Gift Guide: Black-owned Businesses
Can you believe it? The holidays are upon us! Have you started your holiday shopping? Or maybe have it finished? I do have a couple of gifts that I had purchased back in the summer…still gotta figure out the rest, though! I’m still debating between gifting items or experiences for the others.
In the past, I haven’t put together proper gift guides here on the blog, but this year I wanted to make sure to highlight some lesser-known brands for you to keep in mind when you do your shopping this holiday season! First up is a collection of Black-owned businesses. Some of them are businesses I’ve purchased from myself and love, and some of them are businesses I haven’t yet ordered from but have only heard good things about their products and look forward to trying myself someday. I hope you find this guide useful, and please let me know in the comments if there are others I should check out!
Happy shopping, friends! 🤗
BLACK-OWNED WELLNESS BRANDS
I recently shared my current favorite nighttime routine products available at Sephora, which included the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! deep conditioning mask (here’s the Sephora link). I’ve been using it for about two months now and love how it makes my hair feel! It’s such a luxurious treat. I’m interested in trying other products from the Don’t Despair, Repair! line, too.
Briogeo is offering a variety of discounted gift sets ranging from $36 to $85, perfect for the holidays!
I was first introduced to the Luv Scrub mesh body exfoliator a few months ago and have only heard amazing things about it! The Luv Scrub is a bath cloth that you use much like a loofah, except it stretches out so you can easily scrub your back! It also gets softer with use. This is at the top of my treat yourself list! At $18, it’s the perfect reasonably-priced gift for anyone on your list. (I’m highly considering gifting one to each of my brothers! Pretty sure they don’t read my blog… haha!) It’s also available from Nordstrom.
Le Noire Sugar was founded only THIS year by a husband and wife team. Since the wife had to pause her pedicures due to the pandemic, the husband went to work in the kitchen and concocted a wonderful variety of moisturizing sugar scrubs using essential oils that have amazing benefits for skin. Their variety of products range from $3 to $30, and there’s also a gift set for $60 that features one of each of their products for the perfect self-care treat for you or someone you love!
Woo Me Beauty offers a nail growth serum (pictured; $17), a nail biter pen ($11), and a kit containing both the serum and the pen ($24). I’m interested in trying the serum myself!
The nail growth serum contains olive oil, biotin oil, garlic, vitamin E oil, and essential oil to hydrate your nails and help them grow strong. Reviewers RAVE about this product, so it’s definitely worth considering if you have a nail lover in your life. Some of the reviews say the serum has a bitter taste that keeps them from biting your nails, in which case you wouldn’t need to also buy the nail biter pen!
BLACK-OWNED JEWELRY BRANDS
Valerie created her business by combining her background in environmental science with her love for alternative jewelry. The result is beautiful, timeless fine jewelry pieces that feature recycled metal and ethical gemstones.
Earlier this summer, I ordered a pair of the XO stud earrings in yellow gold ($95). They’re a perfect addition to my simple jewelry collection!
Do you have a fine jewelry lover in your life? Check out Valerie’s curated selection of gifts starting at $75! Of course, engagement rings and wedding bands are also available.
BR Design Co creates beautiful clay earrings ranging from simple and classic to bold statements. Aren’t these sparkly black studs perfect for the holidays?! They offer a few different collections: black and white or neutral for those that prefer simplicity or rainbow for those that love color. Each collection also includes an assortment of clay and brass mixed media earrings. Prices range from $16 to $36 and shipping is free on all orders!
At Romy Studio, you’ll find a collection of modern and minimalist handmade statement earrings—when they’re in stock, that is! Most of her styles sell out very quickly, so definitely sign up for emails if you want to know when items are stocked (a gift card is always an option, too!). I managed to grab the diamond drop in fog when her fall collection launched in October!
Romy Studio is also currently available at Madewell as part of the Hometown Heroes Collective!!! How cool is that?!
BLACK-OWNED APPAREL (& MORE!) BRANDS
Back in the summer, I purchased a couple of the Aliya Wanek Ami cropped sweatshirts in two colors, dusty rose and olive (seen in outfits here and here). They are definitely two of my best “quarantine” purchases so far—I’ve been wearing them basically nonstop since then! They’re great for WFH. There are a few sizes remaining in the sweatshirts, and I believe a restock is planned soon-ish. Aliya Wanek is also releasing more items in a few weeks!
I know buying apparel as a gift isn’t exactly ideal, especially if you don’t know the preferred size and style—but Aliya Wanek offers gift cards starting at $50! (Don’t feel bad giving gift cards—the brands are still supported and the person receiving the gift cards can get exactly what they’re looking for!)
Two Days Off is a clothing brand by Gina Stovall, a climate scientist (!!!) turned designer of ethically- and sustainably-made-to-order garments out of Los Angeles, California. With a focus on ease, wearability, simplicity, and timelessness, Gina uses natural fabrics in her designs and constructs each garment to last.
Back in the summer, I ordered the Suki top in clay and wore it in a casual workwear-inspired outfit.
Since then, Gina has expanded Two Days Off to include an assortment of home and wellness products! Everything is beautiful and reasonably priced—perfect for gifting. I am particularly drawn to the recycled cotton Mexican blanket myself.