12 black-owned brands you should know about

Funding, availability, and visibility have, since the beginnings of the fashion industry, fallen by the wayside for black-owned brands. Black-owned businesses have accounted for 40 percent of those closed as a result of COVID-19 and historically, black entrepreneurs have struggled to gain access to the capital and loans necessary for getting a business off the ground. Over the past week, a much-needed light has been shed on the disproportionate disadvantages black people and black-owned business experience on a minute-by-minute basis.

In order to support the black community, we must strive to support black-owned brands, businesses, entrepreneurs, and creatives.

They’re breaking boundaries, creating jobs, and empowering creative, economic, and societal growth. If black-owned businesses have the opportunity to thrive, then millions of people can benefit from new breeds of opportunities and connections. And while there are countless worthwhile black-owned fashion brands to support, we’ve compiled 12 distinguished labels you’ll want to keep your eye on.

Aurora James, the creative director and founder of accessories brand Brother Vellies, designs handmade shoes and handbags with the goal of keeping alive traditional African design practices. The designer has called upon mega-retailers, including Sephora, Shopbop, and Target to pledge 15% of their shelf space to black-owned businesses.

London-based designer Martine Rose draws inspiration from ’90s-era hip hop culture for her eponymous label. Speaking to the fashion industry, Rose wrote on Instagram, “Every designer, every shop, every corporate group, all press – everyone who loves black culture, who has been inspired by black culture and who profits from black culture directly and indirectly (and that really is everyone) needs to speak up now, state their position and demand justice against systemic racism.”

Searches for Wales Bonner increased by 1633% when Meghan Markle stepped out in the label’s white trench dress in her and Prince Harry’s introduction photo-op with their new son, Archie. The UK-based brand won the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund in 2019 and most recently, the label’s designer, Grace Wales Bonner, collaborated with Dior’s creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri for Dior’s Cruise 20 collection.

Lemlem by supermodel Liya Kebede is a sustainable label of men’s, women’s, children’s, and home goods made entirely in Africa. Lemlem is an artisan-driven brand that’s creating jobs across the continent.

After winning a Vogue Italia competition in 2011, the self-taught Creole-Italian designer was hand-picked by Giorgio Armani to both show her Spring/Summer 2014 collection at his show space in Milan and share his communications team, a first for Armani.

Founded by designer Kerby Jean-Raymond in 2013, the Pyer Moss label has actively spoken out regarding black heritage and activism. Jean-Raymond was awarded the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and his September 2019 fashion show was dedicated to “uncovering stories of black peoples’ contribution to popular American culture.”

The New York-based luxury ready-to-wear and bridal label was founded in 2008 by designer Carly Cushnie. Fans of Cushnie’s minimal designs include Michelle Obama, Lupita Nyong’o, and Jennifer Lopez.

The South African label is at the helm of its namesake designer, Thebe Magugu. In 2019, Magugu became the first African designer ever to win the LVMH Prize for Young Designers.

Founded by Kenneth Ize, the Austrian-Nigerian’s eponymous label collaborates with weavers and artisans across Nigeria in their uses of traditional West African fabrics.

The unisex clothing brand from designer Telfar Clemens is a New York-based label with the mission that Telfar clothes, “[aren’t] for you – [they’re] for everyone.”

Rihanna’s size-inclusive lingerie brand Savage x Fenty will donate funds to BLM Greater NY and The Bail Project. Rihanna made history in 2019 when she became LVMH’s, a luxury goods corporation that owns Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Fendi, first black female designer with her label Fenty.

Minimalist swimwear brand JADE Swim is donating funds to the Minnesota Freedom Fund and NAACP Legal Defense Fund.