes, the SPANX brand has grown to offer bras, underwear, leggings, active and more. SPANX has secured its place in women’s hearts and in pop-culture with daily mentions everywhere from CNN to SNL.
Thinx
They’ve been hard at work breaking the period taboo since 2013. But the story starts like, way way back. (Three friends) + (some gnarly period accidents) + (100 million girls missing school just b/c of their periods) + (3.5 years of R&D) + (like, 80 badass team members)= the Thinx you know and love and bleed into today.
ThirdLove
Every woman deserves to feel comfortable and confident. That core belief drives our company, from the products we design to how we give back. That’s why we’ve partnered with renowned organizations such as I Support the Girls, Soles4Souls, Good360, and St. Anthony’s to donate bras to help women make powerful life changes. To date, we have donated over $20M in bras.
Tory Burch
Tory Burch is a well-recognized fashion brand, primarily known for its bohemian yet sophisticated women’s clothing, accessories and shoes. The brand has been endorsed by Oprah on her famous show The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Universal Standard
Universal Standard started with the two of us, but we actually wanted to do it for all of us. We lived in a world in which access was limited. We couldn’t shop together; one of us could hardly shop at all. It felt unfair, but moreover, it made no sense. If 67% of women in the U.S. wear a size 14 or above, why were their options so dismal? It was clear that all women weren’t given the same level of style, quality, or even respect.
Wildfang
In 2013, we set out to create a home for badass womxn everywhere. It started with the “radical” belief that a womxn has the right to wear whatever the hell she wants and be whoever the hell she wants. And speaking of rights, in 2018 alone, we raised over $400k for charities that support reproductive, immigrant, and women’s human rights.
Health and Fitness
Ailey Extension
Alvin Ailey believed dance should be for everyone, and the Ailey Extension honors that notion by offering online dance classes, performances and workshops at an affordable price.
CultureFit
CultureFit makes yoga apparel for the culturally conscious, high-performing woman. Their West African designs are made of premium DryFit material that does not pill, tear or become see-through.
Ivy’s Tea
This “hip-hop-inspired” tea company takes its inspiration from African holistic healing, and offers up a scrumptious variety of tea blends, which include ingredients such as antioxidant-rich butterfly-pea flowers and stomach-soothing peppermint.
LumiBloom
A health-and-beauty brand that offers a variety of tasty teas full of body-and mind-boosting ingredients, including ginger (which has antiviral properties) and chamomile (which can help you sleep and soothe anxiety).
Muniq
This line of balanced nutritional shakes is made with prebiotic fiber to support gut health. They were also created with the diabetic community in mind and aim to help manage blood sugar. Muniq offers both regular and vegan shake options, and the CEO Marc Washington founded the company in honor of his late sister Monica with a keen focus to support vulnerable communities.
Movita
Movita creates organic vitamin supplements that address the specific needs of women. Tonya Lewis Lee built Movita to help women gain a baseline of good nutrition, and practice of positive choices that support a lifestyle of well-being. Movita has a multivitamin, a prenatal vitamin, and a beauty vitamin, designed specifically to support healthy hair, skin and nails.
PRU Apparel
This brand creates supportive and chic fitness wear for women, featuring eye-catching designs inspired by the African diaspora. The brand’s Marula Bodysuit is absolutely jaw-dropping in the best way.
Oh-Mazing!
Oh-Mazing! was founded by Stephanie Williams after she developed a granola recipe as an alternative to some of the unhealthy snacks found on grocery store shelves. It’s nut-free, wheat-free, and made with organic ingredients. It comes in 5 flavors: Original, Oatmeal Raisin, Cranberry Orange, Lemon Bar, and Caribbean Delight. You can try all 5 with this sampler pack. It can also be found in select retail stores in Maryland, DC, and Virgina.
Kids & Toys
Harperlman Dolls
Mother-daughter duo Cynthia and Kathryn are the women behind this brand, which creates dolls of color with different skin tones and hair textures — something both Cynthia and Kathryn wish they had seen growing up.
Healthy Roots Dolls
When Yelitsa Jean-Charles learned that 65% of the world’s population has curly or wavy hair but that only 4 out of 10 girls love their curls, a lightbulb went off. She needed to create a doll that would help young Black girls love their curls – and make sure no kid grew up as she did, without a doll that reflected her appearance. Zoe, the doll she created, has long beautiful kinky hair that kids can style as they choose. It’s currently being tested by the product analysts in the GH Institute as well as young girls from across the country – and everyone is really loving this new addition to the toy aisle!
Just Like Me Box
Books are always a great gift (especially if you want to stay friends with a kid’s parents), and the Just Like Me box is more than a one-time gift: You sign up for a subscription and get two or three books that feature protagonists who are people of color. You can specify the recipient’s age range and whether you want to pay per month ($28 a pop) or pre-pay for a set number of months at a discount.
