15 Black, LGBTQ+ Owned Brands to Support Year-Round
In a world where inclusivity and representation matter now more than ever, aligning our purchasing power with our values has become a significant act of solidarity. This article invites you to celebrate the intersection of Black and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurship by shining a spotlight on 15 brands that we personally love and support. Beyond offering affirming and innovative products, the visibility and existence of these businesses are part of a larger narrative shaped by the resilience and leadership of Black activists within the LGBTQ+ community. From fashion to beauty, jewelry to home goods, this curated list introduces you to brands that embody the spirit of progress and inclusion. Let’s dive in and discover how each Black, queer-owned brand is reshaping their respective industries.
For Them
For Them, founded in 2021 by Kylo Freeman, redefines wellness and creates binders that make you feel comfortable in your body. For Them’s mission is to pursue wellness that reflects the diversity of today’s world, and they’re achieving this by breaking the binary and providing products and services that the LGBTQ+ community deserves. As someone who is queer and non-binary, Kylo Freeman saw a gap in the market for products that spoke to their experience. For Them became the answer to that need. The brand believes that nothing is more powerful than human beings existing as their most authentic selves and aims to nurture and celebrate this evolution.
Common Heir
Common Heir is a revolutionary skincare brand founded by Angela Ubias and Cary Lin in 2020. They were driven by the shared vision of sustainability and inclusivity. They began to create a line of clean, high-quality skincare products that would positively impact both the planet and the people who use them. Inspired by their diverse backgrounds and experience in the beauty industry, Angela and Cary developed Common Heir as a gateway brand to a more sustainable lifestyle. They go beyond recyclable packaging by introducing biodegradable capsules to reduce environmental harm. Common Heir is also focused on inclusivity by catering their products to melanated skin and using active ingredients that have universal benefits.
CTOAN Co.
CTOAN is a Black, queer, and small-owned artisanal candle brand founded by Jodyann Morgan after she discovered her passion for candle-making while experimenting in her kitchen. Since then, Jodyann has been crafting hand-poured, gender-free candles that celebrate the beauty of the human body. CTOAN’s body candles are dedicated to promoting representation and inclusivity. They are carefully designed from a gender-neutral viewpoint, allowing individuals to connect with the art regardless of gender. CTOAN proudly offers soy-based, well-crafted candles and home goods. Jodyann’s commitment to celebrating diversity and spreading joy through her artistry is apparent in every product.
Brownie Points
Brownie Points is a Black-owned and operated brand founded by Texas-born, Los Angeles-based artist and comedian Rinny Perkins. Brownie Points sells various products, such as candles, jewelry, clothing, prints, and accessories. Their shop celebrates authenticity, encouraging open conversations about dating, sexuality, and mental health. Brownie Points embraces sustainability by using recyclable packaging, limiting plastics in production, and designing reusable candle vessels and velvet jewelry pouches. Brownie Points is also committed to giving back to the community. They support organizations such as Project Row Houses of Houston, promoting sustainable art and community enrichment in the historically Black neighborhood of Third Ward, where Rinny grew up, and A Long Walk Home, which aims to end violence against women and girls.
Reparations Club
If you’re a bookworm, you’ll love Reparations Club, a visionary concept bookstore and creative sanctuary founded and led by Jazzi McGilbert. The bookshop opened in 2019 and quickly symbolized empowerment and community in Los Angeles, California. Reparations Club has shelves full of books from Black authors and serves as a gateway to an inclusive environment. Beyond just books, Reparations Club also holds in-person events such as karaoke sessions, artist conversations, and queer game nights, fostering a welcoming atmosphere that celebrates authenticity and diversity.
Show & Tell
Show & Tell is a vibrant and inclusive concept shop based in Oakland, California and founded by Alyah Baker in 2011. They are focused on highlighting joyful living and offer a carefully curated variety of handmade items from their Show & Tell Collection and ethically sourced goods from like-minded brands. Show & Tell believes in socially responsible practices, authentic self-expression, and celebrating underrepresented communities, including people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, and more. The shop features various products such as apparel, accessories, home goods, beauty products, and cards. Each item embraces uniqueness, vibrancy, and empowerment. Show & Tell Oakland is not only a retail space but also a platform for community engagement through their events and support of independent artists.
Coco and Breezy
Coco and Breezy is an eyewear brand founded by twin designers, producers & DJs Corianna and Brianna Dotson in 2009. Originally starting as a DIY project, Coco and Breezy’s unique designs quickly became popular in the entertainment and fashion industry and have been featured in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. They have partnered with well-known brands such as Hershey's, Ciroc, and SIX:02, and the late Prince wore their iconic "third-eye" sunglasses. Coco and Breezy’s mission is to empower individuals to embrace their unique styles while uplifting underrepresented communities. They are redefining eyewear with their bold and forward-thinking designs.
Mintty Makeup
Glam up with Mintty Makeup, a cosmetic brand created from a bold Black, Trans, Queer point of view! The brand is founded by Junior Mintt, a Brooklyn-based drag artist, trans rights activist, and entrepreneur who is on a mission to empower Black, Trans, and Queer individuals. Her brand offers a range of cosmetics, such as the EmpowerMintt Eyeshadow palette and the Treatmintt Lip Duo liquid lipstick. Mintty Makeup is a cosmetic brand and a statement of empowerment, kindness, and empathy. Junior Mintt recognizes the need for more representation and support for Black and Trans individuals in society as a whole. She actively supports organizations such as Okra Project, Marsha P. Johnson Institute, and For the Gworls to uplift and advocate for the community.
