2021 is the second year living in a global pandemic and it’s been a tough year for many small businesses, especially for minority-owned businesses. So why not support Black-owned businesses while shopping for your loved ones this holiday season? We’ve assembled a few dozen excellent gift ideas from Black-owned brands and stores that your nearest and dearest will love so much, you won’t mind a shipping fee.
Estelle Colored Glass
Founded by lawyer turned serial entrepreneur, Stephanie Summerson Hall, Estelle Colored Glass is a luxury brand of hand-blown and specialty-made colored glass cake stands and stemware in a mix of jewel tones and soft pastels. The Estelle Colored Glass collection is comprised of original commissioned pieces made by glass artisans in Poland at a glass-making company with a rich 100-plus-year-old history. “My grandmother often used her colored glass pieces at Sunday dinners. She was well-known as an amazing cook and every course was delicious,” said Hall on her website. “I hope our heirloom-quality pieces help create special memories for you just like the memories I have of time spent with my grandmother, Estelle, affectionately also known as ‘Big Mama’.”
Grinch Grande Zaza from Anima Iris
Anima Iris’ graphic purses have been worn by Beyoncé. Founder, CEO, and Creative Director, Wilglory Tanjong from Cameroon built Anima Iris to disrupt the global fashion industry by redefining “luxury” and including Africa in its narrative, once and for all. Every piece in the Anima Iris collection is carefully handcrafted by seasoned professionals in Dakar, Senegal. In keeping with their promise of sustainability, throughout the manufacturing process, the brand utilizes a zero-waste model. This ensures that no two creations are the same and no material is wasted. “With a clutch on her past and a clear vision for her future, the Anima Iris woman leads the way,” says Tanjong on their website.
Ten Wilde Amalfi hoops
These 18-karat-gold-dipped twisted hoops are from Ten Wilde. Ten Wilde is an all-gold jewelry line designed in Los Angeles that was established in 2016 by Tenisha Wilde and it is a direct reflection of her personal style, which embodies her love for many styles found across the world. Her jewelry has been worn by celebrities like Vanessa Hudgens and reviews mention how lightweight they are and say they’re perfect for everyday wear.
Bevel
Bevel is a one-stop-shop for all your hair needs, including a variety of hair trimmers, gels, and lotions. Their signature, double-edged safety razors get an ultra-close shave to prevent otherwise irritating ingrown hair. Bevel is Walker & Company’s flagship brand is the first and only end-to-end shaving system designed to help reduce and prevent shaving irritation. “Our vision is to build the world’s most consumer-centric health and beauty products company, inspiring unprecedented consumer loyalty,” says founder and CEO Tristan Walker.
Jungalow Giraffe Savannah Garden Pot by Justina Blakeney
Justina Blakeney is an American designer, artist, and interior designer. Jungalow started as a design blog in Blakeney’s tiny, plant-filled living room back in 2009 and has since grown into a lifestyle brand and the go-to source for unique design goods and inspiration. The Jungalow Giraffe Savannah Garden Pot is versatile and whimsy, and works in a nursery, playroom, office, and anywhere else you need a pop of fun.
Joe + Monroe Cashmere Vanilla Candle
A sexy and warm vanilla candle, elevated by woody cashmere and sweet amber, and rounded out with slightly detectable notes of fruity citrus by a millennial-founded brand, Joe + Monroe. Owner and maker Joyaa Cole began making candles as a hobby but that soon developed into a business. Her love of luxury candles along with the opportunity to create them through the joining of art and science is how the Joe + Monroe candles came to be.
All My Stripes Sunglasses from Nroda
A statement accessory upgrades any outfit. Crafted with a multi-colored stripe print acetate frame, these sunnies pair a print and extreme cat-eye shape for the win. Nroda is an eyewear collection are infused with luxe refinement and fantastical spirit boasting 24k gold plated and porcelain materials and Czech crystal. Nroda sunglasses have been worn by celebrities such as Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg, Keke Palmer, and Angel Simmons. “When our customer wears NRODA, I hope that they feel like an amplified version of themselves—incredibly empowered and super confident,” says Nroda founder and designer Samantha Smikle.
Boon Boona Coffee
‘Boon’ and ‘Boona’ are both words that mean “coffee” in different languages of East Africa. Following a trip to his parent’s homeland of Eritrea, Efrem Fesaha founded Boon Boona Coffee after noticing a demand from native Africans seeking authentic, unroasted beans imported straight from the source. Now, the company boasts and roasts several varieties of coffee, with each package indicating the region where the beans originated from. Boon Boona has formed long-lasting, sustainable relationships with coffee producers, exporters and importers in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, and many more African nations, with a focus on supporting woman-owned growers.
Notebooks and Stationery from Be Rooted
There’s no such thing as having too many notebooks. Your stationery-obsessed friend can relate, which is why they definitely want this set of travel journals from Be Rooted. It comes with six journals, each with a different cover illustration theme and 60 lined pages. Founder Jasmin Foster wanted to create a space for women of color to see themselves in a place they hadn’t been, weaving culture into every design and message.
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.
