60 Black-Owned Fashion Labels and Clothing Stores You Can Shop Right Now
There’s a lot of work to be done in the fight against systemic racism and police brutality against Black Americans. You can protest, vote, battle for policies aimed at ending discrimination in law enforcement, call local government officials, and donate—if you can, whatever you can—to bail funds and other vital organizations. (We have some suggestions, if you need 'em.) And while you're thinking about where you can put your money to work, it makes sense to apply that same consideration to your closet, too. To that end, we’ve put together a (by no means complete) list of black-owned fashion labels and clothing stores. Whether you’re looking for a fit-worthy sweatsuit or a masterfully crafted business suit, start here next time you’re stocking up.
Pyer Moss
In just seven short years, designer Kerby Jean-Raymond has built Pyer Moss into one of the most vital and consequential fashion labels in America.
Johnny Nelson Jewelry
Johnny Nelson's signature rings depict prominent black icons like Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, and Harriet Tubman.
A. Sauvage
Adrien Sauvage's dandyish tailoring takes cues from both his native London and his adopted hometown of Los Angeles.
Brother Vellies
The driving force behind the 15 Percent Pledge, designer Aurora James's label crafts elegant, distinctive footwear and leather goods.
Telfar
The designer behind the "Bushwick Birkin" has become a global sensation for his ambitious, artful collections.
Renowned LA
A rising streetwear label co-founded by designer John Dean, an L.A. transplant by way of Akron, Ohio.
XULY.bet
For nearly 30 years, XULY.Bët has remained one of the most original and vibrant forces in Parisian fashion.
All Caps Studio
Philadelphia's Saeed Ferguson prints his simple and substantive graphics on highly coveted tees, sweats, and totes.
Armando Cabral
The standout menswear model's eponymous line produces classic, Italian-made lace-ups, loafers, and boots.
Fear of God
Designer Jerry Lorenzo's flow-y, texture-rich vision of luxury has had an outsized influence on the entire menswear landscape.
Art Comes First
London design duo and former Ozwald Boateng protégés Sam Lambert and Shaka Maidoh infuse elements of subcultures from across Britain and the globe into their polished, precise tailored wear.
Daily Paper
Founded in Amsterdam by a trio of friends, this streetwear blog-turned-clothing label flips staples like camp shirts, trucker jackets, and cargo pants in strong hues and bold prints.
Third Crown
Designed by husband-and-wife duo Kristin and Kofi Essel, this New York line's head-turning jewelry is beloved by the likes of Beyonce and Issa Rae.
L'Enchanteur
Identical twins Dynasty and Soull Ogun specialize in a striking array of clothing, fine jewelry, and eyewear.
Ashya
Ashya focuses on exquisite leather belt bags and crossbody satchels.
Off-White
Even after founder Virgil Abloh’s ascent to artistic director of Louis Vuitton, Off-White continues to deliver as dynamic, meta, and forward-thinking collections as ever.
Frere
Brooklyn-bred tailor Davidson Petit-Frère's bespoke suits have graced the backs of Chris Paul, Jay-Z, Diddy, Michael B. Jordan, and dozens of other luminaries.
Brownstone
Twin brothers Warner and Waverly Watkins weave sharp, narrative-driven collections influenced by the current political climate, their Virginian roots, and the hardcore punk scene they grew up in.
The Marathon Clothing
The lifestyle brand founded by the late, great musician and activist Nipsey Hussle.
The Brooklyn Circus
Smartly updated takes on collegiate classics like varsity jackets and chenille patch sweatshirts.
Denim Tears
Tremaine Emory, one of the professional cool guys behind party throwing-slash-branding-slash-clothing design outpost No Vacancy Inn, explores the "stories of the oppressed" under his Denim Tears moniker.
Bianca Saunders
At just 26, British wunderkind Bianca Saunders has already established herself as one of the most inventive new voices in menswear, reimagining suiting and workwear staples with a playful, incisive eye.
Nicholas Daley
After working with the likes of Nigel Cabourn and Beams, Central St Martins grad Nicholas Daley struck out on his own with a line of trippy, drapey, utterly desirable clothes that seems to get stronger every season.
No Sesso
No Sesso—Italian for “no sex/no gender"—fashions unconventional, boundary-bending clothes befitting its name.
A-Cold-Wall
Former Virgil Abloh protégé Samuel Ross is a master of techy outerwear, slouchy tailoring, and elevated sweats.
Martine Rose
Martine Rose was one of the secret weapons behind Balenciaga during the first few seasons of Demna Gvasalia’s reign. Her eponymous brand mixes workwear codes with far-out shapes (plus some of the baddest square-toe shoes in history).
Post Imperial
Designer Niyi Okuboyejo applies the Nigerian adire dyeing technique to everything from camp-collar shirts to extremely wavy neckties.
Wales Bonner
Grace Wales Bonner’s clothing is meticulous and elegant, with every new collection the result of deep creative collaboration with artists, musicians, and writers.
Golf Wang
Tyler, the Creator’s line deals in soft pastels, psychedelic prints, and supremely wearable flips on prep school silhouettes.
