Brilliant brands owned by black women to support now and forever
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There are lots of ways to support the Black Lives Matter movement.
You can donate money to a local grassroots organisation or email your MP, asking them to lobby the government.
You can educate yourself and talk about racial injustice with those who are less likely to be on the receiving end of it.
You can also do your bit to support the black community by shopping at black-owned businesses.
Here are just some of our favourite black female-owned businesses to back now and forever.
Black female-owned businesses to support
Fashion brands
Kemi Telford | Shop here
The brand’s founder, Yvonne Telford knows how to design stand-out, floaty dresses in flattering prints and styles. Think show-stopping pieces for both events and everyday wear.
Wales Bonner | Shop here
Informed by broad research encompassing critical theory, musical composition, literature and history, Wales Bonner embraces a multiplicity of perspectives, proposing a distinct notion of luxury, via a hybrid of European and Afro-Atlantic approaches.
The award-winning designer started off with menswear but now stocks a range of high-end, fitted womenswear too, from trousers and skirts to accessories.
Sincerely Nude | Shop here
Sincerely Nude was founded by London-based Michelle Asare after she noticed that she could never find any nude clothing close to her skin tone.
Her accessible range of skirts, shorts and dresses are all under £40.
Chelsea Bravo | Shop here
Chelsea Bravo’s collections now feature both womenswear and menswear, creatively infusing an artistic hand combined with simple and free shapes through a contemporary silhouette. Pieces are sampled and made-to-order in-house.
Beauty brands
Bouclème | Shop here
Experts on the needs of curly hair and the difficulties managing it on a daily basis, this sustainable, fair-trade brand is on hand to help customers keep their hair in tip-top condition.
From cleansers, conditioners and a wide array of vegan products, their range is packed with high-performance actives that restore moisture and life to dry lacklustre hair.
Bea Skincare | Shop here
Harley Street-trained aesthetician Bianca Estelle founded the skin-care range Bea Skincare in 2015. The range is influenced by Estelle’s background in cosmeceutical science, as well as her clinical work at her two Marylebone clinics.
The range has several collections — from mature skin, to skin-tone correction, to acne care — but there’s also an essentials range which is suitable for all skin types.
Maya Nije Perfumes | Shop here
Swedish-born, London-based photographer Maya Njie began working with scents at university as a way to add to her photography art practice.
Her line of small-batch, hand-bottled perfumes are made from high-quality essential oils, compounds, and resins and are now stocked internationally after her launch in 2015.
Njie offers bottle refills by post (particularly handy right now!), as well as 7.5-milliliter perfume sizes for scent layering.
Home brands
La Basketry | Shop here
La Basketry’s tag line is “weaving the world into a better place” and one look at owner, Tabara’s creations is proof of that.
The brand collaborates with female artisans in Senegal, where basket weaving is a tradition passed down for generations to women in rural villages to make extra income.
Avila.Diana | Shop here
Given that sending a card is one of the only ways we’ve been able to get hold of our loved ones over the last few months, there’s never been a better time to stock up on beautifully designed stationary.
Law student Avila Chidume noticed the lack of diversity in greeting cards and so, in 2018, created her own cards for various occasions, representing diverse and underrepresented communities through the striking graphics.
Her range includes personalised cards and mugs.
Dorcas Creates | Shop here
Self-taught illustrator and artist, Dorcas creates a range of prints and artistic pieces using bold colours, pattern-work and references to her Nigerian heritage.
From affordable wall prints (starting at £25) to bright greeting cards and cotton totes, Dorcas’ designs will certainly make an impact in your home.
Naked Clay Ceramics | Shop here
Bedfordshire-based Carla Sealey started Naked Ceramics in 2017 and says she is inspired by the natural colours and textures of the environment.
Her range, which includes stoneware mugs, plates, and wildflower vases, comes in a range of neutral hues and are made through a combination of hand-building and slip-casting clay.
Children’s brands
Colour Celebrations | Shop here
After the birth of her son, Deborah Ajaja noticed a gap in the market when it came to milestone cards — a common baby shower and new-mum gift which allows families to document and celebrate their youngster’s ‘first’ experiences.
Struggling to find any milestone cards which represented her son’s darker skin, she decided to create two sets of cards, for black and mixed-race children.
Milestones include losing the first tooth, celebrating their first Christmas, and traveling for the first time (though we might have to wait a while to use that one).
Sheni & Teni | Shop here
Sheni & Teni is passionate about creating an avenue for children to learn all about African cultures while playing.
Their range of books and puzzles are fun, creative and educational, all while allowing you to bond with your child.
The Fresh Dolls | Shop here
After reading a study on how Black girls think that white dolls are prettier, Dr. Lisa, the founder of The Fresh Dolls, launched her own inclusive line.
"I knew then and there, that I had to change my life's focus. What I once thought was success, no longer motivated me," says The Fresh Dolls website. "There was no way I could sit comfortably behind my desk as our young girls believed the lie that their skin tone was not beautiful."
