10 BLACK-OWNED BRANDS WE LOVE
Buying from Black-owned businesses is one of the many ways to support the Black community – and not just during the month of February for Black History month, but all year long.
The pandemic has disproportionately affected Black-owned businesses, with the number of active Black-owned businesses falling by 41% between February and April 2020. For those who have been able to keep their doors open, a survey found that less than 10% would describe their business as “profitable and growing” (Forbes).
Below, I wanted to highlight some amazing, female-founded Black-owned businesses. Not only do these brands produce amazing, high-quality products, but they all strive to make a difference in their communities. Each of the brands I’ve listed have incredible stories and their unique styles, so I highly encourage you to click through each brand and learn about the inspiring women behind them!
Tiffany Mouzon Wofford founded Golde in 2017 with the goal of making wellness accessible to everyone. They started with the launch of a single product, a turmeric superfood latte, which contains a blend of turmeric, ginger, cardamom, and black pepper – key ingredients to support the body from the inside out. Since then, she and her (growing) team have developed 13 additional products – all of which are a blend of superfoods designed to make you feel good and boost your daily routine.
Their products range from superfood blends to powdered face masks and are all 100% natural, vegan, and made with ingredients you can trust. They also have the cutest branding and look super cute on your counter (which, let’s be honest, is a must).
Lalese Stamps launched Lolly Lolly Ceramics in 2017 as a side hustle while she was working full time as a graphic designer.
Lolly Lolly Ceramics focuses on objects that are functional, unique and handmade to last. In September of 2019, Lalese started a 100 Day Project where she made 100 mugs with 100 different handles for 100 days.
You can shop their products directly on their website, www.lollylollyceramics.com
Melissa Butler launched the Lip Bar in 2012 with the mission of changing the way we think about beauty. Back in 2012, she observed a lack of diversity in the beauty industry and identified an opportunity to launch an affordable, inclusive brand made with clean and 100% natural products.
She started out by making lipsticks in vibrant colors for women of all skin tones and has since expanded to include tinted skin conditioners, caffeine-infused concealers, creamy eyeliners, and more.
They’re celebrating 10 years in business this month!
Lani Halliday is a Brooklyn-based food artist, baker, mom, founder, and owner of Brutus Bakeshop, a gluten-free cake, and pastry company. She is known best for her vivid creations and contemporary stencil work with her visually impactful cakes and pastries. Her creations captivate the eye, speak to the soul and celebrate the messiness of life. Lani redefines what it means to be a traditional baker, paving the way for a new generation that is unafraid to bake outside the lines.
Taelor Salmon founded Cadence Candle Co. in 2019 with the goal of sharing her love of candles and music with other people. Salmon loved (and still loves!) relaxing at home with scented candles and music - it helps her to relax and find peace and she wanted to give that experience to others.
Their products consist of 9 oz, soy-blended candles, hand-poured with music, feeling, and individuality in mind. Each candle scent is made with blended fragrances and is accompanied by a handcrafted playlist (via a QR scan). The scents are AMAZING and are all clean and free of parabens, phthalates, and toxic chemicals that are harmful to the air and environment.
Founded and created by husband and wife duo Cornelious Robinson and Live Woudstra-Robinson in 2013, Trufflin’ exists to bring exceptional flavor to your meals with their truffle-infused hot sauces, salts, oils, and dressings.
Prior to COVID-19, the founders were literally going door-to-door to fine dining restaurants selling their high-quality truffles, which come directly from the south of France. Now, the brand has expanded to bring its products to home kitchens around the world! Their recipes are made from scratch alongside top NYC chefs, who aren’t afraid to be tough critics, so you can believe that they are delivering exceptional flavor.
Turn your next meal up a notch by tossing their Sriracha into your morning eggs or finishing off a dish with their truffle-infused oil. I promise you won’t regret it!
Founders Kia Phillips and Nekol Gaskins set out to create a line of clothing for socially conscious women and working mothers. They also noticed that they didn’t see a lot of women that looked like them in the activewear market and wanted to bring their designs that would represent their culture and heritage.
They use high-quality materials that keep everything in place when you’re working out – you don’t have to worry about leggings slipping down, being see-through or even colors fading over time. They have a great range of products from bright colorful designs to solid color classics, so there’s truly something for everyone.
I seriously want every piece from this brand. Founder, Yvonne Bulimo, is proudly Kenyan-born and American-raised. After embarking on her own fitness journey, she noticed she couldn’t find brands that connected with her in Kenya and didn’t see herself reflected in the styles she was seeing in bigger brands. She created ZOEZI to inspire women to feel good and look good while working out in order to be more motivated to stay fit.
Their products are cute, functional, and high-quality. They even have Men’s clothing!
Founded by Kira West, MadeByKwest is an impact-driven jewelry line. Her pieces are elegant, timeless, and durable – made to withstand all of life’s adventures. She’s big into fitness and wellness and specifically designed her pieces with quality goods with a focus on functionality, so they can fit her active lifestyle.
Also, as part of an effort to give back, the brand donates 10% of all proceeds to Girls Going Global, an organization that empowers girls to be global citizens by providing the tools, mentorship, and educational experiences to make a mark on the world.
Thanks for highlighting these businesses!