Celebrating Black Owned Businesses This Black History Month
Photo via Brother Vellies
Small black-owned businesses rarely get the limelight that they deserve. Therefore, Jejune has compiled a list of environmentally and socially responsible black-owned businesses to celebrate this month and every month thereon. According to Black Owned Now, an online advertising and marketing platform featured within this article, due to national microaggressions and systemic racism, black-owned businesses are inhibited from reaching great amounts of success. Supporting these businesses has a direct correlation to the welfare of the economy and job market, as black purchasing power amounts to $1.4 trillion as of 2021. This list covers a variety of industries, such as: fashion, beauty, advertising, and accessories. Enrich your wardrobe or daily routine by supporting the businesses below!
Who They Are: Knotzland Bowtie Co. was founded by Nisha Blackwell, a self taught CEO from Homewood, PA. The brand was founded in 2015 after Nisha learned how to make hair bows for a close friend’s birthday party. After building a small clientele at that same party, Nisha saw an opportunity to grow her business with bowties. These bowties are made from discarded textile waste. Knotzland has rescued over 6,136 pounds of textile waste so far, and an estimated 3,967 pounds of it have already been sold.
Price Range: $$
Fun Fact: Since Nisha was a self taught seamstress, the crew at Knotzland is committed to training a dynamic network of women in their community to share the gift of learning to sew. This community centric business model has allowed the bowties to continue to be homemade and allows the brand to give back to their local community.
Who They Are: Pyer Moss is a small couture apparel brand founded by Kerby Jean Raymond in 2013. The brand's collections and runway shoes employ storytelling, activism, theater and social commentary in order to challenge social narratives and create a dialogue. The Pyer Moss collections are produced in New York City, Italy and Portugal.
Price Range: $$$
Fun Fact: Pyer Moss collections are sold in limited quantities either online or in high end boutiques worldwide. In the past, the brand has collaborated with Reebok to create its own footwear collection. Pyer Moss uses collaborations with brands and artists to further the dialogue on social issues or seasonal themes.
Who They Are: Briogeo was founded by Nancy Twine, but truly inspired by her mother, a chemist who often worked to create customizable products from natural ingredients. The brand was created to be clean and natural while also being cognizant of every hair type, texture, ethnicity, and person. Today, Brigeo is sold worldwide and offers vegan, cruelty free, and gluten free hair care.
Price Range: $$
Fun Fact: Brigeo collaborates with at least 50% of content creators that identify as BIPOC and embraces impactful partnerships with other BIPOC businesses. For instance, the brand supported Move with Purpose, a non profit club that supports the Black community through fitness and donations. Brigeo’s donations supported the Center for Black Women’s Wellness in Atlanta.
Who They Are: Bohten was founded by Nana Boateng Osei and Nana Kwadwo Osei. The brand features African-inspired eyewear that is engineered to feel luxurious and bridge the gap between new fashion and deep-rooted African culture. The brand’s four guiding principles, which they use to promote the diversity of their brand and community, include: respect, acknowledgement, honor, and growth.
Price Range: $$$
Fun Fact: Bohten is produced across Africa and supports environmental sustainability by planting trees in Ghana and Kenya to help fight rising deforestation. They also work with local communities to help educate people about eyewear accessibility and provide jobs for the youth.
Who They Are: Mented Cosmetics was founded by KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson after a personal struggle to find the perfect nude lipstick. The idea of the brand is that everyone, no matter their skin tone, deserves to be represented in beauty products. All of their products are vegan, cruelty free, non-toxic, and paraben-free. You can buy Mented Cosmetics at either Target or ULTA.
Price Range: $$
Fun Fact: On the Mented Cosmetics website you can take a 60 second quiz to find your perfect shade, or utilize the website's shade finder grid. The shade finder is primarily used for foundation and lipsticks.
Who They Are: Golde is a BIPOC family owned business based in Brooklyn, NY. Trinity Mouzon Wofford co-founded the brand with her partner Issey in 2017. Golde started with one product, the Original Tumeric Latte Blend, and since then have grown their team and superfood blend products. Their current products range from face masks to smoothie boosters.
