US-BASED BLACK-OWNED ETHICAL FASHION BRANDS, PART 2
From left to right: Brother Vellies, Omi Woods, Tree Fairfax
Back in July, I shared some gorgeous US-based Black-owned sustainable fashion brands, but there are so many out there I couldn’t possibly fit them all into one blog post! Ahead of Black History Month this October, I’ve done some more research and found loads more that are really inspiring to browse. Please consider buying from them, whether you’re based in the US or not, as most of these are available worldwide.
SOKO
SOKO is a women-led jewellery brand that uses technology to connect to artisans in Kenya. A certified B-Corporation, SOKO is committed to promoting financial independence, reducing inequality and creating high-quality jobs. Their jewellery is imagined by strong women for strong women.
Related: 7 US-Based Black-Owned Fashion Brands You Need to Know
Brother Vellies
Toronto native Aurora James founded the New York-based brand Brother Vellies with a view to keep traditional African design techniques alive and create jobs around the world. Each Brother Vellies luxury accessory is handmade in South Africa, Kenya, Mexico Morocco, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Italy, Haiti or in New York City with the highest standards of sustainability and fair labour practices. There is a physical store in Brooklyn, but they also ship internationally.
Petit Kouraj
In Haitian Creole, “Petit Kouraj” means “little courage,” a concept at the heart of fashion stylist and founder Nasrin Jean-Baptiste’s creative vision. The brand is Brooklyn-based but each distinctive bag, with its unique fringed and netted design, is ethically and sustainably handmade in Haiti. Petit Kouraj partners with DOT Haiti, a woman-led organisation that provides education and training for local artisans.
Tree Fairfax
Tree Fairfax create minimal leather bags from naturally imperfect material, and hand-make each one to order so it’s perfectly unique and avoids unnecessary waste. Each bag is made to last and ships internationally.
Two Days Off
Two Days Off is the ultimate destination for those looking to build a simple everyday wardrobe sustainably. The brainchild of Gina Stovall, who began sewing her own clothes when she couldn’t find any sustainable options that she liked, the Los Angeles-based label makes every timeless piece to order, using deadstock materials as well as biodegradable, natural fiber textiles. Each piece is built to last and always ethically produced.
Kintu
Launched in 2015, Kintu creates handbags “designed in New York, co-developed with global artisans, and made in Italy.” They collaborate with artisans in India and Kenya, and combine those skills with the famed Italian craftsmanship for creations that are truly unlike anything else. Their bags range from nifty crossbodies to elegant tote bags, and come in fun prints as well as more classic tones like black or tan.
Cee Cee’s Closet NYC
New York-based sister duo Chioma and Uchenna Ngwudo created Cee Cee’s Closet in a bid to celebrate West African prints through beautiful accessories. They design the pieces in their collection, which are then brought to life by artisans in Nigeria. Think headwraps, jewellery, tablet covers and now… face masks, of course.
Sarep + Rose
Another New York-based label that directly generates sustainable jobs for artisans in Africa, Sarep + Rose was borne out of founder Robin Sirleaf’s desire to honour her Liberian, and African more generally, heritage. Her bags cleverly juxtapose “African materials and craftsmanship with western design and functionality.”
Omi Woods
Ashley Alexis McFarlane founded Omi Woods to celebrate Africa and her diaspora. The brand creates beautiful jewellery using fair-trade African gold and other ethically sourced metals from around the world. Each piece is intended to be passed down to future generations, a modern heirloom.
Proclaim
Inclusive lingerie for everyday wear, Proclaim make a whole range of nude-toned bras and pants using Tencel and recycled polyester (from plastic bottles). All their underwear is ethically made in Los Angeles and packaged in recycled, reusable and recyclable mailers.
Related: Inspiring Black Voices in Wellness