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Writer's pictureMediphis
Jun 10, 202017 min read

47 Black Owned Businesses You Need To Buy From Today

‘Buying black’ isn’t something that we should do once to feel good about ourselves. To invest in black businesses is to invest in the black community as a whole.

As the business you buy from grows, the choice of high-quality products that anyone can consume increases as well as the number of jobs provided to the local community, generating wealth to be shared by locals. Not only do black businesses provide jobs, they also become customers for other local businesses, whether it be accountants, marketers, printer companies or lawyers. It is also more likely that the business will donate to local black charities, and the uniqueness of an independent shop in a local area an attract tourism.


So not only should we buy from black businesses, we should also make the effort to swap a big brand in our lives for a black brand. Regardless of how much our favourite celebrities endorse global brands or how many statements such brands publish promising support to the black community, it remains a fact that these companies have an ashamedly low number of black employees at executive and corporate levels and are less likely to donate to charities supporting the black community.


These companies are owned by white executives who pocket black money without helping black people and, as a result, it is time that we permanently swap some of our favourite big brands for the following US and UK based black brands:


Clothing and Fashion


No Wallflower Project

"Taking inspiration from a youth spent in her grandmothers workshop watching her craft elaborate tasseled curtains and upholstery for her customers, while sharing in her love of interiors and art history; Creative Director, Henrietta O'Connor combines this with her passion for visual storytelling and an eccentric approach to design to bring you luxury womenswear and accessories for sleep and street."


Nappy Head Club

"Systematically, women like my sister and I (and probably you, if you’re reading this) have been excluded from conversations around beauty and under-represented in mainstream media. Despite our cumulative 40+ years toting the hair growing from our scalps, it wasn’t until very recently, that we even begun to explore our natural hair. The imagery we are bombarded with on a daily basis doesn’t regularly highlight, or even acknowledge, the gigantic (and ever growing) population of black women with hair like ours, and that takes a toll on our self-image.

We felt a transformation in ourselves, as we began to explore and proudly rock our 4c naps–and we wanted to share that feeling with as many 4c women as we could. Our goal is to be a source of information, tools, and community. For any girl who’s ever felt hair-shamed, pressure to alter / manipulate their curl pattern, or just wants to see more representation—this is for you."


Sincerely Nude

“I noticed that I could never find any nude clothing close to my skin tone whenever I went shopping or even browsing online. This realisation became somewhat of frustration as I noticed it everywhere I went. I’ve always loved fashion and it felt dear to my heart to be part of the change I wanted to see in the world. From a discussion to fruition. Sincerely Nude wants to empower women to feel beautiful and sexy in their skin tone no matter what shade or size."


House of Kanai

"My business specialises in made to order and bespoke resort garments for confident women that love to travel to holiday destinations. This includes swimwear and outfits for events and soirees that may take place abroad in luxury resorts.


A little something different to add to your wardrobe if your looking for staple pieces to invest in."


Two Three Active

"Two Three Active is a London based activewear brand designed for the everyday girl who wants to feel comfortable & confident whilst achieving their health goals.

Est. since 2018 the brand was created by sisters Stefanie & Naomie who are the second and third born of 4 girls. The sisters found a passion for living a healthier lifestyle when they had faced their own personal battles of Depression and Hypothyroidism. Whilst on their individual journeys they both found it hard to find quality gym leggings or sports bras at affordable prices and so the brand was born."


DAMIHOW

"DAMIHOW is a functional and fashionable brand, dedicated to perfecting the fit and fabrics of active wear to ensure that you look good but also feel comfortable. The brand is on a mission to encourage everyone to feel great through fitness without having to compromise on style, with active wear that crosses effortlessly into your everyday lives."


Maya Scarlette

"Maya Scarlette is a London based brand specialising in Wirebras, swimwear and bespoke clothing. All pieces are hand made to order by me."

Rare Culture London


MADKollection

"We are an African inspired women's wear clothing brand based in the UK and we make custom and ready to wear outfits."


JoRae

"JoRae supplies swimming caps for dreadlocks, weaves, extensions or hair just too thick or long to fit in a standard sized swimming cap. We make swimming and water sport activities accessible to all adults and children, through swimming caps designed to fit bigger hair. We recognise that hair can be a barrier when it doesn’t fit into regular protective caps, and so our swimming caps are ideal for everyone.


Our slogan is ‘Taking Care Of Big Hair’; we believe that all hair should be celebrated, particularly when it comes to swimming, a lifelong skill that enhances health, wellbeing and self-confidence."


