Emma Scaramozzino - Updated February 4, 2022
BLACK OWNED
BUSINESSES YOU'LL LOVE
In honor of Black History Month, our team has highlighted some of the black owned brands and businesses that we love. This list consists mostly of our friend's businesses / brands that we personally love to shop with, along with a few new businesses we've recently discovered. We whole-heartedly believe in each of these businesses and their missions - we hope that you will support them as well & discover a new go-to brand for each of your shopping needs.
Quick Links → Artists, Home & Interiors, Clothing, Beauty, Footwear & Accessories, Restaurants, Organizations, Lifestyle
ARTISTS
CHLOE PITTERSON
Chloe Pitterson is a self-trained fine art portrait photographer heavily influenced by spirituality rooted in personal growth and living authentically. She uses a blend of styles to capture unique imagery and concepts that immediately speak to one’s emotions.
CRISTINA MARTINEZ
Cristina Martinez is an Afro-Latina Artist known for her abstract self-portrait paintings. More recently, she has created a clothing & home decor collection sold exclusively at Nordstrom.
AL-BASEER HOLLY
Philadelphia born artist Al-Baseer Holly (ABH) is best known for paying a tribute to childhood memories through his brightly hued paintings that colorfully blend pop culture figures with street art aesthetic. His works reveal playful energy of the artist’s regular rite of cartoon viewing on Saturday mornings, evoking a sense of nostalgia and state of lacking the constraints of rules and regime.
AARON RICKETTS
Aaron Ricketts is a photographer, visual artist and creative director whose work resides at the intersection of art and entertainment. Heavily inspired by surrealism, Aaron often aims to challenge human perception, condition and context.
RICKY WEAVER
Ricky Weaver is an image-based artist from Ypsilanti, MI. Weaver's practice prioritizes the ways in which image materializes within a spatiotemporal collapse. Her application of scripture, hymn, and colloquial passages observe the nuances of the everyday as portals to worlds that don’t require escape. She addresses the sonic, linguistic, and visual as a way to posture the body as a central mechanism for storing, downloading and transferring archives.
KEIOUI KEIJAUN THOMAS
Keioui Keijaun Thomas is a Brooklyn based artist known for her live performances and multimedia installations that address blackness outside of a codependent, binary structure of existence. Her work investigates the histories, symbols, and images that construct notions of black identity within black personhood.
SHIKEITH
Shikeith is a Pittsburgh based artist whose work investigates the experiences of black men within and around concepts of psychic space.
VIRGINIA CHIHOTA
Virginia Chihota is an Ethiopia based artist known for mixing screen printing techniques with drawing to produce unique works of striking formal complexity. Her work is deeply influenced by personal experiences - landmark and everyday. In a reflection on intimacy and the human figure, she has addressed themes such as childbearing, childrearing, marriage, kinship, bereavement and faith. At once mundane and transcendental, rife with allusions to everyday life, and religious and folkloric symbolism, her large works on paper display a raw, expressionist verve and a striking grace in the elaborate use of patterns, textures and layers.
HOME & INTERIORS
HARLEM CANDLE CO.
The Harlem Candle Company is a luxury home fragrance brand specializing in scented candles inspired by the richness of Harlem. Founded in 2014 by travel and lifestyle expert Teri Johnson, the Harlem Candle Company is the manifestation of her love affair with fragrance, jazz, and Harlem.
DYPHOR NEW YORK
Dyphor is a brooklyn based custom build and interior design showroom. Stop in & pick up a poof or hire the owners, Francesca and Ahmad DeShae, to design your entire space.
STUDIO LANI
Studio Lani, founded by Lani Adeoye, is a sculptural lighting and furniture brand that celebrates West African elegance with a contemporary sensibility in each design.
LINDSEY CREATED
Lindsey Created is a candle line inspired by freelance creatives. Keeping this in mind, the founder / hand-pourer Lindsey Morgan names her candles after moments that all freelancers can related to such as "paid invoice, home office, and self care".
FUNCTIONAL CREATIVE DESIGN
New York based Designer and Interior Architect, Sarah A. Abdallah, has overseen the design and execution of some of the world's most iconic hotels, restaurants, co-working spaces, residences and retail spaces. If you're looking to redo your space, she'll help create something that is both functional and beautiful.