Waraire Boswell
Among Waraire Boswell's many fans are Jay Z, Chris Paul, and Kevin Durant. Colin Kaepernick wore the brand in this magazine, too. Boswell makes ready-to-wear but might best be known for his custom suiting.
Kenneth Nicholson
Kenneth Nicholson is a former Navy member who uses his experience, and childhood living on Army bases, to reimagine uniforms in a fashionable way.
X of Pentacles
Marcel Ames gives new meaning to "southern dandy" from his Neapolitan tailoring outpost in Richmond, VA.
Union
One of the finest stores in menswear just so happens to be run by one of the most thoughtful men in the industry.
Yeezy
Kanye West’s groundbreaking Adidas kicks get most of the attention, but his earthy, vibe-y fashion collections continue to get better and better every season.
BLK MKT Vintage
This Bed-Stuy gem focuses on vintage clothing, literature, collectibles, and oddities all tied to vibrant moments in black history.
Heron Preston
After rising to fame as a member of Been Trill (alongside Virgil Abloh and Alyx’s Matthew Williams) and a design consultant on Yeezy, Heron Preston launched his own workwear-tinged, graphic-heavy label.
WAFFLESNCREAM
Some of the best prints in the game, on fabrics hand-dyed in Nigeria.
Kenneth Ize
You will NOT understand plaid until you step into Kenneth Ize’s universe.
Romeo Hunte
Brooklyn native Romeo Hunte crafts out-there outerwear, like patchwork shearling coats and intricately paneled trenches.
Resurrect by Night
A favorite of Russell Westbrook, Resurrect by Night adorns its jackets and basics with bold, brash, socially-minded grafitti.
Victor Glemaud
Haitian-born, New York-raised Victor Gleamed sumptuous knits are beloved by the likes of Iman, Dominique Jackson, and Selena Gomez.
Phlemuns
Phlemuns is sooo coooool, a far-out and sexy but subtle mix of knits and denim that’s helped make LA a new hub of anti-establishment fashion.
Studio 189
Co-founded by Rosario Dawson—yes, that Rosario Dawson—and Abrima Erwiah, Studio 189 ethically manufactures its spectacularly hand-dyed gear using traditional techniques in Accra, Ghana.
Public School NYC
Maxwell Osborne and Dao-Yi Chow's label sprang up in the early days of the #menswear revolution, and their ultra-New York gear still packs a punch.
Michel Men
In addition to her top-notch neckwear, designer Whitney Michel recently unveiled a collection of printed face masks. A portion of proceeds from each sale will benefit The Dream Defenders, an organization committed to serving the homeless community of Miami during the pandemic.
Mowalola
London-based designer Mowalola Ogunlesi loves skimpy silhouettes, freaky-ass color palettes, and Nine Inch Nails. What more could you ask for?
The Folklore
Founded by Amira Rasool, The Folklore is a New York-based online store and showroom committed to showcasing high-end and emerging brands from Africa and the diaspora.
Maxhosa Africa
South African designer Laduma Ngxokolo’s epic knitwear takes inspiration from traditional Xhosa beadwork patterns.
Casely Hayford
Charlie Casely-Hayford launched his namesake label with his late father Joe a decade ago, bringing a fresh sensibility to traditional Savile Row tailoring.
Darryl Brown
Darryl Brown’s hardy, American-made workwear reflects his unusual path to fashion: he worked at a steel mill, as a railroad engineer, and at General Motors before launching his line.
Brett Johnson
Brett Johnson combines American styles with Italian materials to create refined pieces entirely his own.
Tongoro
This Senegalese label is dedicated to offering sophisticated African-made fashion at wildly affordable prices.
Billionaire Boys Club
Pharrell Williams launched this colorful streetwear line back in the mid-aughts, and it continues to age as well as its founder.
Pseudonym
A vintage store blessed with a far more eccentric and curatorial eye than leagues of its competitors.
Just Don
Former Kanye manager Don C’s elevated flips on throwback basketball shorts have become a tunnel style staple throughout the NBA.
Spencer Badu
Spencer Badu offers crisp, minimal takes on sportswear silhouettes like quarter-zip pullovers and cargo joggers.
Carrots by Anwar Carrots
For over a decade, Anwar Carrot has been a central figure in LA streetwear, and his bright, poppy imprint has linked up with brands as disparate as K-Swiss and Brisk.
Orange Culture
Nigeria designer Adebayo Oke-Lawal creates show-stopping pieces in metallic fabrics and uncommon hues.
Cereal & Such
LA artist Theo Martins flipped his love of late-night cereal into a well-designed line of apparel, melamine bowls, and, yes, boxes of cereal.
4YE
Toronto's 4YE is known mainly for its signature durags, but has recently branched out to reworked vintage sweats and throwback airbrushed hoodies.
Style
With uprisings in L.A. and across the country, Gibbs isn’t worrying about looters or his store. Instead, he’s laser-focused on what matters most: fighting police brutality.
Style
Designer Aurora James’s 15 Percent Pledge calls on big retailers to devote shelf space to historically underrepresented brands.
Originally Appeared on GQ