 

Makeup and Cosmetics


Pink Salad Ldn

"Pink Salad London is for lip gloss obsessives. All our cosmetics are vegan, gluten free, cruelty free, which is good for you and for the environment.


Pink Salad Ldn glosses are highly moisturising and non-sticky, with Vitamin E oil to repair and hydrate lips. With long lasting application clear glosses, and a selection of fruity, glitter, and pigmented lip glosses, there's a shade for everyone at Pink Salad LDN."


Made by J Cosmetics

"We sell handmade lip glosses and handmade matte liquid lipsticks, handmade beard oils, and cruelty free faux mink 3D and 5D lashes. We are looking to expand the products we sell and start producing other items such as highlighters, eyeshadows, and skincare. We ensure that we use the best certified vegan, cruelty free and organic ingredients and ensure all of our packaging is either reusable or recyclable"


2 4 1 Cosmetics

"Our beauty philosophy is deeply rooted in our earliest memories as political refugees from Eritrea. Beauty to us is grace and resilience. As twin sisters, we share everything including our love for makeup and in particular eyeliner! We will never forget our teenage years as cashiers in high school saving up enough money to buy our favorite beauty brands. Neither can we forget our mother getting ready for a midnight shift —always making sure she had her lipstick.


We believe makeup is a way to enhance a woman's beauty, not to conceal it. More importantly, makeup is transformative and is a vessel that can inspire deeper conversations.

Our mission is to create an effortless beauty brand that instills confidence, kindness and integrity."


Ess Cosmetics

"Ess Cosmetics is a black owned brand that believes every woman has a royal side to them. We sell glosses, lashes, accessories and also help people start their own business"


MoMineral


"We are into the manufacturing and sales of makeup, skincare, hair care & beard grooming. We also offer Makeup services for various event when not busy with manufacturing "


ASANTÈ LUXÈ GLOW

"Asantè Luxe Glow is a cosmetic product line that is hand made in small batches, vegan, organic and sourced internationally all whilst maintaining its ethical ethos injecting some well needed love and care into the planet. Sourced and made from and for women"


516polish


"516 Polish is the UK’s first indie nail polish brand championing “swatch diversity”. This means actively creating inspiration and more visual representation for women of colour through inclusive swatch imagery.


516 Polish offers a wide range of over 25 traditional nail polish colours, 10 one step gel polish colours, as well as nail care and tools. Being PETA certified, vegan, cruelty free and non-toxic, ensures 516 Polish customers can have beautifully manicured nails without the chemical nasties!"


Yanga Beauty

"YangaBeauty is the innovative power house behind extraordinary beauty product and services located in Lagos, Nigeria. Our vision is to be the leading global beauty brand of African decent to women without borders.


Our mission is be the preferred beauty brand by developing exceptional beauty products and services that is relevant, affordable and easily accessible to women without borders, suiting your every need and ensuring you get value for your money through effective customer experience and product education."


Planetalo Cosmetics

"Planetalocosmetics is an upcoming cosmetic brand that started in October 2019, which creates fresh handmade products with love, as a brand we believe in equality & diversity which links to why our logo is a pink planet, everyone can enjoy our products! At Planetalo we are against animal cruelty and every product we make is 100% vegan! Instead of testing on animals we swatch our products and get opinions before selling them as we want to provide the highest quality products with an affordable price to our customers!


Keep in mind, this brand is ran & created by a 15-year-old young entrepreneur. We are still growing but we appreciate all the support and positive messages towards what we stand for. We will continue to develop new ideas and formulas to expand our brand in the best way possible!"


Beautystack

"We’re an online marketplace connecting beauty professionals with clients. The app is in the App Store & you can book at beautystack.com"


RVK BEAUTY

"We are RVK beauty, a UK Based beauty/apparel business owned by 3 young black entrepreneurs with a big passion for beauty and all things fashion. We intend to make amazing products to please our customers and we appreciate every order and all the support. We offer a range of products to satisfy everyone and we have many more ideas to come."


NMA Cosmetics

"As a lip gloss lover, our founder was fed up with buying lip gloss after lip gloss, and after years of searching for a non-sticky, lightweight, moisturising, plumping gloss without all the extras (chemicals) to no avail. Enough was enough. She decided to create NMA.

At NMA, we understand how difficult it can be to find the right lip gloss and we believe that everyone deserves a lush, kissable pout. We also understand the importance of using healthy natural products that are not only beneficial for your lip care, but keep you looking cute at the same time.

