For decades, Black culture has influenced and helped shape the fashion industry into what it is today, despite being overlooked and undervalued. In recent years, the fashion industry, retailers and communities have made it a mission to focus on diversity and inclusion by shedding light on Black designers to celebrate, champion and support their coveted work.
While the fashion industry is taking steps in the right direction, there’s much work that still needs to be done. As shoppers, you can give a helping hand by showing your support and solidarity to Black-owned brands and doing something you love most — shopping. Because everyone loves some retail therapy, right?
Plus, shopping directly with these brands not only supports Black communities but allows you to diversify your style. These are some of our favorite Black-owned fashion brands led by both men and women you should know about if you don’t already:
1. Brother Vellies
Brother Vellies is a luxury accessories brand that creates poised and elegant one-of-a-kind footwear, bags and other small leather goods.
It was founded in 2013 and led creatively by 15 Percent Pledge founder Aurora James.
The brand highlights and celebrates African design practices and artisanally made products.
2. Daily Paper Clothing
Daily Paper is a blog-turned-fashion brand founded by three friends from Amsterdam in 2012.
The brand designs men’s and women’s collections inspired by African heritage and contemporary designs rooted in tribal culture.
Daily Paper releases two collections a year ranging from accessories, ready-to-wear styles and capsule pieces.
3. Farai London
Farai London has only been around for a few years, but it’s making a lasting impact on the fashion industry, thanks to its viral Gaia minidress.
London-based designer Mary-Ann Msengi started the brand in the middle of the pandemic and gained buzz from celebs like Kylie Jenner, Lori Harvey and Jordyn Woods who’ve worn dresses from the brand.
4. Fanm Mom
Launched in 2013, Fanm Mon, which means mountain woman, is an ode to founder Sophia Demirtas’ Haitian heritage.
Each piece is consciously crafted and incorporates bold embroidery and vibrant colors into its collections.
The female-founded brand is based in the U.S. and Turkey.
5. Fear of God
Fear of God is an American luxe fashion label led by founder and designer Jerry Lorenzo.
A brand built in the emerging days of streetwear is now in its seventh collection, taking influences from streetwear and modern workwear.
Lorenzo’s collections offer tailored clothing with a contemporary twist that can be worn on the streets of LA or in the office.
6. Hanifa
Founded by Anifa Mvuemba in 2011, Hanifa’s luxe women’s fashion celebrates beautiful, stylish and inclusive clothing for women of all sizes.
Whether you’re looking for pieces to flaunt on vacation or out to dinner, Hanifa has you covered with its bright, captivating designs.
The female-owned brand has been featured in Vogue, Elle, Bazaar, Essence, InStyle and other prominent fashion publications.
7. House of Aama
A brand started by mother-daughter duo Rebecca Henry and Akua Shabaka in 2015 to highlight black experiences into well-crafted garments that will forever remain in style for both women and men.
House of Aama fashion pieces are manufactured solely in Los Angeles.
8. Martine Rose
British-Jamaican designer Martine Rose started her eponymous menswear label in 2007.
What once began as an edited shirt collection is now an internationally renowned fashion brand.
Since becoming a household name, we’ve seen re-imagined menswear clothing with funky silhouettes and odd textures to bring a new age of masculinity to fashion.
9. Savage X Fenty
Savage X Fenty is the fabulous Rihanna’s sexy and affordable lingerie line, featuring inclusive sizes for women and men.
SavageX offers subscription-based options for customers to receive select boxes every month and exclusive member discounts on merch that’s “made for everyBODY.”
10. Telfar
Telfar is a unisex fashion line started in 2005 by Liberian-American fashion designer Telfar Clemons.
The brand is known for its highly sought-out shopping bags that always sell out within minutes. The fashion label also consists of ready-to-wear pieces, footwear and jewelry.
11. Theophilio
Brooklyn-based clothing brand Theophilio was founded by designer Edvin Thompson in 2016 “to speak to and celebrate people who look like himself.”
The brand celebrates and showcases Thompson’s Jamaican roots through its designs, vibrant colors and signature palettes of reds, yellows, greens and blacks, not to mention Theophilio apparel is sustainably made using upcycled fabrics.
12. Tier
NYC-based brand Tier was founded in 2014 by co-founders Nigeria Ealey, Esaïe Jean Simon and Victor James to shift their ever-changing creativity through the lens of fashion.
The brand offers stylish men’s and women’s designs including loungewear, sweatsuits, dresses, outerwear and accessories.
The post 12 Black-Owned Fashion Brands That Are Too Fabulous for Words appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
