After sharpening his craft under the leadership of Grace Wales Bonner, Maximilian Davis launched his eponymous line, which includes seductively glamorous pieces that celebrate his Caribbean roots.
Epara, founded by Ozohu Adoh, means to cocoon oneself in the Nigerian dialect Ebira. The products are comprised of hydrating African botanicals like marula oil and moringa oil.
Martine Rose is a London-based designer whose self-titled label has become a cult favorite in design since 2007.
Edas, founded by Sade Mims, delivers feminine and staple accessories. Each item is made-to-order, meaning the company as a whole creates less waste.
Eadem founders Marie Kouadio Amouzame and Alice Lin Glover are on a mission to provide clean, clinically-tested products with skin of color in mind—powered by the brand’s “smart-melanin” technology to fade dark spots without lightening the surrounding skin.
Bevel was founded by Tristan Walker and is an award-winning men’s grooming line, including skin care, shaving, hair, and body products specifically for men of color.
Katonya Breaux founded Unsun Cosmetics as the solution for people of color searching for clean sunscreen products. Whether it’s the brand’s tinted SPF or body highlighter, you won’t have to worry about added chemicals or white cast.
This Los Angeles-based label has quite a noteworthy roster of fans, from Beyoncé to Michelle Obama. Count on Sergio Hudson for seductively glamorous dresses and ’80s-inspired suits.
Hyper Skincare is “a brand hyper-focused on treating the needs of people of color,” says founder Desiree Verdejo. The line’s debut product, Hyper Clear, helps to heal hyperpigmentation while simultaneously enhancing glow with its blend of vitamin C, vitamin E, kojic acid, hyaluronic acid, turmeric, and bearberry.
Tisha Thompson was on a mission to diversify the clean beauty industry when she created Lys Beauty; in fact, her collection was the first Black-owned Sephora Clean Makeup brand. Each product is formulated to benefit the skin, such as its hero serum foundation—a skin-care/makeup hybrid that pairs complexion solutions with nourishing ingredients like Ashwagandha, turmeric, hyaluronic acid, and avocado oil.
To make it easier to discover all of the Black designers and founders that we love, we gathered our favorites into one easy-to-shop place. Here are 89 Black-owned beauty and fashion brands to support now and always—keeping in mind that solidarity is not a one-time thing. As Angela Davis put it, “The importance of doing activist work,” big or small, “is precisely because it allows you to give back and to consider yourself not as a single individual who may have achieved whatever, but to be a part of an ongoing historical movement.” Read on to discover our picks.
Born in Harlem, inspired by Senegal, and founded by Diarrha Ndiaye, Ami Colé celebrates melanin-rich skin through its assortment of clean beauty products designed to enhance your natural features—from a light-catching highlighter stick to a blurring skin tint.
The Lip Bar, founded by Melissa Butler, is a vegan and cruelty-free makeup line known for its shea butter and avocado-infused lipsticks, as well as a recent collection collaboration with Justine Skye.
Mateo New York, founded in 2009 by Jamaican jewelry designer Mattew Harris, is a fine jewelry collection that takes inspiration from modern art.
Founder Anifa Mvuemba launched Hanifa Clothing in 2012. Its latest collection, Pink Label Congo, was inspired by the “hope of the Congolese spirit.”
With an emphasis on sustainability, Jade Swim creates universally flattering swimsuits from sculpting fabrics.
Katini Yamaoka’s namesake beauty label, Katini Skin, looks to provide plant-based solutions inspired by her mixed Japanese, African, and Australian heritage. Inside its vegan, fair trade-certified lineup is skin-plumping facial oils and restorative night serums, amongst other treatments.
At Danessa Myricks Beauty, multipurpose makeup products reign supreme. Founded by the acclaimed makeup artist, the brand pairs artistry with professional techniques that anyone would utilize in more ways than one, such as the TikTok-viral blurring balm that Vogue’s Christian Allaire says is worth the hype.
Best friends Liha Okunniwa and Abi Oyepitan founded Liha Beauty to create natural beauty products inspired by their African roots. Each product is handmade from vegan and ethically sourced ingredients, including shea butter, coconut oil, and moringa powder.
LaQuan Smith founded his eponymous brand in 2013. His distinctive garments and eye for detail, instilled by his grandmother, created a passion, and he’s become known for his sewing and pattern-making.
With kente weaving and handcrafted techniques, Studio 189 works closely with artisans in Ghana to produce bold designs.
TPH by Taraji P. Henson believes healthy hair starts at the scalp, even while sporting protective styles. Inspired by Henson’s at-home scalp-relief formulas, the line offers hair-care salves for everything from styling to conditioning.
Founded in 2015 by Thebe Magugu, the eponymous label is a contemporary South African fashion brand producing women’s ready-to-wear and accessories, celebrating its African cultural roots with a modern approach.
Since 2019, Tove founders (and friends) Camille Perry and Holly Wright have been redefining modern femininity through their effortlessly chic designs of dresses, tops, and so much more.
