Amidst the turmoil of the past few weeks, Darling’s team has been thinking how we can best support the black community. Darling’s most valuable asset for small businesses is our platform. When trying to select black-owned businesses to highlight, there were so many to choose from—an indicator of the talent, diversity and beauty of the black community.
With more than two million black-owned businesses, owners still face racism and discrimination as many are unfairly turned down by banks when applying for small business loans. Yet this reality has not prevented them from thriving, with more than 72 percent of black-owned businesses reporting an upturn in profitability.
Today, we are honored to launch our Black-Owned Business Guide. Scroll through these amazing companies and add your additional suggestions in the comments.
Body & Skincare
Black Girl Sunscreen
A sunscreen for women of color, Black Girl Sunscreen was launched in 2016 to solve two common problems—white residue from commercial sunscreen and blotchy makeup. Free of parabens and harmful chemicals, Black Girl Sunscreen is perfect to moisturize and shield your melanin skin from the sun. The brand has grown national attention with its partnership with Target, and it has also been featured in Essence and Forbes.
Shop Black Girl Sunscreen: https://www.blackgirlsunscreen.com/shop/
Instagram: @blackgirlsunscreen
Hyper Skin
With a focus on hyper-pigmentation (when a person develops darker patches on the skin), Hyper Skin is hyper-focused skincare focused on women of color! Their very first product, Hyper Clear Brightening Clearing Vitamin C Serum, is a prime example of their mantra—tackles hyper-pigmentation, smooths texture and enhances glow.
Shop Hyper Skin: https://gethyperskin.com/products/hyper-clear
Instagram: @gethyperskin
Epi.logic
A simple, science-based skincare collection, Epi.logic was founded by Dr. Chaneve Jeanniton, a certified oculofacial plastic surgeon, who specializes in holistic skincare techniques and products that rejuvenate and refine your appearance. She is an expert insurgical and nonsurgical procedures focused on even the smallest details of the eyes and face. Epi.logic offers a variety of serums, creams, scrubs, cleansers and toners that will solve every one of your facial needs.
Shop Epi.logic: https://www.brooklynfaceandeye.com/shop
Instagram: @epi.logic
Fashion
Andrea Iyamah
Founded by Nigerian fashion designer Dumebi Iyamah, Andrea Iyamah is a clothing line inspired by color, ethnic cultures, nature and design elements that stay true to authentic clothing and resort wear with hints of a retro yet contemporary edge. Popularly recognized for its eccentric and unique take on swimwear, the brand also specializes in ready-to-wear and custom-made, special event dresses under its sister brand Andrea Iyamah Bride. Strongly influenced by the brand’s African heritage, a blend of various cultures inspired the colors and themes of the first official swim collection, which launched in 2013.
Shop Andrea Iyamah: https://www.andreaiyamah.com/collections/all
Instagram: @andreaiyamah
Cushnie
Founded in 2008 by Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs, Cushnie is a NYC-based ready-to-wear fashion and accessory line. Designed by women, for the modern-day woman, the line offers a mixture of bold sensuality and minimalist elegance. The Collection is sold in more than 150 stores worldwide, and it’s even been worn by the likes of Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Gal Gadot, Lupita Nyong’o, Ava Duvernay and Ashley Graham.
Shop Cushnie: https://cushnie.com/collections/shop-all
Instagram: @cushnie
Undra Celeste New York
Known for its “modern workwear for the modern woman,” Undra Celeste New York designs refined, classic and strong pieces perfect for the place where the everyday woman spends most of her time—work. The lines specializes in “elevated basics” with an emphasis on color, prints and clean lines, with a nice mix of embellishments and metallics. Show up to the office as the best, most authentic version of yourself with Undra Celeste New York.
Shop Under Celeste New York: https://www.undracelesteny.com/shop
Instagram: @undracelestenewyork
Zou Xou
Zou Xou is known for its “transparent shoes,” meaning they want their customers to know who made their shoes. Each pair of ZX shoes are made the slow way—cut, skived, stitched and lasted by hand by an artisan in Buenos Aires. Based in New York, ZX specializes in modern, handmade shoes for powerful and creative women who dress for themselves.
