35 Black-Owned Fashion & Shoe Brands to Support

In the wake of George Floyd’s death and the world’s call to end police brutality, there are many ways to 

support the #BlackLivesMatter cause. Among them, you can join a protest, donate to civil rights and justice 

organizations, write petitions to government leaders and at the very basic level, educate yourself on the ways 

systemic racism has persisted in society. Another powerful way is to donate to black-owned businesses, 

including black-owned fashion and shoe brands.

Not only have have African American businesses been hit the hardest by Covid-19 store closures, but they’ve 

also historically struggled with securing capital as a result of discriminatory lending practices and lack of ties 

with big banks. And in the fashion industry specifically, which has profited off appropriating black culture for 

decades, black faces still aren’t represented equally. Black designers remain a rarity, and as reported by 

Forbes, Louis Vuitton’s Virgil Abloh and Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing are the only black creative directors at 

major brands to this day.

Ahead, we rounded up a range of black-owned fashion and shoe brands you can shop, from big to lesser-

known labels. While the list isn’t exhaustive, it offers a touching point for exercising your buying power to 

help enact change and keep black-owned companies like these thriving.

Ade Samuel

Classic style and comfort are key factors of Ade Samuel‘s luxury line of sandals and pumps for women. The 

designer, who has also dressed some of today’s hottest names like Yara Shahidi and Justine Skye, is inspired 

by the strong female figures she’s worked alongside.

Aliétte

Notable celebrity stylist and designer Jason Rembert debuted his first women’s collection during New York 

Fashion Week in February 2019 to a packed house. Although not available to shop online, his garments are 

accented by the use of bold colors and eye-catching embroidery.

Amina Abdul Jillil

Former dancer Amina Abdul Jillil kick-started her shoe designing career in 2012, launching a line of bold 

silhouettes for brides and the everyday, modern woman. Her collection is full of standout details like glittering 

bow embellishments and chunky hardware.

Armando Cabral

With a focus on minimalism, intricate details and innovative constructions, Portuguese model-turned-designer 

Armando Cabral makes timeless men’s shoes for every occasion. Choose between styles like loafers, derby 

shoes, boots and sneakers, all made by Italian artisans with premium leather.

Brother Vellies

Founded by Toronto-native Aurora James in 2013, Brother Vellies creates eco-friendly footwear and 

accessories for women. The one-of-a-kind pieces are handmade by artisans around the globe using traditional 

African design practices and techniques, from wicker mules to fur-embellished sandals and handbags 

featuring Kenyan hardwood chain links. Notably, the company recently called on large corporations to buy 

15% of their products from black-owned businesses.BALL’N

For a range of cool, performance-ready basketball shoes, gear and apparel, look no further than Chicago-

based label BALL’N. Since getting its start nearly 30 years ago, the brand has been backed by some of the 

biggest names in the game, including Los Angeles Laker forward Ron Artest and Michael Jordan (the latter 

who wore custom jerseys from the brand during the 1994 Pippen Summer Classic). The styles are available to 

shop via the company’s Facebook page, with prices topping out at $100 and inclusive sizes offered up to 3X in 

apparel.

Christopher John Rogers

From Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 26-year-old designer Christopher John Rogers debuted his eponymous label at 

New York Fashion Week in February 2020. The collection, complete with bright colors and bold, statement-

making silhouettes, is available to shop at Net-a-Porter.com. Since 2016, the designer has sold made-to-order 

designs from his Brooklyn studio, and even created custom looks for Michelle Obama and Lizzo.