Founded by Karen Young, Oui the People provides products that help you feel confident in your own skin, such as her best-selling razor for sensitive skin, along with a shave gel, body gloss, and bikini-line sheet mask.
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Royal Jelly Harlem is an African-inspired clothing and home decorating line founded in February 2011 by mother-daughter duo Teta and Maya Gorgoni.
If you’ve ever wondered how celebrities get their skin so good, the answer is probably Shani Darden. In her eponymous brand, the Los Angeles-based esthetician to the stars gives anyone the A-list skin-care treatment through exfoliating treatments, supercharged serums, and face sculpting gadgets.
Photo: Courtesy of Andrea Iyamah
Petit Kouraj works closely with Haitian artisans to craft each one of its handbags. And every single strand of fringe is hand sewn onto each design.
Originally founded in 2010 with only a men’s offering, Bernard James founded his eponymous jewelry line with a clear vision to create fine jewelry for a new generation.
Esthetician Lesley Thornton’s Klur is an eco-inclusive skincare brand with skin-barrier-strengthening ingredients like vitamins C, B5, and E.
Daily Paper was founded in 2012 by three friends Hussein Suleiman, Jefferson Osei, and Abderrahmane Trabsini. It is an Amsterdam-based menswear and womenswear fashion brand inspired by the African heritage of its founders.
Khiry, founded in 2016 by Jameel Mohammed, is a luxury and modern jewelry brand that is inspired by cultural practices, history, art, and design throughout the diaspora.
Tracee Ellis Ross’s journey to embracing her head of curls inspired her to create her own hair-care brand Pattern. Now the brand looks to enhance curly, coily, and kinky textures on your next wash day.
Hanahana is a clean and ethically-sourced skincare and wellness brand “committed to empowering women of color.” They pay twice the fair-trade rate for shea butter that is exclusively sourced from the Katariga Cooperative in Tamale, Ghana.
Photo: Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Founded by Shelby Macklin and Banna Nega, Glazed NYC redefines what it means to be an accessories label. Glazed NYC is a multidisciplinary studio inspired by Black History within the realms of fashion, film, and music while utilizing design as a vehicle for storytelling and community building.
Black Opal is a legacy beauty brand founded in 1994 by the late Nikos Mouyiaris, his wife Carol Jackson Mouyiaris, and dermatologist Cheryl Burgess, M.D. The brand got a recent reboot under the ownership of Fashion Fair alum and former White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers, alongside Johnson Publishing alum Cheryl Mayberry-McKissack.
Photo: Courtesy of Pattern Beauty
Founded by Jamika Martin, Rosen Skincare is all about making acne care products that are clean, accessible, and approachable with affordable price points and nourishing and acne-zapping ingredients like willow bark, clay, eucalyptus oil, and more.
Shontay Lunday is the founder behind the beloved Black Girl Sunscreen—the brand known for its sun-protecting salve that won’t leave users with that annoying white cast post-application.
Pharrell Williams credits his seemingly ageless complexion to the guidance of his longtime dermatologist Dr. Elena Jones, who he partnered with to craft his skin-care line Humanrace. From a three-step skin-care regimen to sun-care solutions and conditioning body care, the collection looks to enhance the users’ overall wellbeing and self-care rituals.
Healthy hair and skin are a top priority for Mielle Organics, as shown through its beauty products long loved in the Black and natural hair communities. From its strengthening hair oil to lightweight yet nourishing leave-in conditioner, the line offers no shortage of confidence-boosting treatments.
Fe Noel, founded by Grenada-born designer Felisha Noel, is a conceptual lifestyle brand created for the multifaceted woman who embodies a love for travel and style.
Namesake brand Romeo Hunte is a contemporary brand consisting of a curation of luxurious, transitional yet transformable pieces for the modern woman and man.
Vernon François is an incredible celebrity natural hairstylist and his line of products nourishes all kinks, coils, and Afros.
At Beauty Bakerie, everything’s sweet. From its Vogue editor-approved finely-milled setting powder to its satin finish bronzer, Cashmere Nicole’s cosmetics brand offers skin-care and makeup solutions crafted with Black beauty in mind.
From seductively glamorous gowns to innovative skin-care elixirs, there are so treasures designed by Black creatives that can be worn (and celebrated) 365 days a year. In the Vogue headquarters, it’s quite common to see editors working away in one of Christopher John Rogers’s spritely sweaters or gushing over Pat McGrath’s ultra-pigmented cosmetics.
It seems that Rihanna makes a statement with her every move—from her chart-topping hits to her reimagining of maternity style to her fresh take on beauty. While Fenty Beauty first became known for its expansive, inclusive take on complexion products, it’s not equally as loved for everything you need for a Fenty glow or baby-soft skin.
Founder Christina Funke Tegbe started 54 Thrones to celebrate the richness of Africa through clean, African-grown beauty products formulated in partnership with artisans throughout the continent.
Photo: Courtesy of Andrea Iyamah
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Photo: Courtesy of Hanifa
In 2013, Aurora James launched Brother Vellies, an accessories label that features a collection of handmade artisanal pieces that spotlight traditional African design.
