BIPOC-Owned Brands
Being thoughtful about where your money is being sent takes a little extra time, but can go a long way. When buying from brands—especially smaller ones—that are owned by people of color, you are addressing a reality and supporting (even if it feels minute) the decrease of the racial wealth gap, while bolstering local economies, and celebrating culture and community. It’s an act of optimism and enthusiasm. The gifts in this guide (which includes covetable home goods, apparel, skincare products, art, books and more) are from Black and Indigenous individuals and people of color—whether they are the company owners, the designers, artists or makers.
Hero image courtesy of NorBlack NorWhite
Suba-Q Slippers
Suba-Q Slippers
Crafted from leather offcuts upcycled from luxury brand production runs, paired with soles filled with cork granules drawn from the waste of the California wine industry, the Suba-Q slippers are born of local (and mostly natural) materials. The latest release from future-forward Proto Collection, these soft, comfy home shoes come in an array of subtle and vibrant colors, and six different sizes.
Added: December 2023
This product is sold by Proto Collective
Chore Jacket
Chore Jacket
We find so much joy in seeing two brands that do good things for the world collaborating to make something special. For this limited collection Transnomadica reworked vintage blue chore jackets in four different styles exclusively for Proto. Transnomadica is the evolution of Maurizio Donadi’s vast collection of vintage denim, military and workwear which he curates into informative and inspiring gallery exhibitions and also reworks using both modern and traditional techniques to bring peace, love and fun to old pieces. Proto is an upstart footwear brand dedicated to finding a better path in the industry by focusing on equity, representation, fairness and sustainability through the entire value chain of what they do. Prices range from $280 – $320 depending on the style.
Added: September 2023
This product is sold by Proto
Duplo Design Molcajete + Tequileros Set
Duplo Design Molcajete + Tequileros Set
A follow up to last year’s smash collaboration this set by Made in Cookware and Guadalajara-based Duplo Design, founded by sisters Marcela and Tania Medina, is handmade in Guadalajara from local volcanic rock and brings a fresh vibe to your kitchen. The molcajete features a modern flat base and cork pad underneath to prevent scratching your counters. The trio of tequileros—traditional cups used to enjoy your favorite tequila or mezcal—nests in a Mexican oak serving tray.
Added: July 2023
Made In Cookware
Aries Cleanser
Aries Cleanser
Lin Chen’s Pink Moon offers the opportunity to align skincare with your zodiac. Whether you’re astrology-obsessed or not, their Aries Cleanser—inspired by fire signs Aries, Leo and Sagittarius—provides a gentle cleanse, incorporating aloe vera, neem oil, white nettle and allantoin. The cleanser boasts a milky texture and minimal lather, leaving skin feeling supple and refreshed.
Added: June 2023
This product is sold by Pink Moon
Tall Shoulders Vase
Tall Shoulders Vase
Toronto-based ceramicist Julie Moon coil-built the Tall Shoulders Vase with stoneware and a matte white glaze. As its name indicates, the ceramic stands statuesque with exaggerated arms, adding a quiet playfulness to the otherwise regal form.
Added: May 2023
This product is sold by Julie Moon Ceramics
Summer Essentials AAPI Beauty Box
Summer Essentials AAPI Beauty Box
100% of profits from sales from this gift box will be donated to AAPI Women Lead, an organization that aims to end violence within and toward the Asian, Asian American and Pacific Island communities—with a focus on women, girls and gender-expansive individuals. The set includes items from Mohala Eyewear and Aloha Collection, Tatcha, Girlfriend Collective, Tower 28, Mount Lai, Kulfi Kajal, Eadem, Youthforia and Have A Nice Day. From hair accessories to cleansers, a gua sha and more, there are plenty of goodies within.
Added: May 2023
This product is sold by Various Brands
Umbrella
Umbrella
Cult-favorite Dutch brand Patta (founded in 2004 by Edson Sabajo and Guillaume “Gee” Schmidt) teamed up with Amsterdam-based graphic design studio Experimental Jetset for this bold umbrella. The black and white design—which has been silkscreened onto pongee fabric—was inspired by metropolitan maps and signage. With an easy-to-use push extension, the eight-spoke umbrella is eye-catching and utilitarian. Price is in Euros.
