With the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement this year, supporting Black-Owned businesses became a priority for many. Black-Owned businesses generally face hardships when it comes to receiving financial assistance (an effect of systemic racism, but that’s a topic for a different day), and have been hit hard during the pandemic. I have been trying to shift a lot of my shopping over to small businesses over the past few years, so I was very excited to discover some small businesses owned by Black womxn earlier this year. I’ve had all of these items for a while, and love them just as much now as I did when they first arrived.
Instead of doing a holiday gift guide, I thought I’d share some Black-Owned businesses you can support for the holidays (and beyond).
Hanifa
I recently gushed over Hanifa’s Pink Label Congo Collection, but I couldn’t post about Black-Owned businesses without mentioning the brand again. Their most recent launch is the Resort collection and the linen suit is calling my name!
The Koop New York
There’s nothing like a good Fall candle and the Silk scent from The Koop is my current favorite Fall scent. Their candles are handmade and are toxin-free, phthalate-free, and dye-free. The Koop’s most recent Fall Comfort drop is currently sold out, but I highly recommend following them on Instagram for updates. These candles make beautiful presents for loved ones, or yourself ๐
Golde
I came across Golde on a search for matcha powder during lockdown in March. I had seen how easy it was to make drinks at home using Golde’s powders, so I decided to order the Pure Matcha powder and the Superfood Latte Sampler, which comes with original turmeric, cacao turmeric, and matcha turmeric mixes. At first, I felt a little silly purchasing turmeric latte mixes as I have a huge stash of turmeric powder at home (my mom uses it in a lot of her cooking, so it’s a household staple for me now), but once I added the mixes to my espresso and topped with milk, I decided that I regret nothing. The cacao turmeric mix is my favorite and almost tastes like a dirty chai latte when added to my coffee and oat milk.
And, fun fact: Golde is one of the recipients of Glossier’s Grant Initiative for Black-Owned Beauty Businesses. How incredible is that?! I can’t wait to see the brand grow over the next couple of years.
Naked Bar Soap Co.
Last (for now) but not least, a Black-Owned business near and dear to my heart: Naked Bar Soap Co. The store is local to Orlando, and is now able to offer online shopping! I initially went to them to purchase African black soap after my supply from Trinidad ran out, and have fallen in love with some of their other scents. I’m currently using their watermelon soap that took me three launches to get, and have my eye on their hazelnut chai latte soap next. Naked Bar Soap Co. is owned by two amazing Afro-Latina womxn and their products are handcrafted with no surprise ingredients. If you live in the area and plan on picking your order up, be sure to check out the Chris Uphues mural across the street (and the business it’s attached to, Infusion Tea).
If you have any favorite Black-owned businesses, please drop them in the comments below!
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