Cover image: Aliya Wanek
It’s no secret that fashion has a race problem — we’re not just talking about the lack of representation in photography and marketing campaigns (though that’s a problem too) — but the power structures behind the fashion industry. As the initiative Pull Up for Change has illustrated so well, there is a lack of Black representation (there is a lack of BIPOC representation in general, too, but the Black representation is especially lacking) behind the scenes of the majority of companies in the U.S. and around the world, including most fashion brands.
The ethical and sustainable fashion world is no exception to this unfortunate reality, either.
Aurora James, founder and creative director of Brother Vellies, is heading the initiative 15 Percent Pledge to call on major retailers (like Target and Sephora) to purchase at least 15% of their products from Black-owned businesses. Blacks make up 15% of the U.S. population, and so 15 Percent Pledge is advocating that Black businesses should make up 15% of these companies’ shelf space.
While Conscious Life & Style is not a major retailer, this 15% pledge got me thinking: could my Ethical Brand List and other ethical fashion shopping guides include at least 15% Black-owned ethical and sustainable fashion brands? And so, the research began. Although brands founded and owned by a person of color were a consideration when coming across brands for previous shopping guides on this platform, I must admit that I have not done a good job at all at actively seeking out Black-owned or POC-owned brands. It’s time to commit to change on this front.
So, this list of Black-owned ethical and sustainable clothing, footwear, accessories, homewares, and beauty brands is not the end of Conscious Life & Style’s commitment to showcasing Black-owned brands. This list will continue to grow (if you’re a Black-owned conscious brand or know of one, please contact us!) and will serve as a resource for expanding existing shopping guides to include more Black-owned brands.
And, hopefully, this list can serve as a resource for others to support Black-owned brands as well: for consumers to shop more Black-owned brands, for bloggers and writers to feature more Black-owned brands, and for owners of retail shops/marketplaces to curate more Black-owned brands.
P.S. Two other resources for finding Black-owned conscious brands are MelaninASS and Buy from BIPOC!
Note that the guide contains partners and affiliates. As always, we only feature brands that meet strict criteria for sustainability we love, that we think you’ll love too!
Clothing and Undergarments
A.Au – pieces thoughtfully handcrafted by skilled ateliers in Nigeria; 10% of sales go towards education for Abua youths
Aff & Jam – named after the roots of this brand’s founders, Africa and Jamaica, Aff & Jam is slow fashion brand using vintage and recycled materials
Aliya Wanek – loose-fit sustainable clothing made by founder Aliya Wanek or local makers in the Bay Area from hemp and organic cotton
Arrow + Phoenix – sustainable swimwear made from ECONYL® or a fabric made from recycled plastic bottles — this brand gifted me a swimsuit and I can vouch for how AMAZING the quality is of their products!
BLACK BORDERS – made-to-order clothing brand that uplifts those who’ve been historically excluded through many unisex and customizable designs and a sliding scale payment system.
BOLD Swim – another eco-minded swim brand using Amni Soul Eco®, a biodegradable yarn that is Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Class 1 certified
Buki Akomolafe as a designer with German/Nigerian heritage, Buki Akomolafe’s apparel combines European tailoring with the crafts and techniques of West Africa
CBAAF – 100% recycled cotton clothing ethically made in Los Angeles
CHAN + KRYS – includes some garments made from eco-friendly fabrics such as hemp, Tencel, linen, and organic cotton
Chelsea Bravo – artistic, contemporary men’s and women’s clothing made with eco materials like hemp and organic cotton
Chi qc – totally one-of-a-kind hoodies, sweatshirts, and shorts made from organic cotton and repurposed textiles
Cold Laundry – gender-neutral minimalistic clothing made from natural sustainable fabrics like organic cotton and linen
Dynasty George – zero waste modest clothing brand with vintage-inspired garments ethically-made in Brooklyn
Gracemade – modest clothing producing consciously in LA; some deadstock materials
Grant Blvd – garments and statement tees made from reclaimed fabrics
Hidden Opulence – small-batch alterations, mending, and vintage repairs
Hope for Flowers – slow fashion brand paying living wages and using eco fibers like organic linen, organic cotton, and Tencel
Hotmamas – handmade to order clothing crafted with all-natural fibers, including organic cotton and peace silk
Huri Movement – sustainable Afrocentric fashion brand with colorful designs made with conscious materials, like upcycled fabrics
JADE Swim – swimwear made in LA using ECONYL®
J.Cavallo – made to order couture crafted with natural and eco materials like organic cotton, wool, silk (peace silk whenever possible), and repurposed/recycled materials
j.jackman – workwear ethically made in Germany from natural materials
lemlem – vacation-ready clothing made by traditional weavers in Ethiopia and across Africa (founder and supermodel, Liya Kebede was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2020!)
