Empowering Black-Owned Brands: A Guide to Conscious Consumerism
At Fearless Foundry, we are deeply dedicated to increasing equity and accessibility in the world of entrepreneurship. According to the most recent Census Bureau data, only 3% of businesses in the United States were operated by a majority of Black owners, and those businesses only accounted for 1% of gross revenue generated per year. This number is by no means reflective of the power and potential of Black-owned brands, it is reflective of the inequity that persists in the business community and is predicated by the history of racism and generational wealth inequality that has always been a part of America. But the past does not have to be our future.
We have the power to change these statistics.
One of the easiest ways to uplift Black creators and companies is to start by looking at where you spend your dollars —you may be surprised by how much of your money goes towards companies with little to no diversity in their leadership or workforce. Taking time out of your day to research Black-owned brands to frequent can make a world of a difference. Embracing and elevating Black-owned businesses is a means of economic support and a powerful way to advocate for justice and social change.
Unsure of where to start? The Fearless Foundry Collective has got you covered. Here are ten of our favorite Black-owned brands and a breakdown of just exactly why we love what they are up to in terms of using business as a tool to make the world a more equitable place.
SlickFace Beauty, owned by Sorena Adams, is based in Oakland, CA. Both a mom and an entrepreneur, Sorena has been working tirelessly since 2017 to build her brand and customer base. With hard work and dedication, she has expanded her scope of services and brought more folks onto her team. She is a strong proponent of social media when it comes to building relationships and networking in her community and has been featured in Forbes for her utilization of Instagram’s story feature.
SlickFace Beauty does eyelash extensions, makeup, waxing, haircuts, braid styling, bridesmaid services, mobile services, classic and hybrid training sessions, and more! If you have a special event you need to get prepared for, or even if you just want to treat yourself to a makeover, this is the place to go.
The Fearless Collective is thoroughly impressed by the innovative way Beatrice Dixon, the founder of this brand, went about addressing menstrual hygiene and vaginal care. Unapologetically Black and unafraid to take on the ‘taboo’ topics and product categories, The Honey Pot Company transformed the conversation of personal hygiene into one around self-care and wellness.
Their products are dermatologist-tested, safe for skin, and plant-derived! Honey Pot products can conveniently be found at big-name stores such as Target, Kroger, CVS, and Walgreens. It gets even better— two percent of all sales are donated to charities that work to provide access, connection, kindness, and education to people with vaginas across the world! One of our favorite products is their Normal Feminine Wipes, which help maintain a healthy pH balance and can be used on the body and face as well!
Half Day CBD is a Black-owned cannabis brand that focuses on bringing the resources and opportunities that cannabis creates back into the Black community. The company was founded by Dave DiCosola and Kam Norwood, two friends and entrepreneurs inspired by the benefits of CBD products and the ways they could be used as healthy and natural alternatives for a variety of needs.
They strive to accurately educate consumers on the benefits of CBD products, and their online store touts a wide array of products– everything from flower to edibles, to oils and topicals. All their products are grown and made in the US from quality, all-natural ingredients, third-party tested; rigorously recorded; and potent. One of our favorite products is their Full-Spectrum CBD Hard Caramels, they taste great and are generously portioned.
Pound Cake is one of The Fearless Foundry Collective’s all-time favorite cosmetics brands! This company strives to create lipstick shades that not only fit your skin tone– but your lip tone as well! They have set a new standard for exclusivity and perfected color theory in makeup. If you’re looking for a shade that is unique to your looks, this brand is the one. They even offer a quiz that helps you find the perfect shade for you!
Not only are they beautiful, they are flavored with a cake batter and vanilla icing scent that is to die for. On top of all that; they are vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, and racism-free! Our recommendation is the Red Bean shade from their lip collection. It’s lightweight, but don’t let that fool you– it provides maximum coverage and the color comes out opaque as can be!
