Sustainable brands owned by People of colour
Supporting Black, Indigenous & People of Colour (BIPOC) owned brands helps BIPOC communities share in the economic opportunities available, brings different perspectives to the fore, and celebrates diversity in an otherwise white-centric industry.
Words: Sasha Wardrop
Entrepreneurs of colour have historically faced a multitude of barriers when starting a business that non-POC do not. Particularly in the fashion industry where lack of inclusion, cultural appropriation and white washed runways and marketing campaigns are the norm. The beauty industry is also a culprit of this, and whilst it has made bigger steps towards inclusion than the fashion industry, there are still significant areas for improvement.
Klur Skincare founder Lesley Thornton notes that “black people are less likely to have access to capital to fund their businesses … so it’s small actions like supporting black owned brands that help level the capitalist playing field for us.” It’s also expressing you stand with black and brown communities, rather than supporting brands that might instead exploit their cultures.
So, we have compiled a list of brilliant sustainable and ethical brands that are owned and run by people of colour so you can support them and help these industries move towards greater inclusivity, now and always.
SELVA NEGRA
Selva Negra was founded in Brooklyn in 2016. Since then they have been making efforts to reduce the amount of plastic they use by using shipping packages zero plastic and 100% recycled materials. They often purchase deadstock fabric to reduce the amount of new fabric purchased through fabric mills and save scrap fabrics to make scrunchies and tote bags.
PROCLAIM
Proclaim was founded on the principles that fashion should represent all women and can be made in a way that does good for people and the planet. Proclaim’s beautiful lingerie is made from TENCEL™, which is a fibre produced from wood pulp from sustainably managed sources, and Repreve® Recycled Polyester, which is made of 100% post-consumer plastic bottles.
“…it’s small actions like supporting black owned brands that help level the capitalist playing field for POC”
MPCO.
MPCo. or Most Prominent Co, is devoted to creating garments driven by important messages around fair labor and sustainable fashion. They do this through collaborations with other brands that advocate for certain issues. They promote slow fashion and clothing built to last by sourcing fabric from natural fibres such as GOTS organic cotton and select materials that uphold longevity in your day-to-day life. They have tried the use of repurposing and reworking donated clothing to bring their customers low impact pieces.
BROTHER VELLIES
Brother Vellies is committed to honoring the people who make their products and preserving the places where they are made. Their amazing shoes and bags are made with vegetable-tanned leathers, hand-carved wood, floral dyed feathers, soles made from recycled tires along with a collection of other by-product materials sourced from farmers around the globe.
GALLERIE LA
Gallerie LA thoughtfully curates the finest selection of sustainable fashion from emerging brands worldwide. Their aim is to have a positive environment and social impact that is not at the expense of style. They stock many notable brands that use sustainable production methods that reduce their environmental footprint.
LIHA
LIHA beauty was born from ‘the desire to create an innovative, natural, organic and vegan skincare brand that blends the rich botanical life of West Africa with traditional English aromatherapy and folk remedies.’ All LIHA products are made from natural ingredients and packaged in 100% recycled and recyclable materials.
OMI WOODS
Omi Woods’ solid gold jewelry is made with fair trade African gold. They source their gold from small-scale artisanal mines that support the well-being of miners and their communities by paying miners a fair wage and contributing to improved health care, education, safety and living conditions on the continent.
ASHYA
Ashya (pronounced “agh-shya”) established in 2017, is a New York-based label producing to-die-for unisex travel accessories. They prioritise fair treatment of workers and aim to minimize wastage throughout the production process by sourcing materials responsibly, up-cycling material scraps, and producing in small batches.
BOUCLEME
Boucleme creates specialized products for all those curly-haired girls out there. All their packaging can be recycled and product ingredients are biodegradable. Their naturally derived products are eco-certified meaning they are safe for the environment as well as your body.
LEMLEM
Lemlem’s collection is handwoven from natural cotton by artisan groups across Africa. The brand is committed to helping African women thrive in their craft and beyond through their Lemlem Foundation. The Lemlem Foundation connects African women to healthcare, education and pathways to jobs. 5% of Lemlem’s proceeds are donated to this mission. They also just did an amazing collab with Moncler Genius and Pierpaolo Piccioli to celebrate African craft and tradition.
