Here at Hirestreet we are committed to continue to fight for equality and be an anti-racist platform. We understand this means we have to question every element in working towards allyship to black people and one way that we can lend ourselves to the cause, is by educating ourselves about black-owned brands, and supporting in them wherever possible.
There are a huge array of talented black designers within the fashion and beauty industry, here are our faves that we love and know you will too!
All SIKA garments are designed in London and handmade in Ghana. The ethos behind the brand is not only to produce quality ‘made in Africa’ garments for the international market, but also to prove that garment production can successfully have social and environmental responsibilities at its core. For SIKA, that means paying fair wages, creating employment and making a meaningful difference within the Ghanaian community.
The Lisou collection is full of wearable, classic shapes with a modern twist and are made from the finest silks. One of their core beliefs is to make a positive global impact and they donate the proceeds from one piece per collection directly to helping young Africans with medical and educational needs.
Cushnie was founded on the desire to serve the modern woman. Artfully crafted with clean, sculptural lines, the collection is precisely tailored to achieve the perfect fit for the female form.
Andrea Iyamah is popularly recognized for its eccentric and unique take on swimwear, using vibrant colours and cuts inspired by an array of African cultures, the brand also specializes in ready-to-wear and custom made special event dresses under its sister brand Andrea Iyamah Bride. Strongly influenced by the brand’s African heritage, a blend of various cultures inspired the colours and themes of the first official swim collection which launched in 2013.
Frustrated by the lack of skin-tone choices to go with her ever-expanding wardrobe, Nubian Skin founder, Ade Hassan, decided it was time for ‘a different kind of nude. The brand wanted to redefine ‘nude’, and making the term more inclusive meant that Nubian Skin has had a huge influence, with many other parts of the industry realising the need to be more inclusive.
From local, raw materials to handcrafted, finished products – Indego Africa support the integrity of artisan-made goods and create opportunities for the women who make them. They invest 100% of their profits into their artisan partner’s education through locally-run entrepreneurship programs. They help women and youth develop the skills they need to create brighter economic futures for themselves and their communities.
Rihanna was inspired to create Fenty Beauty after years of experimenting with the best-of-the-best in beauty – and still seeing a void in the industry for products that performed across all skin types and tones. Starting with Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r foundation that changed the game with 50 inclusive shades, she launched a makeup line “so that people everywhere would be included,” focusing on a wide range of traditionally hard-to-match skin tones and creating formulas that work for all skin types.
Juvia’s Place was created to celebrate the rebels, rulers and queens of the African kingdoms of long ago, who emulated and honoured beauty through their soulful and innovative techniques that the top beauty gurus still use today. Inspired by the queens before us, Juvia’s Place offers the richest, most vibrantly-pigmented essentials for the eyes, face and lips to take you from the office, to the Caribbean islands, and everywhere inbetween!
For more than two decades, Pat McGrath has been concepting, launching and developing luxury cosmetic brands, countless runway shows, breakthrough advertising campaigns and editorial spreads. Each season, Pat McGrath conceptualizes and creates beauty looks for more than 60 ready-to-wear and couture shows in Milan, Paris, London and New York for a luminous roster of the world’s most prestigious brands and visionary designers.
UOMA Beauty is an all inclusive black-owned beauty brand founded by Nigerian born, LA & London based former beauty executive Sharon Chuter. She draws inspiration from her Afro heritage and infuses it with fierce modernity to create a truly fresh aesthetic. UOMA say they exist to re-write the rules of inclusivity and diversity to create a world of beauty that truly is for all of us. “Our race is human, our people are free, our language is color. All are welcome to our beautiful tribe.”
We hope you love these brands as much as we do and continue to support BAME owned businesses, now and forever.
Love Hirestreet xxx
