Happy Blackity Black, Black History Month y’all!
I hope y’all didn’t think that I forgot about BMH. Since we live in a country that thrives on capitalism, what better way to spend our coin then by supporting those who look like us? Black Owned businesses (especially Small BO businesses) often get overlooked for many reasons. As we prepare to wrap up BHM, I wanted to share some small & large businesses worth looking into.
Creative Arts & DIY
Brittany Loves Art
My cousin Brittany started her Perler bead in December 2020. Brittany got into beading while working for an after school program, and her hobby soon morphed into a profitable business in the blink of an eye. Brittany can make anyone and any thing out of beads. She creates key chains, wall art, and portraits. She’s best known for her celebrity and family portraits.
Check out her work here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BrittanyLovesArt
Designs By Rhyver
My sorority sis Rhyver has an amazing shop of customized home decor. Her work ranges from custom mugs, all styles of drinking glasses, liquor bottles, flower vases, and beyond.
Check out her work here: @designsbyrhyver on IG
Soul Beaded
My childhood friend turned sister Jamelle sells handcrafted jewelry. She opened her business last year, but has been creating timeless pieces for years. Her jewelry line includes earrings and bracelets and I only hope that she’ll expand as time goes on. I’m absolutely in love with the earrings she made for me pictured above.
Check out her jewelry here: @soulbeaded on IG
Food Enthusiasts
BGIT – Black Girls In Trader Joe’s
If you’re a Black Girl who loves to shop in Trader Joe’s this site and IG page is the place to be. Dee created this platform last summer and it’s evolved into a community of it’s own with over 148K followers. By following this page you’ll get caught up on the latest TJ’s products, from drinks, floral arrangements, frozen meals, liquor, snacks, skin care items, and more. Dee also share’s recipes using all TJ’s items and even compiles lists of her have must-have buys. Also, she created merchandise for us to enjoy such as tote bags to carry our groceries, aprons, wallets, and more.
Check out her IG account & online store here: http://www.blackgirlsintraderjoes.com, IG – @blackgirlsintraderjoes
Dash of Dacy
Candacy created her line of unique spices called Dash of Dacy seasonings. Alongside that she also created Dear Dacy kitchen linen essentials, and shares recipes, kitchen ideas, and home organization tips on her blog.
I’ve been trying to get my hands on her seasonings for awhile now, but her drops typically sell out really quickly!
Check her out here: https://deardacy.com/collections/dash-of-dacy-seasonings
The Spice Suite
If you love to cook and experiment with different flavor combos, gourmet spices, and infused oils, The Spice Suite is the place for you. Angel created The Spice Suite shop in 2015, which has become a staple in the DC community. Her talents also landed her on Top 40 of MasterChef’s Season 8. She’s an amazing cook and every day she posts quick snippets of dishes she makes on Instagram that leave me drooling every time. Lastly, she recently created a cookware line stemming from her motto Food Is Fashion.
If you don’t live in DC, you can purchase a Spice Box at the first of the month or shop her KitchenWEAR line here: https://www.thespicesuite.com/shop
Self-Care
Tunai’s Closet
TuNai’s Closet was featured last year during my Spotlight Tuesday’s series. As The Messenger, TuNai listened to the still voice of God and launched her business last year. Her products include handmade Prayer Closet Essentials + Prayer Candles. Her candles are made of coconut wax, which is the cleanest burning wax on the market, offering a superior alternative to soy or petrolium-based waxes. Eco-friendly and made from sustainable resources, the candles will leave both the glass and your air clean. Since her candles are made with pure coconut oil, it’s safe to use on your skin or even serve as a prayer/blessed oil.
Visit TuNai’s Closet and grab the most popular product the Calm Serenity candle or her eBook Developing Intimacy With Christ and step away for some you time!
She Glows Within
Mental Health is everything to me. When I saw Velma launch her site and share her message with the world I was elated! She Glows Within’s mission is to encourage and enlighten black women to explore their sacred feminine power through art and wellness. In it’s inception, she also created affirmation cards, the She Glows Within Card Deck. When I was ready to purchase my set it sold out so quickly, I couldn’t believe it! I’ll definitely keep my eye out for the next launch.
Check out her Affirmation Deck here: https://www.sheglowswithin.com/shop
Cozy Centric
I love me some candles and I will spend my coin to make my space smell heavenly. My Soror Kalin created Cozy Centric last year. The support she’s received has been great to witness. Cozy Centric is home to many creative endeavors such as candles, holistic wellness, teas, apparel, and more.
Check out her collection here: https://www.cozycentricinc.com/
Skin Care
Supernova Blends
My childhood best friend Rosie started her health and wellness company in the spring of 2020, located in the heart of Los Angeles. Supernova Blends is an herbal and botanical flower one-stop shop. They aim to heal through natural ancient practices using only the plants our ancestors once used ritually. Her shop offers a variety of products such as Herbal Tea and Smoke blends, Bath and Body essentials, Baby wellness essentials, and Massage Therapy & TCM Cupping services.
My favorite products are the Vitamin C Toner, Face Kits, and herbal teas.
