I’ll be honest with you all: Until everything that happened since the murder of George Floyd, I didn’t notice the lack of black influencers I was following in my space. That most of the ethical and sustainable businesses I follow and support are owned by white people.
I’m embarrassed that it took me this long to notice and that overall, my Instagram feed was pretty white.
During this week of listening, learning, and educating myself, I wanted to follow black voices making a difference in the way we shop. I wanted to share them with you.
We need to diversify our feeds and support black-owned businesses. Not just now, not just while the worlds are on fire but for the rest of our lives. I think a huge way to continue to support our black brothers and sisters moving forward is to make sure that we’re shopping from their businesses as well.
You might not think it matters what skin colour the owner of your favourite shop is, and I’m not saying your favourite shop can’t be owned by a white person. But along with everything I preach in regard to conscious consumerism, it’s important to diversify the brands we choose to support.
Black Owned Sustainable Businesses:
Wellness brands:
Founded by Issey Kobori and Trinity Mouzon Wofford, Golde is based in Brooklyn and focuses on creating superfood-boosted essentials for health and beauty. Their products are simple, natural, and beautiful.
Their catalogue includes superfood latte blends like turmeric, cocoa, and matcha. They also have superfood face masks for glowing skin!
BLK + GRN is an all-natural marketplace by all-black artisans! In this marketplace, you can find home decor, skincare, menstrual care, hair care, and more!
Their black artisans are carefully chosen and their products are thoroughly inspected to make sure they are in fact, 100% natural products. Meaning you’re getting only the best!
This small team in Seattle founded Peak and Valley in 2018 with the mission to bring wellness products to the world! Their ingredients are always organic, vegan, and ethically sourced.
They make plant-based elixirs including stress blends, skin blends, and mind blends chalked full of adaptogens!
Using the power of herbs, Bea Dixon founded the honey pot co for people with vaginas. The products focus on vaginal and menstrual care including products for mothers-to-be, cleansers, soothing products, menstrual cups, pads, tampons, and MORE!
Their product formulas are also cruelty-free and biodegradable!
Co-founded by Morrisa Jenkins and Bonkosi Horn, freedom apothecary is a holistic wellness company bringing accessible self-care and wellness to everyone.
They carry everything from skincare, makeup, beard oil, teas, and more wellness products!
Holistic teas that blend pop culture and hip hop by founder Shanae. She studied herbalism and decided to learn more about living off the land and using the land for healing. All of which is evident in her unique tea blends!
Beauty brands:
Beauty products made with clean and ethically sourced ingredients, Hanahana was founded with the intention to disrupt the beauty industry and make healthy, all-natural skincare, and wellness products accessible to everyone.
Shea butter is at the heart of their ingredient list and is sourced fairly through Katariga Women’s Shea Cooperative in Ghana.
Founded by Dana, beneath your mask carries skin, body, and hair products designed to restore, repair, and reverse the environmental toxins we’re exposed to every day.
Their ingredients are organic, natural, and full of healing properties. And their products are plastic-free!
“Clean, vegan, unisex skincare for all” is plant apothecary’s motto! They use organic ingredients which are not only good for us but good for our skin. They also use sustainable packaging!
Plant apothecary is the most inclusive skincare brand I’ve ever seen making skincare for every person with skin regardless of gender, colour, acne, or texture!
Oui the people was founded by Karen, a woman who took notice of the words brands were using, messages like “you’re not loveable” if you don’t…
So she made a stance to change that and make a brand that was inclusive and made people feel beautiful as they were. Oui focuses on steel razors and shaving products. They’re on a mission to reduce the number of plastic razors that end up in landfills every year.
Handmade 100% natural skincare designs to make your beauty routine a little more minimal and less complex.
They don’t use any fillers and use only active ingredients ensuring you’re getting the best product.
Lotus Moon Skincare is cruelty-free, plant-based, and made in the USA. Lake Louise founded the brand with the idea to blend nature and science.
They support fair labour practices, ship their products using recycled materials, and use recycled packaging when possible.
Klur’s values include clean, inclusive, and ethical beauty. But more than that it’s about human connection, simplicity, and usability.
Founder Lesley Thorton is an esthetician and formulation making sure the brand has only the best skincare for everyone.
Founder of Briogeo Nancy Twine believes we should treat our hair the same way we treat our skin: “by nurturing it with ingredients that detoxify, hydrate and, protect.”
Their haircare line is ethically sourced, cruelty-free, paraben, and, silicone-free.
Home Brands:
PUR home was founded by Angela Richardson who is the formulation and product developer of the brand. PUR is a natural line of eco-friendly and toxin-free household cleaners and laundry detergents that are biodegradable and plant-based.
Their product packaging looks similar to that of Seventh Generation except PUR is much more sustainable: every part of their packaging is recyclable.
Their products are safe for you, your pets, and mother earth and are leaping bunny certified cruelty-free!
Aya Paper Co is a sustainable stationery and card company that makes the cutest note sets and greeting cards! They even have all-natural soy candles as well!
You can find out each product’s sourcing and sustainability information on their individual product pages!
