5 Black-Owned Brands to Support this Juneteenth
Juneteenth is this weekend and to celebrate, I wanted to share some of the Black-owned brands I’ve purchased from and loved this past year. With little to no change happening since the slew of performative black squares, it’s crucial that we continue to pour into the community and continue buying Black. These 5 brands are just a few of my current favorites, but for a more comprehensive list of Black-owned fashion brands, be sure to check out the Black Fashion Directory (it’s regularly updated so if you have any faves you want added, please drop them in the comments!)
If you spend any time on IG, you’ve more than likely scrolled past a post featuring swimwear from Matte Collection. Swimsuits are one of the items I hate splurging on, so I love that this brand delivers affordability AND quality. They have the perfect mix of bikinis that show some skin and one pieces that are modest without being boring. I got the the Mica one piece and it’s the first one piece in forever that I’m excited about wearing.
When shopping for gold-plated jewelry, my biggest struggle is always finding a gold color that isn’t too saturated and won’t stand out when paired with my fine jewelry pieces. Needless to say, Ben Oni nailed it! These Wanda huggies were my first introduction to the brand and after almost a year of wear, they’re still in mint condition. Next up on my list are the ‘Brooke’ safety pin anklet and ‘Devon’ knot ring.
Daily Paper is definitely one of the streetwear brands I’m most excited about right now. While they’re most known for their incredible sweatsuits, their designs extend way beyond that. Their newest collection features fresh takes on trending Y2K styles and fun summer essentials, like bucket hats and waist bags. The Etape skirt was my first purchase from the brand (we love a tennis skirt moment for summer!) and with their summer sale starting next week (6/24), I’m sure I’ll be adding a few more pieces to my closet.
In my effort to allocate more of my coins to Black-owned businesses, one of my favorite ways to do so is through gifts. So, while these Confetti Boutique lamb slippers are still on my wishlist, I got them for my sister who lives for a bougie moment and she loved them! It’s giving luxury, quality and comfort. Confetti is the perfect shop for a treat yourself moment, offering everything from satin pajamas and fur slippers to the schmoney robe Beyoncé wore in Black is King.
As I dipped back into the thrifting scene last year, Finds By Drew was one of the first spots I gravitated to. New finds are released on almost a weekly basis, the pricing is reasonable, and the jerseys and graphic tees are always excellent. When shopping for graphic tees, I suggest opting for something that feels personal (i.e. a tee repping your hometown sports team, a vintage concert tee from a band you love, etc.) I’m from Orlando but don’t believe in any of our sports teams so I stick to Mickey Mouse themed picks and this tee makes me so happy every time I throw it on!