NMA products are for the lip gloss lovers who want plump lips, who want lots of moisture and non-stick. For those who want to look after the health of their lips. NMA products are made with you in mind!"


 

Hair Care


The Afro Hair and Skin Co.

"The Afro Hair & Skin Co. is an award winning afro beauty and wellness business located along the beautiful English coast. We are dedicated to creating truly organic and natural products carefully crafted by hand, using fresh natural, and locally sourced ingredients that will feed your skin and hair with all the goodness necessary to blossom and be truly healthy."


The Happy Hair Co

"The Happy Hair Co. is a UK based, global haircare brand specialising in protective haircare and education for curly, afro and frizz-prone hair.


Run by entrepreneur Sacha Atherton and her 9 year old daughter Jaya along with their small team, The Happy Hair Co. have been using their platform to do important work against racism and hair discrimination since its inception in 2018.


The brand quickly gained a global customer base, largely attracted to their innovative anti-frizz quick dry towel and their luxury reversible satin bonnets. As popular, trusted curl specialists, demand soon resulted in The Happy Hair Co. expanding their services to include salon treatments and education, across the UK. "


Almocado

"Almocado is a family owned business; creating handcrafted artisan products designed with curls, kinks and coils in mind; formulated to nurture, nourish, pamper and protect. We understand that healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp, moisturised hair is less susceptible to breakage and with love and attention any head of hair can flourish.

To that end, we provide a range of hand-made gentle cleansers, deep conditioners, daily moisturisers and protective balms to help you love your way to longer, stronger, happier hair."


Goodman Factory

"Goodman: a community of men who embrace their identity.


A Goodman once said, don't believe what you've heard, our hair is not dead weight it is an extension of our being. We must take control of our power and nurture it, let it grow and manifest into greatness. This Goodman shared his knowledge on self-love starting with growing and maintaining his crown to his community. In his honour we continue his legacy by bringing his recipes to the next generation of extraordinary good men. Become the change you want to see by joining the experience."


O So Curly

"O So Curly was established in 2016 by natural hair and beauty blogger UK Curly Girl, after seeing a gap in the market she wanted to use her business savvy personality and entrepreneur desires to make an online store for the curly hair community where they can purchase stylish and cute essentials instead of the "old fashioned" satin accessories that are sold in local hair supply stores.


O So Curly's mission is to become a household name brand for curly girls around the world!"


Natural Health Harmony

"At Natural Health Harmony, we are proud to serve customers globally with the best natural, vegan, organic skincare and hair care products available. We understand the importance of completely natural products for our customers. We are proud to work with Fairtrade and the Soil Association to bring you chemical-free and vegan-friendly products which are free from toxins! You can rest assured that all our products have been tested for quality and are completely cruelty-free! Explore our range of oil and natural butters today to find your latest ‘can’t-live-without’ beauty products."


Afrocenchix

"At Afrocenchix, we believe the little things in life should be simple. We blend natural and organic ingredients with expertise to make hair care as simple as possible. Supporting Britain is important to us so we work with UK scientists and chemists to formulate high quality products, we manufacture in the UK and support British suppliers. Our products are never tested on animals, our raw materials are ethically sourced and we use environmentally friendly preservatives.


The Afrocenchix co-founders create every product themselves and use the products themselves, as do their families. Because of this you can trust that each bottle is filled with goodness and will do exactly what it says.


We believe taking care of the environment is just as important as taking care of your hair, so our packaging is 100% recyclable and we use organic ingredients wherever possible. We believe encouraging sustainability means farmers should be paid fairly and ingredients should be sourced ethically so we support Fairtrade."


 

Skin Care


NARLOA

"At NARLOA, we use the power of aromatherapy and botanicals to create natural, therapeutic skincare. All our products are based on the therapeutic qualities of plant/seed/earth derived ingredients. We thrive on using minimal ingredients and being honest and open about exactly what goes into each bottle. No fillers, no artificial fragrances, no parabens, no toxic chemicals. Just ingredients rooted in nature to give your skin, and wellbeing, a clean and holistic treatment.

​

We take pride in formulating products that are people-friendly and naturally effective so that you can look and feel your best at all times. Our products are 100% vegan and cruelty-free. We never test on animals."


Oshün

"Oshün (Yoruba name for the Goddess of beauty and fertility) is a natural skincare business consisting of natural butters and oils, suitable for all skin types. Our whipped butters help with eczema, dryness and acne prone skin. They provide a long lasting healthy glow and is extremely moisturising. We pride ourselves with purchasing Shea butter from direct sources in Ghana and providing 100% recyclable packaging right down to our labelling."