Looking to shake up your wardrobe? Patta is a streetwear brand like no other. This brand was founded within the Dutch hip-hop scene in the late 90s and has taken off since. From stylish sweaters to eye-catching shoes, every item of theirs has a unique look and unparalleled creativity. Most importantly, their products are very comfortable yet still maintain a fashionable sense that The Fearless Foundry Collective finds perfect.
Our favorite item from Patta is their Classic Washed Hooded Sweater in Fuchsia Red which one of our team members has deemed, “the comfiest hoodie ever.” But don’t stop there. Check out their extensive footwear line, you won’t be disappointed. Carrying big names like Adidas, Jordan, Reebok, Nike, Converse, New Balance, and Vans; Patta has something for everyone.
Chris Lake, also known as The Behavior Booster, is an educator specializing in parenting. Based in New York, Chris has been working with children experiencing developmental delays for over twenty years. Chris has a blog on working with children, and in 2014 created a nonprofit called Community for a Cause which advocates for children with lead poisoning.
Our pick from Chris Lake is his book Help Your Toddler Meet Their Milestones: 101 Behavior Hacks, a masterpiece that gives you all the tools you need for navigating challenging behaviors and goes step-by-step on how to set rules, build speech, redirect aggression, and more. Not only can you get some skills to help you in your parenting, but a portion of all book proceeds goes towards stopping childhood lead poisoning.
Lauren Leavell is a group fitness instructor and Certified Personal Trainer known for her inclusivity of size and motivation for fitness. She describes her scope of services as “virtual workouts with a side of standup comedy.”
Signing up for the Leavell Up Membership gives you access to her library of instructional videos and lets you hop on for live classes! While you’re checking out her website, stop by the Leavell Up Store for the Barre Ball, a fitness accessory for both indoor and outdoor workouts and candles.
Me And The Bees Lemonade is all about entrepreneurship, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship. Mikaila Ulmer started her lemonade stand at just 4 years old with her Great Granny Helen’s recipe– but instead of sugar, she used honey! Since then, the brand has grown to be a national sensation with a feature on the hit show Shark Tank. Mikaila has also published a book about her adventures entitled “Bee Fearless, Dream Like a Kid.”
The Fearless Foundry Collective’s pick from this brand is their pear lemonade: our go-to for its refreshing taste and unique twist on traditional lemonade. The subtle sweetness of the pear makes it perfect for those who like trying different flavors. And even better yet– Me And The Bees’ profits go to organizations fighting to save bees! So drink in peace knowing that your money is going to a good cause: supporting a Black-owned brand while also helping protect our environment. Check out their store locator to find Me And The Bees products near you.
A haven for the aesthetically inclined, offering sleek cooking tools that are actually affordable. CRUXGG is a collaboration between CRUX® and Ghetto Gastro, a Bronx-based culinary collective. Every piece is inspired by The Bronx and places like it, putting a spotlight on the cultural drivers of the world!
If you are someone who gets tired of cooking several times a day– you need an air fryer. “But air fryers are clunky and space-hogging,” you might say. Let us introduce you to the CRUXGG 6qt Touchscreen Air Fryer. It's the best of both worlds - it’s an air fryer and it’s elegant! CRUXGG products can be found at select Target stores.
Morgan Harper Nichols is a neurodivergent artist and creative writer who makes truly beautiful and inspiring work. Her imagery contains powerful messages that find you at just the right time. Morgan discovered that she had autism, ADHD, and SPD (sensory processing disorder) later in life. She always took to art as a means of communication to express herself and her struggles. Common themes in her work are growth, the need for breathing room, and the capacity to learn and recognize change over time.
She is the creator of The Storyteller app and has an online store called Garden24 where she sells her work in the form of books, prints, stationery, journals, mugs, puzzles, tea towels, stickers, and more! Our pick is her bestselling book "All Along You Were Blooming," which contains poetry and art that truly embodies Morgan’s core principles and lessons to live by.
Honorable Mentions
While we wanted to include as many Black-owned brands as possible, we did have a large assortment to choose from and not all of them made a debut in this list. Still looking for Black-owned brands to support? Check out: Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, Here Wee Read, Topicals, and Jemar Tisby.
