The time of year when the air gets nippy, you add a few more layers to your outfit, and the echoes of holiday music ring through department stores as you search for the perfect gift. You have a taste for hot chocolate and a yearning to watch classic holiday movies.
Yep, it’s Christmas time–my favorite time of the year.
Something about the flashing holiday lights, the smell of cinnamon, and the plush fabric of a sweater against my skin is an unmatched feeling for me. And now that the holiday season has come, many of you are probably going Christmas shopping (albeit online and with a budget due to Covid-19).
2020 has been a year of chaos and unrest to say the least, but with the holiday season near, why not give your friends, family, and/or colleagues that perfect gift from a Black-owned business to give them a light at the end of the tunnel that is 2020?
Whether you want to get that special someone something warm for the wintry months or your favorite co-worker their favorite coffee, I got you covered with my favorite Black-owned businesses you can support this holiday season.
1. GOLDE – Health/Wellness
If you or someone you know loves superfoods and all things health and wellness, Trinity Mouzon Wofford and Issey Kobori’s Brooklyn-based company Golde has everything you need.
Founded in 2017, Golde sells a variety of natural products such as latte blends, face masks, detox kits, and so much more. Who doesn’t love to look and feel good?
(If you subscribe to Golde’s mailing list, you can get 15% off your first order!)
2. Culture Clips – Fashion/Style
Like the Black Lives Matter movement, Crocs have grown in popularity over the years, and Culture Clips offers Croc-wearers a unique add-on to their favorite pair of Crocs.
The brand centers around Black culture and representation with their shoe charm pieces. From “Black Girl Magic” charms to simple Hamsa charms, Culture Clips offers just about any charm centered around the Black experience.
Make sure to get your fellow Croc-wearers a charm or a bundle of charms (for a low price) with Culture Clips! No one is doing it like them.
3. Pink Lipps Cosmetics – Beauty/Makeup
Getting glam has never been so easy and fun with Pink Lipps Cosmetics. Started in 2011, Pink Lipps Cosmetics not only sells a variety of products like lip gloss, moisturizing lipsticks, and highlighters but they also offer beauty consultations.
You’re bound to have an unmistakable glow no matter what shade you are with Pink Lipps Cosmetics, and that’s what I love the most about this company.
If know someone who loves makeup that will last and has a rich quality, then this is the perfect company for you to buy from!
4. BLM Society – Clothing/Apparel
As someone who loves Christmas sweaters and Black-owned businesses, this company caught my eye immediately.
BLM Society is a company that sells unisex clothing, face masks, among other items. I recently bought the Black Lives Matter sweater, and I can’t get enough of it. It’s super soft, great to sleep in, and shares an important message: Black Lives Matter.
Not into the festivity of Christmas sweaters? BLM Society sells face masks, outerwear, and stickers too. With this company, simplicity is key–which is why I love it.
5. Glo Through It – Home Essentials
With the winter months here, I’ve found that having candles are a must in my household. They leave an amazing scent in each room and give the house a warm atmosphere during the more wintry months. Paired with some hot cocoa and my favorite Spotify playlist, I can never go wrong.
And you can never go wrong with a candle from Glo Through It. The Virginia-based company has beginnings similar to this blog.
Started during the pandemic, Kandace Florence used her heartbreak and love for candles to inspire her candle company. With every candle comes a positive affirmation and a comforting scent. It’s sure to be a holiday must in your household.
There are so many amazing, small Black-owned businesses that have yet to garner the attention they deserve. It’s essential to support these businesses because the dollars you put into their products are dollars you put to invest in the Black community–a marginalized group that has suffered great losses this year and still faces racial inequality. Buying Black closes the racial wealth gap, helps support small communities and allows for Black creators and business owners to provide for their families and communities.
Many mainstream corporations, who earn trillions of dollars of profit, are often performative with their activism and support of Black communities; a Black screen and a statement are not enough to be supportive, but buying from and supporting a Black-owned business is activism within itself.
Although these are my favorite brands right now, don’t limit yourself to just these companies. There’s plenty of black-owned businesses to support this year and beyond!