Local European – loungewear made in LA from deadstock fabrics
Madia & Matilda – eco British fashion label with clothing made from upcycled and sustainable fabrics
Mía – resort wear crafted by artisans in Nigeria from mindful natural fibers like linen
msichana – beautifully bold clothing made by women artisans earning fair wages
Nia Thomas – garments handmade fairly in New York City from recycled and reclaimed materials, such as deadstock fabrics
Nubian Skin – organic cotton bras and underwear in nude shades designed for WOC
Oak & Acorn – denim made in a circular production process from recycled fibers and wood pulp
Pure Hope Clothing – upcycled clothing handmade in India by women earning fair wages
R E M U S E – Ethical Clothing Australia-accredited fashion label using plant-based and low-impact dyes and earth-minded fibers including linen and GOTS-certified organic cotton
SACKO – small batch garments hand-dyed with plant-based dyes
SELFISH Swimwear – swimwear made from ECONYL® regenerated nylon
Sindiso Khumalo – sustainable textile designer making colorful garments in Cape Town, South Africa
Studio One Eighty Nine – African-inspired clothing made by African artisans using traditional techniques and plant-based dyes
Threaded Tribes – Ghanaian clothing & collectibles brand, curating sustainably sourced merchandise, ethically handmade by local artisans & designers.
Two Days Off – sustainable garments made from deadstock natural fabrics in Los Angeles (packages ship plastic-free too!)
Tabii Just – clothing ethically made in the US using zero waste production
Tiny Closet Shop – minimalist made-to-order capsule clothing crafted from deadstock fabric
We Are Kin – UK-based slow fashion label with timeless, elegant clothing
Marketplaces
beRESONANT – inclusive marketplace with bold and colorful clothing that’s all ethically and sustainably made-to-order
EcoVibe – consciously curated apparel and home goods made by local designers, women, minority and family-owned businesses, and small makers and manufacturers
Folklore – luxury designer fashion store with brands from Africa and the dispora
GALERIE L.A. – sustainable Los Angeles-based marketplace with eco-friendly, ethical, and artisan-made clothing, shoes, accessories, gifts, and beauty
GOODEE – online curated marketplace with ethically-made and transparently sourced goods
Gypsy Freedom – online marketplace with ethical and sustainable fashion
Sancho’s – shop curating conscious clothing, home, jewelry, and lifestyle products
The Narrativ – marketplace of ethically-sourced artisan brands
Home Goods
Aya Paper – modern, earthy stationery made from recycled chlorine-free paper
Bolé Road Textiles – home goods (pillows, towels, rugs, curtains, wall hangings, and table linens) handwoven in weaving collectives and small woman-owned businesses in Ethiopia
54kibo – contemporary African artisan-made home goods including pillows, lighting, baskets, furniture, and more
Born Indigo – food-grade coconut wax candles
Clare – non-toxic, GREENGUARD Gold Certified, VOC-free paint
Elan Byrd – Miami-based Black artist with wall hangings made from linen and raffia and collages made from repurposed vintage grasscloth
GOLDEN Editions – contemporary lighting fixtures inspired by Ghanian traditional crafts
La Basketry – baskets handwoven by women in Senegal
Linoto – linen and organic linen bedding, towels, and table linens made in their workshop in New York
Lolly Lolly Ceramics – unique, modern ceramics made by Lalese Stamps (online shop coming soon!)
Our Lovely Goods – handmade home goods by artisans in Nigeria and vegan natural body care products
Pottery by Osa – small-batch terracotta pottery all made by founder Osa Atoe in Louisiana
PUR Home – plant-based biodegradable household and skincare products rated 1 or 2 by the Environmental Working Group (1 is best and 10 is worst on EWG)
Rochelle Porter – boldy printed, vibrantly colored organic cotton pillows
Tensira – celebrating traditional craftsmanship, Tensira partners with West African artisans who create home goods using heritage techniques and crafts
Naked Clay Ceramics – UK-based brand with slow-made ceramics
The Ninevites – home textiles handwoven by artisans from natural materials using heritage techniques
Utility Objects – ceramics made-to-order in Atlanta, Georgia
Vida Botanicals – slow made small-batch plant-dyed home goods and personal care items
Shoes
Brother Vellies – timeless, luxury artisan-made shoes
ENZI– quality leather footwear ethically made by artisans in Ethiopia
Jo-anne Vernay – luxury vegan shoes made from Piñatex
Sole Rebels – handcrafted footwear made by artisans in Ethiopia from recycled car tire-soles, other recycled materials, and cotton
ZOU XOU – slow-made handcrafted by skilled artisans in Buenos Aires, Argentina using techniques and knowledge passed down through the generations
Bags and Accessories
A A K S – bold bags handcrafted by women artisan weavers in Ghana
Ashya – well-crafted leather goods made in New York
FATRA – handbags made from recycled plastic bottles and other reclaimed materials
Kind Socks – GOTS organic cotton socks in vibrant patterns and colors
Kintu New York – 100% vegetable-tanned leather bags with leather bags made by Italy leather makers, hardware made by Kenyan artisans and brocade made by weavers in India
Tree Fairfax – quality handmade leather bags and belts
UnoEth – artisan handcrafted bags made from Ethiopian leather
Vavvoune – leather bags mindfully made by craftspeople in NYC’s garment district
Vintage
Aarica Nichole – vintage and upcycled goods
Almu – handpicked preloved clothing and homewares
Atijo – curated vintage clothing and home decor
BMUSE – handpicked vintage fashion (stunning blouses!)