Brown Coconut Oil

"Nyanga’s is a skincare brand established in 2015 but this journey has started centuries ago when Nyanga’s grandmother was taught by her grandmother how to make the family secret golden oil. Today this has become our main product, Brown Coconut Oil (BCO). We create our Oil by using only preeminent mature coconuts and following a traditional artisan method that carries a long-lived family secret passed from generation to generation. "


 

Jewellery


Omolola jewellery

"Omolola is the brain child of 3 siblings. It is born of the desire to pay homage to West African artistry and cultures, creating connections with home and sharing our heritage with the diaspora."


FearxLess

"FearxLess are a jewellery brand who aim to promote authentic, customised and modern jewellery with meaning. Keeping our customers looking, and feeling good from the inside and out.


We also believe in encouraging faith, love, and greatness through words, and jewellery. So stay tuned to our blog posts to receive a touch of inspiration to your day, and for updates on our new latest products."


 

Home and Lifestyle


Detola and Geek


"My Detola & Geek African inspired handmade products are a quick & easy way to inject splashes of colour into your spaces. Quite functional & very trendy too. These vibrant designs always get the conversation started."


Chanel Monet Candles

" Chanel Monet Candle Co. Started off due to an obsession I have with candles. I love taking relaxing bubble baths and I love scented candles so why not create my own scented luxury candle line, so I can share this “luxury” with the world. Luxury is more than what meets the eye; it's about products that enhance our lives, and make you feel at peace.


We believe that the art of living well is about taking care of yourself. All of my candles are made to order and hand poured by me in my home studio. I love making candles and I hope you feel that every time you light a Chanel Monet Candle."


Bespoke Binny

"I created Bespoke Binny because I truly believe ‘home is where the heart is’ and having a home that is a reflection of you is essential to your well being. Living and working in London, as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, the importance of one’s home environment is reinforced, particularly when trying to cope with issues such as anxiety and low mood.


Being of Ghanaian descent, I have been surrounded by vibrant colours and prints, which I found to be uplifting, as a child. With this in mind, I wanted to create something special by utilising my love of sewing with the most vibrant African prints I could find."


Melitarose Candles

"We all know that it’s the simple things in life that make us happy - a good story, a relaxing candle, or a treat in the form of flowers, champagne, or the smell of fresh linen. Melitarose embodies all of these elements through a collection of beautiful hand-poured candles made with natural soy wax & created with passion, care and attention.


Our candles are available in beautiful scents offering a range that can step into any environment and make it relaxing within moments. Instantly transforming the mood of any room, whether for luxury or relaxation, our candles are as beautiful as the story."


Mayowa Samuel

"We’re a Nigerian brand and we make natural fragrances for the home, office etc. We make them by hand and we’re inspired by culture, nature and clean living. Soon, we’ll be a household name and that’s where the real work starts. We will educate on how to live simply, but with impact and in the long run, hopefully we can improve our lives in the home to make people feel great"


 

Health and Fitness


S Core Fitness

"At S Core Fitness our motto is "Health is Wealth" but we also recognise there is no shortcut or quick fix to achieving your desired body.


However, our central product the S Core Sweat Belt is a unique belt which creates excessive sweating in the abdominal area. Featuring Nano Silver Insulation with QuickSweat technology which accelerates thermogenic activity, further increasing blood flow to the abdominal area."


 

Games and Toys


Nia Ballerina

"Nia Ballerina is a UK based company and we have designed musical jewellery boxes with black ballerinas. Nia Ballerina is the inspiration of my own daughter, and her absolute love for ballet from the age of before she was even 3 years. As any mother, I wanted to support my daughter in her passion and began to take an interest in the ballet industry. It became obvious that ballerinas from diverse backgrounds were and still are hugely underrepresented within the industry. I felt it was vitally important that my daughter saw images of herself as a ballerina, and one way to achieve this for children is by the toys they play with and books they read.


My mother had brought my daughter a jewellery box with a ballerina figurine, however I did not understand why the ballerina did not resemble my daughter! I wanted my daughter to have a music box with a ballerina that looked like her, and had presumed music boxes with black ballerinas were readily available. I searched for about 18 months both in the UK and in different countries around the world but was unable to find any musical jewellery boxes containing black ballerina figurines. I finally made the decision in the autumn of 2015 that I would begin the process of creating my own music box with a black ballerina. The process of producing the music boxes has taken time, has not been easy and has meant learning a lot of new things and skills but has been worth it."


