Fabulous Fashion: 5 Black Women-Owned Boutique Owners You Should Know

Exploring Black-owned boutiques can be a rewarding experience where fashion and culture intertwine. These boutiques offer a diverse range of styles, from Afrocentric fashion to contemporary trends, ensuring there’s something for every type of shopper. This article is sponsored by Discover®, who believes everyone deserves to feel special and is proud to support inclusive experiences.

Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in America. But even though more are starting their own businesses, their brands often struggle to sustain themselves long term. Before we share five Black women-owned boutiques you should check out, it’s important to understand why supporting a Black women-owned business is a cause to stand by.

Supporting Black women-owned businesses is not only crucial to helping the Black community, but can also help contribute to solving racial and gender-based inequities within the business world. Many women feel underrepresented and undervalued in the business world. This is especially true as it relates to Black women.

According to the Harvard Business Review, 17% of Black women are in the early stages of starting a new business however, only 3% manage mature businesses. This shows that even though Black women are pursuing entrepreneurship, they may have a difficult time succeeding. This may be because they experience the greatest lack of access to capital, educational opportunities, and professional development. As a result, many Black women-owned businesses fail without ever having a fair shot.

Women and Minority Business also shared how supporting a Black woman-owned business unlocks many exciting products and services for consumers to explore and choose from. From self-care, fashion, jewelry, and more, there are many unique offerings from these brands you might not find elsewhere. 

Lot XI is a beautiful apothecary brand co-founded by Krystyl Wrights, a talented Los Angeles creative. With environmentally safe and organic ingredients, all their products are curated and crafted by hand. So, whether you prefer candles or herbal soap, Lot XI is the place to be for your self-care must-haves.

Brittany Freeney, former managing editor at Marie Claire, started the company Jade Swim, a one-stop shop for all your bathing suit needs. Their sustainable swimwear has a minimalist look paired with unique design details that fit all your swim requirements. The best part about Jade Swim is that their stylish apparel provides UV protection from harmful sun rays, too.

Honey’s Child is a rising boutique carrying trendy apparel for plus-size women. Its owner, Letitia Young, started the company after recognizing a lack of styling options for plus-size women. Today, Honey’s Child is a leader in creating superior designs for everyday women.

Founded by Kalani Carrion, The East Wing is a boutique on a mission to provide quality apparel at an affordable price. The store carries a lot of basics — from t-shirts to shorts — so you can mix and match your faves to create an outfit right for you.

Co-founded by sisters Rachel Topping and Rikki-Richelle, Nappy Head Club isn’t just an online store; it’s a whole community for people with natural hair. The brand sells everything from apparel to hats. Plus, Nappy Head Club donates part of its proceeds to a charity every month to give back to the community.