From classic track pants to luxe hoodies, Fear of God is the epitome of power casual dressing, especially the approachable diffusion Essentials collection.
Vavvoune, founded by artisan and designer Valerie Blaise, is a leather bag and accessories brand designed and created in New York City.
Italian for “Theno sex/no gender,” No Sesso is the Los Angeles fashion house founded by Pia Davis in 2015. She helms the brand with Autumn Randolph, and together, they’ve created a line that challenges the conventions of fashion, art, culture, and design.
Born from a love of travel, Ashya, founded by Ashley Cimone and Moya Annece, reclaims the belt bag and other travel-friendly accessories in cool, unisex styles.
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One could say that vibrant pigments are what Juvia’s Place is most known for—from its statement-making eyeshadow palettes to rich, rosy blushes. Its bold colors were created out of founder Chichi Eburu’s struggle to find makeup solutions for her deep skin tone. Thus, Juvia’s Place was born.
Charlotte Mensah’s eponymous beauty brand is infused with sustainably sourced vitamin E–rich manketti nut oils and delivers moisture, softness, and shine to Afro, mixed-heritage, and curly hair textures.
The Honey Pot Co., founded by Beatrice Dixon, is a plant-based, chemical-free feminine-care brand with a plethora of products, including 100% organic tampons with biodegradable applicators, menstrual cups, soothing wipes, and more.
Founded by Olamide Olowe and Claudia Teng, Topicals offers a Gen-Z perspective on beauty through mental health advocacy paired with science-backed products targeting chronic skin conditions. The 20-something-year-old founders want you to remember that there is no such thing as perfection in beauty.
Island Tribe, founded by Angeline Hayling and “OD” Odero, is a womenswear lifestyle brand founded with a strong commitment to sustainability, fair-trade practices, and working with artisans from around the globe.
House of Aama is the spiritual expression of mother and daughter duo Rebecca Henry and Akua Shabaka—materials range from orange faux fur to light, delicate lace.
Founders Angela Ubias and Cary Lin sought to reimagine clean beauty through Common Heir, with the idea that high-performing skin care should be good for you and the environment. In its lineup, you’ll find an array of naturally-derived serums housed inside single-use plant-based capsules that can literally be melted in hot water (or composted) after each use.
Pyer Moss, founded by Kerby Jean-Raymond in 2013, is a men’s and womenswear fashion label concerned with building a narrative that speaks about heritage and activism.
Since 2017, Jessica Rich has used minimalist silhouettes with maximalist details to create standout shoes.
Edvin Thompson is the Jamaican-born designer behind Theophilio, a contemporary clothing brand based in Brooklyn, New York. His collections are known for their vibrant colors and rich textures.
Photo: Courtesy of Selasi
Founded by Nigerian-born Sharon Chuter, makeup brand Uoma—meaning beautiful in Igbo (one of Nigeria’s prime languages)—aims “to create a world of beauty that truly is for all of us.”
For mosaic-like prints and patterns, turn to Ahluwalia, which was founded by London-based designer Priya Ahluwalia and celebrates her Indian-Nigerian roots.
Brandon Blackwood is a contemporary accessories and goods company located in New York City, founded back in 2015. Blackwood gained international notoriety in 2020 when he created a mini-tote with the words End Systemic Racism engraved on the front. A portion of the proceeds from the bag was donated to the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which is an organization dedicated to helping racial and ethnic minorities find legal representation while fighting civil rights cases.
Photo: Caroline Fiss
Haitian-born designer Victor Glemaud launched his eponymous leisurewear collection in 2006 and is known for his brilliant use of knitwear and color for all people, genders, races, and sizes.
Wales Bonner, established in 2014 by Grace Wales Bonner, explores European and African history through its modern designs.
Clean and efficacious are two words that come to mind when we think of superstar hair-care brand Briogeo. Founded by Nancy Twine, the brand looks to celebrate all hair types through its natural-derived formulas.
Photo: Caroline Fiss
Founded by Kimberly Waldropt, Terra-Tory is a hypoallergenic body-care brand centered around superfood-filled soaps that tap into Waldropt’s Jamaican and Trinidadian roots. It emerged in 2017 after her long battle with stress-induced eczema.
Mowalola, founded by Mowalola Ogunlesi in 2017, is a Nigerian-British designer inspired by her London lifestyle and Nigerian roots.
With curve-hugging patterns and beautiful deep brown hues, Ronan Mckenzie, the founder of Selasi, makes clothes that celebrate the female form and honor her roots. The name Selasi translates to God hears me in Ewe, a language spoken in Ghana. “I’m not religious, Mckenzie told Vogue, “but for me, I take [Selasi] to mean trust my intuition, and I hear myself and my soul hears me.”
Mented Cosmetics was founded by KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson out of the urgent need to redefine what “nude” means within the beauty space. All lipsticks are vegan, paraben-free, and non-toxic.
Lemlem, founded by Liya Kebede, is an artisan-driven sustainable fashion label for women, men, and kids.