CURVES
Curves is a contemporary home decor brand founded by artist Sean Brown. Sean is mainly known for his "elevated Y2K aesthetic", but you may recognize Curves most popular piece, the CD rug, from magazines like Dwell & Vogue.
CLOTHING
NOAH
This all-American menswear brand is known not only for their wardrobe staples, but their political and sustainable commitments as well. Founded by the former creative director of Supreme in 2015, designer Brendon Babenzien quite literally wears his heart on his sleeve in each collection by collaborating with like-minded brands and artists.
THEBE MAGUGU
A luxury South African fashion brand offering sleek, forward-looking ready-to-wear collections drawing from their continent’s storied past, complex present, and exciting imagined futures. The brand's multifaceted clothes mirror the inspiring qualities of the people they are made for.
HANIFA
Inspired by a woman’s journey to a life without limits, Hanifa utilizes captivating designs, bold colors and unique textures to create a feminine vibe and compliment a woman's natural curves. Carrying ready-to-wear collections for women sizes 0 - 20, they hold true to providing luxurious pieces for all women, at every turn of her lifestyle.
UNCOVERD.
Looking for a one-of-a-kind clothing brand? Look no further. Uncoverd gives up and coming designers a platform so that you can purchase pieces from all over the world.
ABASI ROSBOROUGH
Abasi Rosborough is reimagining menswear. The brand's founders, Abdul Abasi and Greg Rosborough, aim to break the modern connotations of the suit and focus on evolving it to not only be flexible and comfortable, but also architecturally modern.
FE NOEL
Fe Noel is a Brooklyn based womenswear brand known for its bold prints, vibrant colors, and glamorous silhouettes. Founder, Fe Noel, credits her style to her love for travel and her Jamaican heritage.
LEMLEM
Lemlem was founded by supermodel and actress Liya Kebede. Kebede was inspired to launch the brand following a trip to her native Ethiopia where she met a group of traditional weavers who no longer had a market for their craft. Since then, Lemlem has committed to elevating artisanship and expanding production and jobs across Africa.
SINCERELY TOMMY
Sincerely, Tommy is a Brooklyn based concept store with the coolest clothing & accessories in town! They even have a fully functioning coffee bar complete with pastries.
BEAUTY
BLACK GIRL SUNSCREEN
Black Girl Sunscreen is the first SPF lotion formulated for women of color. Infused with natural ingredients and made with melanated skin in mind, BGS dries completely clear and protects melanin without the white-cast.
THE LIP BAR
TLB is a cosmetics brand that aims to change the way you think about beauty. In a world where the media is constantly pushing beauty standards on consumers, founder, Melissa Butler, wants to remind consumers that they "are the standard!".
BENEATH YOUR MASK
Beneath Your Mask is a skincare brand founded by Dana Jackson. After being diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Dana decided to take a holistic approach to healing. Along the way, she created Beneath Your Mask; a skincare line with safe, non-irritating, and non-toxic ingredients that would not challenge the immune system.
BUTTAH.
Buttah skincare was created when founder, Dorion Renaud, couldn't seem to find products that actually worked for his skin. After years of searching, he discovered raw, organic, natural Shea. The transformational properties of this single ingredient inspired him to create the line.
MENTED
Mented is a line of cosmetics designed specifically for women of color. It's no secret that most make-up brands on the market don't represent all skin tones, so founders KJ Miller & Amanda E. Johnson decided to change that.
BKLYN BARSOAP
Bklyn Bar Soap is a vegan bar soap brand, handmade right here in Brooklyn by founder, Tameika B.
FOOTWEAR & ACCESSORIES
SAYSH
Saysh is a footwear brand founded by Olympic gold metalist Allyson Felix. Felix is the most decorated Olympian in track and field history, however, she found herself without a sponser (and sneakers to wear for her next race) when she became pregnant with her first child. In response, she designed her own running sneaker specifically made for women.
TELFAR
Telfar bags, also know as "Bushwick's Birkin", have taken the fashion industry by storm in the last 2 years. The luxury, unisex fashion line was founded in 2005 by Liberian-American Telfar Clemens. His goal was to create genderless clothes that fit his fashion vision. Over a decade later, the rest of the world is just starting to catch on.