Shop Zou Xou: https://www.zouxou.com/shop
Instagram: @zouxoushoes
Hair
Briogeo
Founder of Briogeo, Nancy Twine got her start in the beauty world at the ripe age of 5 when she would help her grandmother in the kitchen as they concocted homemade hair care. In her early 20s, she would combine her knowledge of her grandmother’s beauty recipes with a natural chemist team to launch Briogeo out of her tiny, East Village studio apartment in New York. Today, the brand has grown to offer a high-performance, natural hair care collection that provides visible results—detoxifying, hydrating and protecting black hair.
Shop Briogeo: https://briogeohair.com/collections/new-products
Instagram: @briogeo
Grace Eleyae
Shop Grace Eleyae: https://www.graceeleyae.com/collections/all
Instagram: @graceeleyae
Carol’s Daughter
Designed for all textures, all hair and skin types and with all your beauty needs, Carol’s Daughter is a natural haircare brand made for women of color. In the early 1990s, it’s founder, Lisa Price, first started creating skin and haircare products in her Brooklyn kitchen with the encouragement of her mom. Today, her beauty brand is widely known, with Carol’s Daughters products lining the aisles of Target and more than 30k retail stories nationwide.
Shop Carol’s Daughter: https://www.carolsdaughter.com/collections
Instagram: @carolsdaughter
Melanin Haircare
Founded by sisters Whitney and Taffeta White in 2015, Melanin Haircare focuses on natural hair care, healthy scalp care and high quality products made from safe ingredients. The haircare line is the perfect mix of natural but luxurious and affordable but refined. Melanin Haircare markets itself to the everyday woman and her family, proving that simple can be a good thing when it comes to your hair.
Shop Melanin Haircare: https://melaninhaircare.com/collections/all-products
Instagram: @melaninahaircare
Mielle Organics
An organic haircare and beauty brand, Mielle Organics launched in 2014 in to increase awareness about what is in the products women are putting on their hair and to offer natural products. Founder and CEO Monique Rodriguez, who was formerly a nurse, has developed her brand into a global phenomenon offering haircare, skincare and vitamins for healthier hair, skin and nails, and a stronger immune system.
Shop Mielle Organics: https://mielleorganics.com/collections/all
Instagram: @mielleorganics
Home
Bolé Road Textiles
Designed in Brooklyn and handwoven in Ethiopia, Bolé Road Textiles specializes in vibrant, modern home decor. Founded by Hana Getachew, the interior design brand pays homage to her heritage (even named after where she is from) with its bright colors and graphic patterns. Create perfectly curated spaces with Bolé Road while also supporting local artisans in Ethiopia.
Shop Bolé Road Textiles: https://boleroadtextiles.com/collections/all
Instagram: @boleroadtextiles
Jewelry
Edas
Edas is dedicated to unique, one-of-a-kind, handmade jewelry. The brand focuses on sustainability using unusual home-goods and refurbished elements to create feminine and staple accessories for the everyday woman who dares to be unique. Head designer Sade Mims combines her design, creative directing and production expertise to create quality pieces that make women feel beautiful.
Shop Edas: https://edas.store/collections/all
Instagram: @__edas
Wellness
Anser
Founded by actress Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Anser was designed to help women take charge of their health. The line, which launched at the beginning of 2020, is made from clean ingredients, essential vitamins and high-quality nutrients without GMOs, gluten or fillers. The supplement line offers options for the entire family including a Women’s Multivitamin, Beauty Formula, Prenatal Formula, Men’s Multivitamin and Kid’s Multivitamin Gummy.
Shop Anser: https://shopanser.com/products/
Instagram: @shopanser
Basil Me
Basil Me is a healthy, all-natural beverage company that offers an alternative to sugar laden drinks. With a perfect mix of lemons and basil, these drinks offer a sweet sip of nutritional goodness as the basil is known for its health benefits (such as reducing inflammation and the effects of aging). Basil Me is sure to quench your thirst and leave you satisfied.
Shop Basil Me: https://basilme.co/collections/all
Instagram: @basil_me
What businesses are we missing from this list? Leave a comment below.
Image via Jason Barbagelott, Darling Issue No. 19