Bum-Cake Vintage – elegant vintage lingerie
Colorful Nomad – vibrant, boldly patterned vintage clothing and accessories
Day Fifty One Vintage – dresses, sweaters and jackets, suits, blouses, bottoms, and accessories
Elia Vintage – curated minimalist clothing
FYRE – with a tagline of “street + chic”, FYRE blends masculine and feminine pieces with ease in their curated vintage collection
Jane Dottie – vintage finds curated by Tatyana Zhane
Label by Three – vintage clothing and homewares (also has consciously produced clothing from deadstock fabrics)
Little Panda Bear Finds – lightly worn and thrifted Cali-inspired clothing
Lime Vintage – pieces from 1995 – 2000
MAW SUPPLY – unique reclaimed vintage apparel
NAKIMULI – bold, vibrant patterned finds
Neutral Ground – curated, well-made pre-loved clothing
Nova Vintage – colorful handpicked vintage pieces
Retro Rhapsody – Etsy shop with romantic and feminine pieces
Revival London – clothing reconstructed from reclaimed textiles and garments
Sami Miro Vintage – reconstructed vintage clothing made with recycled and vintage fabrics
Thrilling – a marketplace with vintage stores around the U.S.; they also have a Black-owned collection to shop from Black-owned vintage stores
Vintage and Soul – handpicked vintage (Instagram shop)
Jewelry
Adele Dejak – contemporary jewelry and bags made in East Africa; some eco materials used, like upcycled brass
Arlokea – ethically-made jewelry crafted in Vietnam from recycled bullhorn and in Ecuador from Tagua seeds
Aziza Handcrafted – made-to-order jewelry designed by founder and artist Aziza Nicole
CanDidArt – handcrafted jewelry and lifestyle brand incprorating some recycled materials, and ethically-sourced naturally-dyed textiles
Kaleidoscope Beauty – unique colorful jewelry handcrafted by artisans in Kenya who receive training and sustainable employment opportunities
Lingua Nigra – timeless sculptural jewelry made by artist and founder by Alicia Goodwin
Omi Woods – ethically sourced and conflict-free metal jewelry
Serendipitous Project – sells handmade to order jewelry and up-cycled accessories and vintage pieces
Valerie Madison – fine jewelry handcrafted in Seattle using quality recycled metals
Beauty and Personal Care
Alaffia – For Life-certified social enterprise making body, face, and hair products, many of which are Fair for Life-certified by ECOCERT
Base Butter – natural aloe vera-based face gel
Bee Love – natural body care products made with honey (lotions, lip balms, etc.); the brand also has raw natural honey, which I’ve tried and loved!
blade + bloom – completely natural small-batch aromatherapy, candles, body care, and homewares
BLK + GRN – marketplace of all-natural beauty from Black-owned brands
Breed Love Beauty Co. – natural skin and hair products
Hanahana Beauty – clean beauty brand using ethically-sourced ingredients
Jai Eden – natural beauty brand on a mission to support women of color with their skincare regimen by providing high-quality clean beauty products made with their signature ingredient Tamanu Oil
KLUR – vegan and 100% cruelty-free beauty products using plant-based ingredients (some products are 100% all-natural) and never any fillers, fragrances, or artificial dyes
La Botica – apothecary and candles handmade with small batches; La Botica sources only sustainably and naturally dead Palo Santo
Pear Nova – cruelty-free 5-free nail polish designed in Chicago and made in the US
Plant Apothecary – certified organic skincare
PiperWai – natural aluminum-free charcoal deodorant
REDOUX – all-vegan, botanical skincare products
The Honey Pot Co. – plant-based feminine care
Zero Waste and Eco Shops
Oui the People – quality safety razors for sensitive skin
Ruby Love – zero waste period underwear, swimwear, and sleepwear
Zero Grocery – grocery delivery service and membership program with reusable/returnable packaging
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