Added: March 2023
This product is sold by Patta + Experimental Jetset
“1” Print
“1” Print
Originally an airbrushed painting, this risograph print from skateboarder, activist and artist Jeffrey Cheung is a touching depiction of three nude figures embracing. Printed by Cheung himself, the limited edition artwork (which measures 10.35 by 12.75 inches) celebrates queer identities playfully and tenderly.
Added: March 2023
This product is sold by Jeffrey Cheung
The Gathering Pack
The Gathering Pack
Three mini Agüita Mágica bottles (each 200ml) comprise The Gathering Pack from mezcal brand Agua Mágica. The award-winning mezcal contains notes of cooked maguey, bananas, almonds, citrus, caramel and peach. It’s a slightly smoky, bright and smooth mezcal that has the potential to transform cynics and rookies into enthusiasts. Beautifully bottled (replete with golden netting), it’s an ultra-premium mezcal underpinned by Oaxacan tradition, culture and ancestral wisdom.
Added: February 2023
This product is sold by Agua Mágica
“Banners” Skateboard
“Banners” Skateboard
Designed for Queer Skate Day in Paris, France, the “Banners” skate deck comes from artist Jeffery Cheung’s Unity—a radical, queer skate collective and skateboard brand. One side of the 8.25-inch deck is marbled green while the other is dark peach. The deck celebrates inclusivity, with the artist’s signature artwork on one side and Unity’s logo and slogan “Like it or not!” on the other.
Added: February 2023
This product is sold by There Skateboards
FUKU Jacket
FUKU Jacket
FUKU is a kimono-style garment, lined with a soft fleece for extra warmth and comfort. From the Japanese brand Prospective Flow, the traditional jacket (with roomy pockets and a single button closure) is relaxed but imbued with sophistication.
Added: February 2023
This product is sold by Prospective Flow
Sovereign Land Long-Sleeve T-Shirt
Sovereign Land Long-Sleeve T-Shirt
From Clothing The Gaps (a hybrid social enterprise and apparel brand), this long-sleeve “Sovereign Land” T-shirt states a fact and can work as a conversation starter about invasion, sovereignty and land rights. The Melbourne/Naarm-based collective designs and prints the garment in Wurundjeri Country in an ethical manner. Made from 100% cotton, its bold colors also echo those of the Aboriginal Flag. Price is in AUD.
Added: January 2023
This product is sold by Clothing The Gaps
Bunny Charm Earring
Bunny Charm Earring
From Tokyo-based AMBUSH, founded by YOON (aka South Korean American designer Yoon Ahn) and Verbal (Japanese rapper, producer and director), the silver Bunny Charm Earring celebrates the brand’s playful and experimental aesthetic. The rabbit dangles from a safety pin earring, all crafted from brass but coated in a shiny silver finish. It’s also available in sterling silver and gold-plated sterling silver.
Added: January 2023
This product is sold by AMBUSH
TELFAR Wallet
TELFAR Wallet
Debuting in 17 different eye-catching colors, the highly anticipated TELFAR wallet features the beloved brand’s T logo embossed on 100% genuine leather. With a zip enclosure, the semi-circular billfold accessory can stash up to six cards along with cash. More than a wallet, it’s a representation of designer Telfar Clemens’ distinct aesthetic.
Added: January 2023
This product is sold by TELFAR
Scribble Nalgene Bottle
Scribble Nalgene Bottle
Adorned with a scribble design by James Paris, this 32-ounce Nalgene water bottle was created as part of Philadelphia store YOWIE’s pop-up with Nordstrom. With a narrow spout, it’s perfect for sipping from while on the move or during a workout class.
Added: January 2023
This product is sold by YOWIE + James Paris
Essential Matcha Kit
Essential Matcha Kit
From Ippodo—a Kyoto-based company that has made high-quality tea for almost three centuries—comes this Essential Matcha Kit. Included in the all-in-one set: high-grade matcha, white tea bowl, bamboo ladle, tea strainer, whisk and even a whisk stand for storage. The matcha is a rich, smooth iteration called Horai that combines sweetness, bitterness and umami. It’s a lovely set for experts and rookies, and for the latter there are instructions too.
Added: December 2022
This product is sold by Ippodo
Pierre Chore Jacket
Pierre Chore Jacket
Même, which means “same” in French, is a fitting name for an LA-based children’s clothing brand that operates under the ethos that kids should be free of expectations pertaining to gender. Their Pierre Chore Jacket is an elevated yet playful piece engulfed in wavy stripes. Made in Portugal from 100% cotton, the boxy garment features a drop shoulder, contrast patches and cropped sleeves, encapsulating how même champions bold but practical designs that encourage play and self-expression.
