Black-Owned Fashion Brands in Canada
Black-Owned Fashion Brands In Canada
“The Future Is Now” is the theme for this year’s Black History Month. It is a chance for us to honour the past and present, and celebrate the transformative work that Black Canadians and communities are doing. #SupportBlackBusiness is to invest directly in the wealth of Black communities, to empower Black entrepreneurs who make impacts on their communities, and to create more jobs for Black people. To shine some light on local Black-owned fashion brands across Alberta, we have put together a list of 10 businesses that have shown their resiliency, creativity and vitality in the community.
Veer Active is a vibrant athleisure wear company inspired by Afro Culture. As a Black-owned premium activewear brand, they offer quality materials and dynamic designs that reflect the ideas, culture and heritage of African communities. With a passion for inclusivity and universal beauty, every purchase at Veer Active also accompanies a donation to an equally reputable nonprofit organization.
Welcome to Pretty FeatureZ - an Edmonton based e-commerce brand specializing in anything from loungewear and activewear, to evening casual and accessories. Fresh to the market, this local business is known for their locally sourced cotton lounge sets and 100% luxe silk durags.
The advocates at Oonsie Boutique are here to reaffirm the truth that ‘every body is beautiful’. This local brand is on a mission to provide pieces that leave women feeling confident, beautiful and one of a kind. Shop their store for anything from clothing and apparel to accessories.
TRIBE is a local collection of streetwear apparel and accessories. Known for their signature TRIBE baseball caps, the brand was founded on the idea that ‘everyone is a part of a tribe’ and acts as an insignia that members from any community can wear with pride. You can shop their signature styles on their site below.
Divineity fashion was originally started as a project to help economic conditions in Nigeria, the founder’s hometown. The brand has since become a place where both men and women can find elevated dress wear made directly from Nigerian manufacturers. Additionally, a portion of all profits made is donated to local organizations supporting victims of domestic violence.
KYN APPAREL
Kyn Apparel is an Edmonton based brand that specializes in integrating bold African prints into everyday wear. Blending their prints into a variety of textures like tulle and denim, Kyn apparel seeks not only to normalize bold prints in fashion, but create styles that effectively express those with vibrant styles.
Known for their luxe satin sleepwear collections, Lunar Loungewear is a Montreal-based pajama brand, supplying sleepwear and accessories worldwide. From robes to matching pajama sets to sleep masks, Lunar loungewear is beloved for their ability to personalize name embroideries on their products.
Sunday Afternoon is a female-owned Afro-indigenous brand championing ethically made clothing and home décor. Their carefully curated collection includes ethically sourced pieces for both apparel and interior decoration and upholds their commitment to a holistic and sustainable lifestyle.
Batik Boutik is a socially responsible fashion line that aims to showcase the artisanal talents in West Africa. With designs sourced directly from Ghana, the contemporary brand seeks to add traditional African flair to modern pieces for both men and women. The members at Batik Boutik are passionate about normalizing ethical fashion and creating a future where ethical fashion is a norm, rather than a niche.
Omi Woods is a contemporary heirloom jeweler which crafts individually and ethically handmade pieces. Using fair-trade African gold and conflict-free fine metals, the materials are sourced from small artisanal mines to support miners well being through fair wage exchanges.
We understand this list only covers a small fraction of the Black-owned businesses across Canada. Comment below your favourite Black-owned clothing and beauty businesses, we will make sure to update our list.
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We're an Edmonton-based digital fashion magazine dedicated to raising awareness around locally based brands. We're on a mission to put Alberta on the world map for fashion, and bring a little bit of fashion from Canada + beyond back to Alberta. We can't wait to share with you in this adventure of appreciation and love for both fashion and our locals.
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