The Beyoncé Effect Has Led Black-Owned Businesses To See A Spike In Cowboy Apparel

The Beyoncé effect strikes again!

The world is still processing the brilliance behind the Houston, TX-born artist’s latest album “Cowboy Carter,” which features singles including “Blackbiird,” “Texas Hold ‘Em,” and “Riiverdance.”

The album is certainly making its mark in music, breaking records as the most-streamed album in a single day on Spotify in 2024 when it was released, People reports. It also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, the eighth time for the star on the chart. To no surprise, “Cowboy Carter” could be a contender for next year’s Album of The Year at the Grammy Awards too.

While its status in music is clear, the album is also making its way in business. According to NBC News, Black-owned businesses have experienced an increase in demand for cowboy apparel following its release. This includes athleisure brand KIN Apparel founded by Philomina Kane, who jokingly shared as an April Fool’s prank on Instagram that the brand would be selling satin-lined cowboy hats.

However there was clear demand for the product, which propelled the founder to begin production.

“We just hadn’t seen ourselves represented that way,” Kane told NBC News about Western apparel. “It’s usually white people wearing it.”

Now, there is a waitlist of 2,400 signatures despite the shop only having 1,000 hats in production, the outlet notes. The hats are expected to release in June 2024.

What’s more, MCD Boots owner Genia Moses, who went viral in 2022 for being the “first Black woman-owned boot company,” is also reaping the benefits of the Beyoncé effect, citing a 20% increase in boot sales following the release of “Cowboy Carter.”

Across the board, Western-style boots saw a rise of more than 20% the week of the album’s release, according to consumer behavior research firm Circana, notes CNBC.

While “Cowboy Carter” initially made headlines for spotlighting Black artists who have been rooted in the Country space such as Willie Jones, Shaboozey and Tanner Adell, it is evidently doing the same for Black entrepreneurs.

“Beyoncé shows us that anything is possible,” Kane expressed, per NBC News. “She’s an inspiration but also like a motivator as well.”