Black History Month started February 1st and will continue until March 1st! Black History Month, or National African American History Month, is an annual celebration of the accolades, achievements, and successes of Black/African Americans. It also provides us a time to honor and recognize the central and significant role that African Americans have and continue to play in U.S. history. Today we wanted to give some exposure to some incredible Black-owned brands!
1. A A K S
WOVEN GOODS
Did someone say WOW!! As a creature of the sand, I am a major lover of all things woven…especially beautiful hand-crafted bags! These A A K S handbags are about as exquisite as exquisite can get! There are so many woven bags on the market but the mission, meaning, and purpose behind these bags make them stand out the most for me!
A A K S was founded by Akosua Afriyie-Kumi with the goal of introducing the world to her favorite weaving techniques done by the women of Ghana while also creating and igniting sustainable jobs within Africa. Handcrafted in Ghana, A A K S creates bags in styles that maintain the spirit and durability of their ancestral counterparts characterized by bright exuberant colors.
Akosua now stocks her woven bag collections in 60 stores worldwide including Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, and Bloomingdales. To read more on her mission – click here!
2. NICHOLE LYNEL THE LABEL
NL The Label is definitely a glamorous line! Between the sequin and crystal fringe, I don’t know what I love more! This top is giving me MAJOR Rodeo vibes and how perfect are these sequin pants for Valentine’s Day?
3. Tal & Bert
Tal & Bert– the original raw mineral geode planters! Their work has been featured on CNN, Cosmopolitan, Real Simple, NY Times, Pittsburgh Magazine, Buzzfeed, The Spruce, Etsy & reposted by several celebrities on Instagram. These planters are luxurious and one of a kind! Sure to get your guest’s attention and make for GREAT gifts!
4. Brandon Blackwood
ABOUT BRANDON BLACKWOOD
What seems like an overnight sensation, is now considered one of the top “it” handbag companies on the market! The New-York based brand Brandon Blackwood has spent years building a devout fan base built on two sought-after assets – luxurious and accessible. Brandon Blackwood, 29, oversees the entire design process of his brand.
“It wasn’t born out of a concept, more so a necessity at the time for me to express my creativity,” he says. “I was studying neuroscience at Bard but I always loved fashion and knew that it was what I really wanted to do.”
PHILANTHROPIC
Brandon Blackwood makes a point to give back to the community that has supported him from the beginning. “I think just being a Black-owned brand, it wouldn’t be smart or productive to not pour back and support your community, especially given these were the first people who bought and took a chance on your product and continue to love on your product,” he says.
To date, the brand has donated to organizations including the Lawyer’s Committee. This young man is making HISTORY and an impact!
5. Brother Vellies
Brother Vellies, a black-owned business 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.
Toronto-native and New York City-transplant, Creative Director and Founder Aurora James amassed an impressive resume of fashion industry experience prior to starting Brother Vellies. Her background in fashion, journalism, art, music, photography, and horticulture joins a forever passion for artisanship, design, and humanitarianism to create truly one-of-a-kind pieces that will remain in your wardrobe forever.
6. Briogeo
Briogeo black-owned business creates texture-specific products to offer something for everyone – from repair to volume, to curl care. Briogeo’s simplified two, three, or four-step regimens take the guesswork out of mixing and matching products to find a custom routine to volumize, repair, defrizz or nurture.
Briogeo is 6-free hair care; meaning our formulas are free of harsh sulfates (SLS/SLES), silicones, parabens, phthalates, DEA, and synthetic color. All products are 90 to 100 percent naturally derived. Briogeo formulas are cruelty-free, gluten-free, and mostly vegan.
7. E Marie
This versatile wrap makes a perfect companion through any type of travel as it converts from scarf to pillow, blanket or shawl depending on your needs. I have been traveling with my E Marie wrap for YEARS now and will not travel without it! It’s soft as cashmere and packs easily!
8. 54 Thrones
Christina Funke Tegbe is the founder and creative visionary behind Black-owned 54 Thrones. An African beauty brand inspired by the richness, diversity, and cultures of the continent and its people. A southern-American childhood rooted with the cultural essence of Nigeria, Christina grew up experiencing the true and sacred beauty of Africa. Empowered by her Nigerian aunt who would indulge her with tubs of shea butter sent via Nigeria and moved by the ingenuity and innovation across the motherland, she answered the call to share the heart and soul of Africa with the world.
African-grown, pure & organic plant botanicals blended to protect, soothe and nourish your skin. 54 countries; 54 Thrones. The name 54 Thrones distinctively represents Africa’s 54 countries. Christina travels to each country to source their key ingredients, personally meeting each artisan, cooperative memberS, and businessES that they work with. Collaborating to create authentic, sustainably-made beauty products inspired by ancient African tradition. The result; high-quality, African-grown ingredients, backed by women who’ve cared for their skin with these natural ingredients for generations.
With 54 Thrones, Christina aspires to spread the message of the African origin of clean beauty”. Determined to share the beauty and authenticity of an Africa often not seen, she partners with passionate artisans who handcraft the rich ingredients that make up the brand.
9. Black-Owned Beauty – BEAUTY BAKERIE
A powerful story of resilience and inspiration, Cashmere Nicole founded the Black-owned beauty brand – Beauty Bakerie in 2011 with the mission to be sweet and sweeten the lives of others. During a challenging, but successful fight with breast cancer, Cashmere became extremely health conscious and research-driven about the products we put in and on our bodies.
The Beauty Bakerie brand is a direct reflection of Cashmere’s perseverance and passion for both high-quality and healthy ingredients that enhance the beauty in everyone, every day. Cashmere continues to grow her brand which is now sold in 1000 locations worldwide. She embodies the sweet life not only by developing cruelty-free, all-inclusive cosmetics but more importantly while implementing initiatives such as the 501(c)3, Sugar Homes that she founded in 2016 which supports the needs of orphaned children worldwide. The first home located in Kasese, Uganda supports the needs of 24 children and has done so for the past 2 years. The brand recently added identified another opportunity to have an impact on the lives of 200 children in a small village in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
This brand has been dubbed, ‘activists in makeup’ for being vocal about injustices that span a variety of issues including the disparities within the beauty space, The Black Lives Matter Movement, The Dream Act, The Muslim Ban, missing children, and human trafficking. “I’ve always felt a sense of duty to use my platform to inform, to encourage & educate, to uplift, unite and inspire others to see the value in being sweet; being a person that looks beyond the surface for the things that truly make a difference in the world.”
10. The Oula Company
As a lover of all things color, The Oula Company resonates with me and aligns with everything I love in fashion! To read more on The Oula Company – click here!
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