Added: December 2022
This product is sold by même
Eat More Baseball Cap
Eat More Baseball Cap
Phillip Lim and Panda Express partnered on a capsule collection of merch that benefits six organizations (Heart of Dinner, More Than a Meal (via Feed Forward), OCA-Greater Houston, Radical Family Farms, Respect Your Elders (Mama’s Drive-by Kitchen) and Welcome to Chinatown) that fight food insecurity within the AAPI community. From the three-piece collection, the “Eat More” baseball cap has been embroidered with the words “eat with us” on the front, and “eat more, share more, love more” at the back. With a buckle closure for adjusting the size, the six-panel cap is made from 100% cotton. All proceeds from sales of the cap are donated to the aforementioned organizations.
Added: December 2022
This product is sold by 3.1 Phillip Lim + Panda Express
Hand-Building Planters Class
Hand-Building Planters Class
In partnership with The Sill, 24/7 ceramic studio BKLYN CLAY offers a guided workshop on hand-building pots with insight on the elements needed to support the growth of various plants. The class includes a $30 voucher to select a plant from The Sill, with planters available for pick up a few weeks after the class.
Added: December 2022
This product is sold by The Sill + BKLYN CLAY
Macaroni Necklace
Macaroni Necklace
Crafted with hand-painted sand-cast beads—antique African trade beads made by turning glass into powder, a process that originated with the Krobo tribe in Ghana in the 1800s—each of SVNR’s Macaroni Necklaces is one of a kind. The beads are threaded on 38-inch raffia but can be restrung on metallic cord for extra durability. All proceeds from sales go to Build Black Bed-Stuy, an organization fighting to preserve the historically Black community in the Brooklyn neighborhood.
Added: December 2022
This product is sold by SVNR
Pipe Party Workshop
Pipe Party Workshop
Pipe Party is LA’s first pipe-making workshop from inclusive ceramic studio POT. Open to all skill levels, the class features step-by-step instructions on making and decorating pipes and all the necessary accomanying instruments. It’s a fun, creative way to celebrate cannabis—with the class being BYOB as well as BYOC.
Added: December 2022
This product is sold by POT
The Epic Patchwork Body Pillow
The Epic Patchwork Body Pillow
Made from deadstock linen tinted with low-impact dyes and with an LA-made insert, this body pillow from Lindsay Rose Medoff’s sustainable sewing and production shop, Suay, is a design-forward, cozy home addition. Featuring patchwork in three different colorways (oatmeal, mustard or indigo), the pillow transforms upcycled materials into a lush way to lounge.
Added: December 2022
This product is sold by Suay
OYA Pour Over Set
OYA Pour Over Set
Made by the staff of POT—a ceramics studio in LA that prioritizes people of color, adult beginners and the LGBTQ+ community—this pink pour-over set is full of levity, featuring a speckled design and a wacky frowny face with eyes made of stars. 100% of the proceeds from purchases of this set go to OYA Studio-Museum in Philadelphia to help Black ceramicists make and acquire art.
Added: November 2022
This product is sold by POT
Reparations Club Tote
Reparations Club Tote
This durable tote bag proudly supports LA’s Reparations Club, a concept bookstore and creative hub founded and owned by Jazzi McGilbert. Available in neon yellow or black and emblazoned with the words “Black-Owned / Women-Owned,” the tote is made in the US by workers who earn a livable wage. Crafted from 100% cotton, 13-ounce bull denim, it’s big enough to carry books, groceries, records and more.
Added: November 2022
This product is sold by Reparations Club
Cozy Quilted Jacket
Cozy Quilted Jacket
NorBlack NorWhite is Mriga Kapadiya and Amrit Kumar’s clothing brand that merges contemporary fashion with traditional Indian craftsmanship. For their Cozy Quilted Jacket, the duo spent three years at various markets sourcing fabric for kambal, a blanket that is often worn like a shawl in India. They then transformed the material into a classic liner silhouette reimagined with vibrant, lush patterns, including this forest green variation that’s overlaid with red roses. Each jacket’s colorway is limited to editions of 15 and are available from sizes XXS to 3XL.
Added: November 2022
This product is sold by NorBlack NorWhite