Price Range: $
Fun Fact: Their products revolve around superfood self-care and are 100% natural and vegan-friendly. They have a list of bestsellers including Pure Matcha, Coconut Collagen Boost, and Superfood Latte Kit. All of their products are 100% natural and vegan-friendly.
Who They Are: Jade Swim is designed in NYC and made in LA. The company was founded and still run by fashion editor and stylist Brittany Kozerski. Their pieces are designed with versatility in mind, the swimwear can go from beach to city and day to night. Although simple, the designs are elevated by their innovative silhouettes and design details. They also utilize sustainable fabrics such as Econyl, which is made of 100% regenerated nylon.
Price Range: $$$
Fun Fact: Jade Swim is a 1% for the planet and climate neutral brand. Being a 1% for the planet company, the brand is committed to contributing at least 1% of their annual sales to environmental causes. As a climate neutral brand, they consistently measure, offset, and reduce their carbon footprint throughout their supply chain.
Who They Are: Aurora James founded Brother Vellies in 2013 as a luxury accessories company that celebrates traditional African design practices and timeless design. Fair practices is at the heart of the brand’s business philosophy, each step of the production process is considered with the utmost respect for the environment, the artisans, and the customers. None of their products go on sale, as their value is assigned based on materials and fair labor practices.
Price Range: $$$
Fun Fact: Brother Vellies is produced around the globe, in places such as South Africa, Kenya, Mexico Morocco, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Italy, Haiti, and at home in New York City. On top of their normal business practices, the brand also has a ‘Something Special’ subscription where a made to order comfort item will be delivered to you every month. It is always a surprise, and always made with artisanal craftsmanship.
Who They Are: Artists Untold is a black owned online retail platform that allows black and underrepresented artists with the opportunity to promote and sell their artwork. The platform is at no cost to the artist, allowing them to have an income stream. The artists also retain ownership of their art while it is shown on the platform. As a black owned business, they also support the community by promoting cultural appreciation and working with like minded artists and businesses.
Price Range: $$
Fun Fact: The platform has also planted more than 3,400 trees in various regions in Africa with One Tree Planted Africa Initiative.They donate 1 tree for every purchase to offset their carbon footprint. They also partner with EcoCart to ensure their orders are carbon neutral.
Who They Are: Black Owned Now is an online advertising and marketing platform whose purpose is to support and raise awareness for black owned businesses. The platform accomplishes this purpose by providing essential marketing tools and funding opportunities for the businesses within their database. Black Owned Now was created in 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Price Range: N/A
Fun Fact: Their database already includes an estimated 1,500+ black owned businesses from a variety of industries. When looking at their lists, you can refine your search with the industry, state, and city of your choice.
Who They Are: Oui the People was founded by Karen Young, a Caribbean immigrant, with the brand ethos to watch it’s language and ensure beauty for all. Their reConstitution of beauty allows the brand to embrace the customer's complexity, forgo tradition, and create the best products for women. Their shaving materials are carefully crafted and tested by a customer advisory board. Additionally, their shaving materials are made from stainless steel so it is easy to recycle.
Price Range: $$
Fun Fact: The brand's website allows you to shop by both products and concerns. A carefully curated list of products has been created for ingrown hairs, razor burns, and dry skin. Additionally, Oui the People is transparent about their ingredients. A full list can be found on the website.
Who They Are: Reel is a black owned business co-founded by Livio Bisterzo and Derin Oyekan. They are a paper company that creates biodegradable, super soft and strong paper, such as toilet paper and paper towels, made from bamboo. The brand is on a mission to reduce deforestation and preserve the forests. Therefore, they are 100% tree free with no dyes or inks added.
Price Range: $
Fun Fact: Reel partners with SOIL, a non-profit organization that has been transforming waste into useful resources in Haiti. Their mission aligns with Reel, that they want to prevent illnesses caused by having to defecate outside. Additionally, they give toilets and toilet paper to those in need.
We hope that you found some socially aware black owned business that you love as much as we do! While Black History Month is a time to support these businesses and educate ourselves on African American history, we hope that you consider investing in these businesses year round.