BRANDON BLACKWOOD
Brandon Blackwood is a New York based designer creating unique and colorful luxury handbags.
BROTHER VELLIES
Aurora James founded Brother Vellies in 2013 with the goal of keeping traditional African design practices, and techniques alive while also creating and sustaining artisanal jobs. Now handmade by artisans across the globe, Brother Vellies creates luxury accessories that celebrate cultural histories and timeless design.
YVONNE KONÈ
Founded by Yvonne herself, Yvonne Konè started her line in hopes of creating shoes with an effortless sense of style that uphold story and heritage over trend, a dynamic cultural background, and a deep respect for the knowledge and technique of traditional artisans.
DIABOLI KILL
Angie Marei reveals the darker side of luxury with Diaboli Kill jewelry. The Brooklyn based jewelry brand is worn and loved by stars like Beyoncè, Rihanna, and Alicia Keys.
MATEO
Mateo was launched in 2009 by founder Matthew Harris. The NYC based jewelry brand is worn and loved by stars like Anne Hathaway, Gabriel Union, and Yara Shahidi.
VAVVOUNE
Vavvoune is a Brooklyn based leather accessory brand founded by self taught designer/artisan Valerie Blaise. Blaise aims to make leather "wearable" while hinting spunk in effortless ways of impression. The house also is committed to sustainability, donating to a list of art programs across the country.
RESTAURANTS
KOKOMO
Influenced by the rich and exotic culture of the Caribbean, KOKOMO’s cuisine builds on familiar island ingredients and offerings with a modern flair. The menu highlights a delicious mix of flatbreads, quality meats, comfort starches, and intoxicating cocktails.
FIELD TRIP
Field Trip is a restaurant where the base of every dish is rice. The concept was born when Chef, JJ Johnson, realized that rice can be found at the center of tables in almost every community. These colorful dishes can be enjoyed in Harlem and Long Island City.
RED ROOSTER
Craving comfort food? Red Rooster has it all. From mashed potatoes to fried chicken, it's impossible to leave this place hungry.
BABY JANE BAR
Known for their cocktails and small plates, Baby Jane is a quaint, Brooklyn based bar perfect for catching up with friends or a date night.
AMY RUTH'S
If you like chicken & waffles, Amy Ruth's is a MUST! They have the best in NYC and were voted #2 in the USA.
DICK AND JANE'S
A sister to Baby Jane Bar, Dick and Jane's is also known for their unique craft cocktails. However, stick to Baby Jane Bar if you're hungry! Dick and Jane's is all about the drinks.
ORGANIZATIONS
SEEDS OF FORTUNE
Seeds of Fortune is a scholars program created by Nitiya Walker. The program aims to help black women and women of color get into college and graduate debt free.
LIFESTYLE
THE HONEY POT
The Honey Pot Company is the first plant-based feminine care system that women can come to get everything they need in one place. From tampons to body wash - they have it all!
BLK MKT VINTAGE
BLK MKT Vintage is a Brooklyn based antique store that offers unique vintage pieces as well as interior styling services, prop rental/set design, exhibition loans and other special curatorial-based projects that center the relationship between Black people, material culture, memory and the contemporary.
ACTUALLY CURIOUS
Actually Curious is essentially a way cooler version of cards against humanity. The founders of AC aimed to create a fun and competitive card game that sneakily disarms your defenses and gets you talking about more important topics.
ALEXANDRA WINBUSH
Alexandra Winbush is a lifestyle brand known to create "an experience" with their limited edition self-care sets. Each set is complete with a candle and a loose leaf tea, perfect for your self-care rituals.
DIVERSE KIDS LIT
Diverse Kids Lit is an Instagram account dedicated to sharing children's books that show diversity. Our friend Danica, who runs the page, posts new books weekly along with a sneak peek of the stories and illustrations inside.
ELYSE LAVEAU TAROT
Elyse Laveau is a tarot card reader and intuitive based on Long Island. If you're wondering when you'll find your life partner, get a promotion, or just need overall guidance - she's your girl!