Starting a business is difficult, especially in a saturated market like the fashion industry. Black people are less likely to have access to capital to fund their businesses, so it is important to support these entrepreneurs who build brands and make high-quality items. Here are 8 Black-owned accessories brands that you should buy from right now.
Telfar
If you want to grab a Telfar bag you’re going to have to be quick; these bags sell out in 10 minutes or less. Telfar Clemens is a Liberian-American fashion designer, DJ, and founder of Telfar, a genderless fashion label based in Bushwick, Brooklyn. These bags are both high-quality and affordable. The coveted Telfar shopping bag made Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2020 list, and celebs such as Dua Lipa, Solange Knowles, and congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are all fans of the bag.
Christianah Jones
British Nigerian designer Christianah Jones is making micro-shades a hit trend again with celebrities like Beyoncé, Lizzo, Lady Gaga, and Billie Eilish wearing her shades. Her business started as a Depop account selling vintage clothing and sourcing rare, one-of-a-kind sunglasses from her travels around the world. Now her business is global, and has earned Jones a spot on Forbes 30 Under 30 list. “I wanted to create something that would make a statement,” said Jones in an interview with British Vogue.
Jam & Rico
Lisette Scott launched her jewelry brand, Jam & Rico, in 2016, and is inspired by her Jamaican and Puerto Rican roots as well as the rest of the Caribbean. “The most prominent inspirations were food and music in my home,” says Scott on her website. “I created Jam + Rico (Jamaica and Puerto Rico) to dive deeper into my love of designing and the Caribbean.” Each collection is named after a different island and offers eclectic statement pieces.
Ashya
Ashya is a Black women-owned brand that makes unique travel accessories. Ashley Cimone and Moya Annece, both New York based designers, created this unisex line because of their love of travel and built their brand around minimalist, gender-neutral, leather accessories. “We’d wear fanny packs everywhere simply for the convenience,” Cimone said in an interview with Vogue. “We really wished they were more sophisticated, better suited for our styles, and able to transition from one season to the next.”
Lafalaise Dion
Ivorian jewelry designer Lafalaise Dion’s work was featured in the music video for Beyoncé’s “Spirit. As the self-proclaimed “Queen of Cowries,” her work in the industry inspired and motivated her interest and awareness of the fashion industry, and led to her becoming the Content Manager at ELLE Magazine Côte d’Ivoire. “Every single one of my creations is a message sent to my people. I ask my fellow Africans to accept, to carry their inheritance, to stop demonizing their heritage, or to be afraid of all of that,” said Dion in an interview. “Those are African ancestral practices and they should embrace their story.”
Talley & Twine
Talley & Twine, based out of Virginia, delivers a variety of men’s and women’s watches. Randy Williams, the owner, launched a crowdfunding campaign in 2014 with the goal of raising $24,000 in 30 days, to fund the initial shipment of watches. He successfully raised $29,000, $5,000 more than the original goal. “Our watches stand out thanks to their unique design and elements that most existing companies don’t have,” he said in an interview with VogueATL.
Brother Vellies
Founded by Canadian creative director, activist, and fashion designer Aurora James in 2013, Brother Vellies is an accessories brand of handcrafted shoes and handbags from South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Morocco. The goal of this brand is to keep traditional African design practices and techniques alive, while also creating and sustaining artisanal jobs.
Aṣọ Dára
Aṣọ Dára originates from the Yoruba language and translates roughly to “good cloth”. The brand was started by a group of siblings that wanted to create a lifestyle brand that reflected the genius and diversity of Pan-Africanism. Aṣọ Dára is known for custom headwraps, chokers, headbands, and scrunchies.
Source
Boitumelo Masihleho is a South African digital content creator. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Rhodes University in Journalism and Media Studies and Politics and International Studies.
She’s an experienced multimedia journalist who is committed to writing balanced, informative and interesting stories on a number of topics. Boitumelo has her own YouTube channel where she shares her love for affordable beauty and lifestyle content.