Moodeaux
Moodeaux is a luxury fragrance brand founded by Brianna Arps. They offer clean, unisex fragrances that empower individuals to "Flaunt How You Feel®" and have revolutionized the art of perfumery by using plant-powered ingredients without water or dyes. As a Black, woman and queer-owned brand, Moodeaux proudly challenges conventional norms and promotes a lifestyle of mindful self-care while reducing impact to the environment. The brand has earned recognition from well-known publications such as Refinery29, POPSUGAR, Self, Women’s Health, and more. Moodeaux actively promotes diversity and inclusivity in the fragrance industry through its initiative called Black In Fragrance™. The brand is committed to leveling the playing field for Black perfumers and Black-owned fragrance brands by creating a global support network of professionals, consumers, retailers, and media outlets.
Stuzo Clothing
Stuzo Clothing is a gender-free clothing brand that celebrates people of all shapes and forms. The brand is founded by Stoney Michelli Love, an African-Panamanian graphic designer, actor, and photographer. As the head of the design department and Art Director for Stuzo Clothing, Stoney is passionate about the brand’s mission of creating gender-free apparel that celebrates individuality. Stuzo Clothing aims to create a space in the fashion world where everyone is welcome without judgment. Each clothing piece is designed to invoke thought and emotion and are inspired by love, people, and life. With their bold and non-conforming designs, Stuzo Clothing is revolutionizing the fashion industry by promoting inclusivity and diversity.
Reisfields NYC
Reisfields NYC is a Black and queer-owned candle brand founded in Brooklyn, New York by Reis Chester in 2016. Reis crafted Reisfields NYC as both an ode to Black and queer culture and a sanctuary for individuals like him and his husband. The brand creates hand-poured, 100% soy wax candles from their lab in New Jersey, bespoke small-batch self-care blends influenced by botanicals, and individually handpicked crystals from across the globe, which are ethically sourced and cleansed with Palo Santo for clean energy and vibrations.
Ruxwood
Ruxwood is a minimalist and modern clothing essentials brand founded by Justin “Jussy” Gilbert and Bronze Avery. They are focused on providing quality and inclusive underwear that celebrates the sensuality of the human form while highlighting diversity and empowerment. Ruxwood’s gender-neutral designs and neutral color palette aim to create a welcoming environment that seeks to break away from traditional norms and embrace a humanistic sensuality. Ruxwood also shows their commitment to fostering an inclusive community with their BLACKBOOK app, helping users track their sensual experiences, and a website journal that highlights diverse community stories.
Khiry
In 2016, while studying Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania, Jameel Mohammed was struck by a statement from the CEO of a global luxury goods company. The statement was, “True luxury brands could only originate from Paris or Milan, given their distinct histories of artisanship and cultural heritage." Inspired, Jameel started KHIRY to challenge this Eurocentric view, aiming to channel the African diaspora’s beauty, art, and culture into contemporary, luxurious vermeil jewelry. Jameel’s pieces push against stifling tradition and seek to understand history on their own terms, creating an archive that beautifully mirrors life, reflecting the past and potential for the future.
Pipcorn Heirloom Snacks
Pipcorn is a unique and innovative snack brand changing the popcorn industry, founded by Jennifer Martin, Jeff Martin, and Teresa Tsou. Pipcorn is dedicated to providing snacks that taste great and prioritize nutrition and environmental sustainability. What makes Pipcorn unique is their commitment to using heirloom corn varieties, which have been around for over 100 years and are open-pollinated, ensuring genetic diversity and flavor preservation. Their heirloom corn is grown by family farmers who prioritize sustainable agricultural practices. This results in popcorn that is crunchier, flavorful, and higher in fiber and nutritional value than commercially grown hybrids. Pipcorn is redefining the popcorn industry with their wide range of popcorn snacks such as mini popcorn, twists, cheese balls, crunchies, and more.
Mateo New York
Mateo New York was founded by Matthew Harris from Montego Bay, Jamaica. After discovering his passion for jewelry making in New York City, he taught himself the art form and spent countless hours perfecting his skills in the jewelry district. In 2009, Mateo New York was created and was initially focused on men’s jewelry inspired by a working man’s toolbox. With the success of the men’s collection, Mateo New York introduced a women’s capsule collection. In 2014, a strategic decision led to a refocus on women’s fine jewelry and drew inspiration from modern art. Each piece is crafted from precious metals and embellished with diamonds and gemstones.
Each of these Black, queer-owned brands has unique products and stories of how they started out, such as KHIRY’s luxury jewelry inspired by the African diaspora culture and Pipcorn’s use of heirloom corn and sustainable agricultural practices. Through their products and offerings, they amplify the voices of Black, LGBTQ+ individuals and communities. As we highlight these brands, we also honor and appreciate the hardworking and game-changing Black, queer visionaries behind them.
If you’re looking for more Black, queer-owned brands to support, click here to see all Black-owned brands on Famm!
Shop Black, LGBTQ+ owned brands year-round! 🏳️🌈