UNWRP offers sustainable gift wrapping options from wrapping paper to fabric wraps to greeting cards and stickers. and more!
Founded by Jason Evege, Linoto makes 100% linen sheets, napkins, tablecloths, and curtains that give your home a luxurious feel! Every product is made in the USA.
What makes Linoto so special is the incredible attention to detail Each product is marked with chalk, cut with shears, and sewn to the highest standard.
Nicole Gibbons is an interior designer and the founder of Clare Paint. They make finding colours for your home easy and mess frees with their non-toxic, non-carbon-based paints that are safe for you, your home, and the planet.
Nicole has also been featured on media outlets like HGTV, The Oprah Winfrey Network, and Good Morning America!
Honeydipped is another all-natural brand that sells 100% natural cleaning products and skincare taking all the guesswork out of finding the safest products for you.
Founder Ashli Goudelocke had a passion for natural products and wanted to create a catalogue of products that she herself felt comfortable using and that’s exactly what she did. All of the ingredients used are top-tier organic!
54 Kibo makes contemporary African designs including home decor like pillows, blankets, furniture, wall art, table linens and so much more! They also have accessories like bags, jewelry, and skin care!
Founder Nana Quagraine was raised in Ghana, South Africa, and loved the designs of items she found there and wanted to make them accessible globally.
Handcrafted brands:
Founded by Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, A A K S was created with the goal of introducing Ghana weaving techniques to the world and creating sustainable jobs in Africa.
These bags are all handcrafted by artisans and are completely gorgeous.
Lalese is the founder of lolly lolly and she hand makes all of the ceramics on the site including mugs, dishware, and more!
Naked Clay Ceramics creates black stoneware and white porcelain tableware that is handcrafted and one-of-a-kind.
Sacko is a small batch company that sources thrifted clothing and dead stock fabric and dyes them using plant-based dyes to create one-of-a-kind clothing!
It was founded by Nana Sacko who wanted to slow down her own consumption and create a wardrobe filled with meaningful pieces.
Ceramics made by hand by Scott Lee in Brooklynn. He specializes in the most beautifully painted ceramic vases and also teaches classes at the Educational Alliance Art School in the Lower East Side. Check it out here.
Elan is a multidisciplinary artist and textile designer in Florida. Influenced by cultural commonalities and their use of woven textiles, architecture, and materials she’s put together a unique brand that sells art, collages, wall hangings, and prints.
Osa operates through Etsy and is currently a one-woman show making all of her pottery by hand!
Each piece from Grey Remedy is made from stoneware and handcrafted from start to finish by Melissa J. Chin.
Founded by Kristin Rose, The Koop makes and sells handcrafted candles poured by 1 of their four-member team!
Fashion & Jewelry brands:
Founded with the goal of keeping traditional African design practices, and techniques alive, Brother Vellies is now handcrafted by artisans globally. They craft shoes, handbags, and more!
Each item is made with the most care for its artisans, customers, and the planet.
Sisters Not Twins Co is an Instagram shop that makes handmade, hypoallergenic, one-of-a-kind clay earrings!
All screen printing and embroidery are done in-house by founder Adele Jackson. They sell sustainably made clothing and accessories including enamel, stickers, patches, and more!
Cee Cee’s Closet was founded by Chioma and Uchenna Ngwudo. They design accessories that are handmade in Nigeria.
They carry headwraps, hats, hair accessories, and more!
Growing up in Nigeria, Adele developed a love for fashion watching her mother and grandma dress up in gorgeous colours and tribal jewelry.
She moved to Keya in 2005 and started making jewelry and soon after turned her hobby into a business.
Aliya Wanek is a sustainable and ethical clothing line designed to be an extension of the wearer’s individuality.
When Aliya isn’t sewing the clothing herself she works closely with seamstresses and local contractors. The clothing is also dyed natural to ensure minimal environmental impact.
Created by Gina Stovall, two days off is a thoughtfully curated collection of ethically and sustainably made clothing.
Their fabric is headstock fabric, fabric that is unused and otherwise would have ended up in a landfill and is made to order.
Grace Made is a faith-driven lifestyle brand that creates ethical modest apparel. Jennie Renne created the brand for women to express their style while honouring their faith.
Founded by a mother-and-daughter duo, Rebecca Henry and Akua Shabaka create clothing made to order from 100% organic cotton.
Heavily rooted in the ethos of the African continent and diaspora, House of Aama is best known for its stunning statement pieces.
I pride myself on being a conscious consumer. Moving forward that means making an effort to include a range of diverse businesses with founders and creators of all ethnicities. I hope this list gives you a place to start! And I plan to add to this list, if you know of any ethical or sustainably owned black businesses, please leave a comment.
Please don’t forget to share this post!
Keep reading:
How to become a conscious consumer
How to reconnect with yourself
Wow what an informative Post. Will take myself time to explore their work and products. Thank you for sharing this with the world ❤️
I’m so glad you liked it, thanks for reading! 🙂
I am black and only one of those I really know of. Some I ran across but didn’t know they were black owned businesses. Will support more, thanks.