Kids Swag
You can find a little of everything for kids and babies at this shop: backpacks, fashion dolls, notebooks, stationery and toys, but the Super Me line is the cutest, because every kid needs to see themselves as a hero. (New moms: They also come printed on bodysuits!)
Little Likes Kids
Their jumbo puzzles, placemats and card and board games feature lovely images of kids and families being joyful. The jumbo floor puzzles are also sturdy enough to withstand heavy use from preschoolers.
Miles and Milan
This brand focuses on gender-neutral clothes for babies and toddlers. The pieces are touted for being super-soft, and since they are offered in white, black and gray, they help busy parents put together an outfit easily.
Coco’Pie Clothing
Ponytails or puffs. Braids or twists. No matter how they wear their hair – our goal at Coco’Pie Clothing is to show black girls how beautiful they are by placing their awesomeness front and center on our shirts! As a family-run apparel company, we understand how much representation matters and want it to be normal for black girls to see images of themselves in a positive way, every day.
Lucy Lue Organics
Lucy Lue Organics is a U.S. based family-owned and operated small business. As a premier online baby shop, we exclusively offer Lucy Lue brand products and ship worldwide
Bookstores
Brave + Kind Bookshop
Just visiting the Brave + Kind website will fill you with wonder. The diverse books offered focus on early readers and young adults, but there is an adult section offering recommendations to help us all do better as human beings.
Cafe con Libros
Cafe con Libros is more than a bookseller. It’s a bookshop, a cafe and a feminist community space where women, in particular, can feel safe and welcome. And with book clubs dedicated specifically to women of color and feminism, it helps readers find kindred spirits and deepen their understanding of the world and each other.
Loyalty Bookstores
Hannah Oliver Depp, the Black and Queer founder of Loyalty Bookstores, started the company to bring more diverse voices to the industry and to provide a space that feels like home for marginalized people. And for those of us who seek refuge in paper and ink, there’s nothing more necessary.
The Lit. Bar
The Lit. Bar opened on National Indie Bookstore Day in 2019 as the only bookshop in the Bronx. Today, it serves the community it calls home with events, a wine bar and a mission statement that’s as lit as the spot itself. Founder Noëlle Santos has created a space where you can find a new favorite read with a glass of something in hand, and we’re here for it.
Semicolon
Semicolon Bookstore and gallery is a Black woman-owned bookstore that also has a nonprofit arm dedicated to raising literacy rates in Chicago by providing free books to Chicago Public School students. Getting students reading and an art-filled, inviting space? Count us all the way in.
Black Pearl Books
Black Pearl Books is an Independent Bookstore in the Austin, TX Hill Country. They are here to serve a multi-cultural, multi-generational, multi-socio-economic community. Their promotion is diversity, inclusion, equality, and cultural awareness.
Books and Crannies
Books and Crannies is an independent bookstore that opened on September 20, 2016. They are a general interest/literary bookstore featuring fiction and non-fiction accompanied by a selection of children’s books and a wide range of titles. They have the ability to order any books still in publication. They also have a used book section featuring $1 paperbacks and $3 hardbacks.
Black Pearl Books
Black Pearl Books is an Independent Bookstore in the Austin, TX Hill Country. They are here to serve a multi-cultural, multi-generational, multi-socio-economic community. Their promotion is diversity, inclusion, equality, and cultural awareness.
The Key Bookstore
The Key Bookstore is a fully interactive bookstore experience. The Key engages readers through curation, activities, subscriptions, events, events, and community engagement. The focus is to lead readers on a path to Self Mastery and the cultivation of connection on and offline with respect to the mission, “Divine liberation one page at a time”. The Key is a Black-Owned bookstore curated on for the pillars of Afrocentricity, Spirituality Environmentalism, and Entrepreneurship.
MahoganyBooks
MahoganyBooks is a local independent bookstore that believes in social entrepreneurship. They take a leadership role in the African American community by promoting reading, writing, and cultural awareness as tools to improve self-esteem, self-love, and ultimately our communities to enrich the lives of motivated individuals.
Uncle Bobbie’s
Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books is a Coffee Shop and Bookstore located in the heart of the Germantown section of Philadelphia. Founded by Marc Lamont Hill in 2017, Uncle Bobbie’s was created to provide underserved communities with access to books and space where everyone feels valued. In addition to their specially curated book selection, they also serve high-quality coffee, food products, and more, including apparel and children’s games. They are also a community space that holds free author talks, workshops, and other events, including weekly storytime for kids and back to school drives.
MahoganyBooks
MahoganyBooks is a local independent bookstore that believes in social entrepreneurship. They take a leadership role in the African American community by promoting reading, writing, and cultural awareness as tools to improve self-esteem, self-love, and ultimately our communities to enrich the lives of motivated individuals.
Noname’s Book Club
Noname Book Club is an online/irl community dedicated to uplifting POC voices. They do this by highlighting two books each month written by authors of color. In addition to building community with folks across the country they also send their monthly book picks to incarcerated comrades through their Prison Program.