Nicola Lespeare

"I'm Nicola, founder and illustrator of a distinctive greeting card brand that draws inspiration from fabulous afros and the richness of deep skin tones. My eponymous brand was born out of a vision to transform the lack of visible representation and availability of Black character cards within the greeting cards industry. I’m dedicated to making this vision a reality by using my love of illustration to create imaginative cards that celebrate and elevate black women, men and children.

At the heart of my brand is a purpose and commitment to help you celebrate family, friendships, birthdays and life's magic experiences with beautifully designed cards that create connections, stir emotions and evoke resonation."


Colourshot Cards

"Colourshot started as a way to indulge my love of making clothes and buying fabric. By running a business, I could enjoy guilt free fabric shopping, and let loose on my creative side. Along the way, I added a jewellery business where I used purchased beads to design jewellery.


But the real breakthrough came when I decided to make cards using African fabric. Having started out making cards, I then added jewellery, this time completely handmade, using fabric and wood. Then mugs and coasters, which were and still are a major hit. Ideas kept on flowing and, over the past 4 years, Colourshot in its current form has steadily developed into a lovely little card and gift shop, providing contemporary and useful gifts for all those who love a touch of African fabric."


KitsCH Noir

"Kitsch Noir is a greeting card brand on a mission: to represent the love, joy and humour within the black British experience. The founder, Cherelle, designs each card with the intention to uplift and celebrate the beauty of a more inclusive, and diverse society. Since it’s conception in 2017, KitsCH Noir has grown into a multi award-winning brand, stocked nationwide in some of the UK’s leading stationery destinations."


Avila Diana

"I created my greeting card business in 2018 with the hopes of overcoming stereotypes and changing the world's perceptions on underrepresented communities. All of the designs are created by me and depict marginalised groups including those with disabilities, identifying as LGBT+, ethnic minorities or problems with mental health. As a law student, I am a strong advocate for human rights and representation and firmly believe that positive change can only be brought about through actions and commitment. Currently, I mainly work alone with help from my silbings who assit me with market stalls and finances when they are available. My ultimate goal is to spread awareness, create dialogue and encourage all businesses to reassess their diversity ethos. Additionally, I hope to create positive change through my work and to one day employ a team of artists from these marginalised groups to create artwork which shares their stories on this platform."


 

Food and drink


BERRY and Brie

"BERRY and Brie was born from a natural love of creativity, cooking and the arts. It is an expression of a long standing dream to push her creative outlet in the colourful culinary events world. The eldest daughter from a family of five, Mako has always been one to experiment in the kitchen from a tender age and later host and entertain.

This creative dream came into fruition during her second Maternity Leave, after voluntarily catering for a friends Baby Shower. Her passion for perfection, eye for detail, dedication and enthusiasm is a force to be reckoned with, that has nourished this venture to blossom."


Jamaica Patty Co.

"Jamaica Patty Co. was founded in 2013 with the aim of bringing high-quality Jamaican food to the UK. Frustrated by her inability to find the flavours and aromas of straight from the oven patties in London, Jamaican-born entrepreneur Theresa Roberts decided to launch Jamaica Patty Co. in order to give UK consumers the opportunity to enjoy the fresh flavour of Jamaica.


To ensure authenticity all recipes have been developed by renowned Jamaican chef Collin Brown and Theresa; Collin insists that every single patty is freshly baked in store just like they are in Jamaica."

The Gym Kitchen

"We supply Macro friendly ready meals that are high in protein, contain 2 of your five a day and are sold at a price that doesn’t break the bank"


Chika's Foods

"We are a London based snack company fronted by Chika Russell who originates from Nigeria. Our snacks are full of natural goodness and an African vibe - you'll feel the rhythm in every bite!

We work with Mama Ife and her local ladies and use responsible growers in sourcing our produce. We also donate a portion of every purchase to our Snack4Change initiative with WorldVision to empower young girls in Africa. We aim to give 38,000 girls access to education by 2024."


Jamaica Valley

"Jamaica Valley, pride ourselves on producing, the most authentic blends of Jamaican Herbs and Spices currently on the market.


Made in Jamaica by Jamaicans. You now, never have to wait to visit Jamaica, to experience the great taste of Jamaica. Jamaica Valley brings the taste of Jamaica directly to you."

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2 Comments

Mediphis
Mediphis
Jun 10, 2020

Thank you Sarah. Same, When lockdown is over and I can start buying things again I’m definitely using the clothing, hair and cosmetic brands 👀

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Sarah Fergusson
Sarah Fergusson
Jun 10, 2020

Nice article! I will definitely be referring to this when I’m buying things!

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