In an era of social distancing and 2-day shipping, it takes a real effort to start shopping small. The urge to just choose the easiest, quickest, and cheapest option for everything is very hard to resist. But I know that I’m not the only one who has purchased plenty of dirt-cheap Amazon alternatives only for it to be low-quality and almost immediately go in the trash. Instead of buying from companies with questionable ethics and production methods (not to mention massive carbon footprints), I’m trying to commit to shopping small.
Specifically, this Black History Month, I’m doing my best to #BuyBlack. It can be hard to know where to start, so Operation Amigos is here to help! We’ve compiled a list of Black-owned businesses with online storefronts. Whoever you are, whatever your financial circumstance, shopping small from Black-owned companies can be possible, and if you’re just starting this February, know that shopping Black isn’t a Black History Month exclusive—we can start now, and #BuyBlack all year round.
Stella & Haas was born in October of 2019 and is a Black, female-owned jewelry company. Founder Jenni has always had a love for style and created her own company as a place of inclusion, representation, and equality for everyone. Stella & Haas has gorgeous jewelry and accessories that are not only high-quality but affordable, too. “Jewelry is something that fits everyone, no matter the stage of life.”
Sol Cacao is a Bronx-based chocolate company founded by three brothers: Dominic, Nicholas, and Daniel Maloney. The Maloney brothers grew up in Trinidad and Tobago, surrounded by natural cacao. When they came to the United States, it was clear that the quality of cacao and chocolate that they were used to was not widely available. So, they made it themselves! Sol Cacao practices ethical, sustainable farming and uses high-quality, organic ingredients.
For people of color who wear makeup, it’s no secret that finding the right shades for your skin can be a challenge. Mented Cosmetics founder KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson are two Black women who got tired of searching for their shades and made their own. While they started just selling lipsticks, the brand has expanded to sell a full range of cruelty-free makeup in every shade under the sun.
Toni Lipsey founded TL Yarn Crafts in 2013 out of a desire to share her craft with a community online. Toni creates crochet patterns and projects for fiber artists of all skill levels. From pillows to headbands to tote bags, TL Yarn Crafts has an affordable crochet pattern for just about any project you can imagine, all coming in at $10 or less. TL Yarn Crafts also sells pattern books, custom mugs and shirts, and handcrafted crochet works.
The Young Family founded MahoganyBooks in 2007 to encourage people to read and write about Black experiences and culture. For 10 years, MagoganyBooks was solely online, working to make Black literature accessible to anyone and everyone who was interested. In 2017, the Youngs opened their first physical store in Washington, DC, and continue to work online and in-person to share Black stories, create community outreach programs, host book clubs and seminars, and much, much more.
The sixes founder, Franci, is a former professional volleyball player and was 5’10” by the time she hit fourth grade, so suffice it to say—she’s tall. Franci knows the struggle of tall women everywhere and the difficulty of finding affordable, quality clothing that fits the taller-than-average frame. So in seeing this underserved market, she obtained a degree in fashion design and an MBA from Harvard, then founded The Sixes. In her own words, “Where other brands fall short, I’ve got you covered!”
Founder Ulrich “Ubi” Simpson had a newborn daughter, an exhausted wife, and a duty to handle breakfast for the family when Mi Cocina was created. Instead of ugly, cheap, single-use kitchen accessories, Ubi decided to create kitchen products out of America’s favorite fabric: denim. From aprons to napkins to oven mitts, Mi Cocina’s products are versatile, durable, and get softer with every wash.
Aurora James has an extensive background in fashion, music, art, and journalism, and a passion for humanity in art and design. Brother Vellies was founded on a mission to uphold traditional African design practices and create jobs for artisans. The brand sells sustainably made shoes and accessories handmade across the globe and focuses on treating workers ethically and paying them fairly for their work.
PJ Cobbs is a New York-based artist whose work is all about her city and the beauty of every New York street. Cobbs paints on silks and other fabrics and sells art in a unique and gorgeous style. Her store features 110 distinct works of art and has hundreds of rave reviews, so Cobbs’s store just might be the place to find your home’s next pop of color.
Alaffia isn’t a company that’s goal is to make a huge profit. Instead, the company measures its success through Empowerment Projects, including education projects, maternal health projects, and many more. Olowo-n’djo Tchala and Prairie Rose Hyde met in 1996 in Togo, West Africa, and founded Alaffia in 2003. Since then, Alaffia has been selling natural, sustainable beauty products and using its revenue to give back to Togolese communities.
Princeza Boutique’s founder was tired of the stigmas that many Black women face in fashion—that they can’t be sweet, romantic, or feminine. Enter Princeza Boutique, a shop that specializes in dresses, tops, and accessories for anyone wanting to feel beautiful in what they wear. After her shop’s page went viral on TikTok, people are realizing how awesome Princeza Boutique is, and we are too!
Supporting Black business owners doesn’t have to stay online, either. There are Black-owned restaurants, stores, and companies in every community, and you might be able to #BuyBlack without even leaving your city limits. There are resources available online, like Official Black Wall Street, that can point you in the right direction to support the Black business owners right next door to you.
Starting this Black History Month (and continuing after) I’m working to change my habits and actively support Black business owners. Consider doing the same, and you just might find something special you didn’t know about before!