Grab yours today right here: https://www.supernovablends.com/shop
Natural Nana Co
I love absolutely love Shea Butter! My cousin told me about this company and I haven’t looked back since. Natural Nana is a rising company dedicated to using the power of ancient African botanicals to develop products to address modern health and beauty concerns. Their products are made with pure ingredients coming straight from the Motherland. Their line includes, Almond Oil, Black Seed Oil, Raw and Whipped Shea Butter, Raw Black Soap, and more.
Check out the products here: https://www.naturalnanaco.com/collections/all
Be Transcendent
I came across Be Transcendent last year on IG while following one of my favorite influencer’s and she has not failed me yet. Be Transcendent is a plant based skin care line suitable for all skin types. Janeya, the founder of the skincare line took it upon herself to explore the exploitation of the beauty industry and the harmful chemicals in the products available on the market and transformed it into sustainable products for us to enjoy.
My favorite is the Glowfull Collection which helps hydrate, exfoliate and soften the skin.
Start your skincare journey here: https://betranscendentskin.com/
Fashion & Clothing
Shine Cloth
My good sis Deja launched her cloth diaper line after giving birth to her son in 2010. With every cloth diaper she sews, she makes it with love and her customers in mind. She proudly uses her platform to discuss topics of social justice and promoting eco-friendly baby products. What I love most are the bold messages she displays on each cover! Although I don’t have any children yet, she’ll always have a lifelong customer in me. For now I can purchase diapers for my friends children.
Check out her products here: SHINECloth.com, @the.shine.cloth on IG, https://www.etsy.com/shop/SSHINECloth and Facebook.com/sunshinecloth
Designs By Xavi
If you know me, then you know I love to wear head wraps. Head wraps are a quick, go-to stylish cover up when you’re having a bad hair day or you simply don’t feel like styling your hair. My bestfriend Bri started her business Designed By Xavi last fall sewing head wraps, masks, and headbands. What I love most about her wraps is the elastic band. It gives a great hold to ensure that the wrap will stay on throughout the day without falling and she has beautiful fabric too!
Check out her collection here: @designedbyxavi on IG
Chapter Harmony
You know we all have that one IG bestie in your head, right? Or is that just me lol Anyway, my good sis Ryen has been speaking to my soul since 2019, building community and reminding me that I’m a Black Woman who deserves to be paid, loved, and rested in High favor! By Manifesting The Life You Deserve, Ryen gives us all the feels displaying black love, lifting us higher with affirmations and encouragement, and advocacy for self-love and growth. She recently launched her newest collection of Affirmative wear, The Chakra Healing line. Make sure to treat yourself to one of the shirts this month, because you deserve it! I know I will!
Grab yours today right here: http://www.chapterharmony.com/shop
Mess In A Bottle
I am thee message T-shirt Queen. If I’m wearing a tee, it has to be filled with a positive message, powerful statement, or both. Mess In A Bottle is a T-shirt company that gives voice, to the voiceless, with their power statements on every shirt. Kalilah merged her love of fashion and architecture to peruse entrepreneurship and created this wonderful line of apparel.
Check out the line here: https://www.messinabottle.com/collections/apparel
Fancy Homebody
I came across Fancy Homebody on Instagram. I love a good jogger set and lounge wear and with the pandemic still lingering around, I can continue to look cute in the house lol. Fancy Homebody provides attainable luxury to customers with aesthetic & practicality in mind. The collection is made up of Home Items, Loungewear, Jogger Sets, and signature items.
Check out the collection here: https://fancyhomebody.com/collections
Brandon Blackwood
PSA: Black people deserve luxury too! Brandon broke the Internet last summer with his famous ESR tote bag. The ESR tote, which stands for End Systemic Racism is a small bag with a mighty message! His line ranges from luxury wallets, purses, totes, and accessories. He recently launched the ESR line in a variety of cute colors and I finally snagged my bag last month. His bags sell out in minutes it’s crazy! What I love most is the affordability and high quality material.
Check his products out here: https://brandonblackwood.com
Eyes On Me
EyesOnMe is another lovely brand that I discovered on IG. I joined the #FourEyesClub at age 7, and have yet to come across a style that I’ve fallen in love with until now. ShopEOM aims to Make Protective Eyewear Fashionable, by utilizing lenses designed to filter out strong blue light rays emitted from our digital devices. They offer a variety of frames from Round, Tortoise, Wooden, Cat-Eyes and more. Her line is created for both men and women who are proud members of the #FourEyesClub. What I love the most outside of the fashionably unique styles is the affordable price!
Pick a pair or two here: https://shopeom.com
Home Decor
Nice Things
Nice Things is a boutique-style marketplace for luxury kitchenware and dining accessories. Gabrielle McBay is an amazing Private Chef located in LA. She created this haven of all of my favorite things. I love hosting parties and events, and what better way to do it then in style. Her brand reminds you that you can treat yourself because you deserve! Her products offer luxury living through high-quality materials and timeless style – all available for purchase online. I have my eye on a few things.
Check out her online boutique here: https://www.wantnicethings.com/store
Happy Shopping!
Thee Heart of The Matter 