In honor of Black History, we are celebrating some of our favorite Black queer owned fashion and accessory brands. Know of any other Black owned queer style companies that are not featured on the list? Please list them in the comments.
1. Stuzo Clothing
Owned and operated by QPOC couple Stoney Michelli and Uzo Ejikeme, Stuzo Clothing is a line of androgynous, athleisure, and Cali-casual-cool style. Stuzo only produces a few pieces per design in order to provide quality, limited edition products.
Photo by Molly Adams
2. Style Is Freedom
Entrepreneur and designer Toni Branson is the creative mastermind behind the gender-less fashion line Style Is Freedom. Their accessories and footwear are definitely Hypebeast-level dope.
Photo via Style Is Freedom
3. Kris Harring
Kris Harring design genderless evening-wear and tailored basics inspired around the deconstruction and re-imagination of the classic tuxedo. Harring’s pieces transition from day to evening merging the worlds of “mens” and “womenswear” with subtle ease and versatility giving us the freedom to never compromise again.
4. Bow Tie Behavior
Bowtie Behavior is a QPOC Femme-owned bow-tie and accessories company established in New York by Robin “Robbie” Williams. Robbie is a self taught designer with no formal training in fashion. In fact, she didn’t know how to sew when she attempted to make her first bow-tie back in 2014. But, she did know that she wanted to create bold, flavorful, pieces that would take the intimidation out of wearing bow-ties and make everyday styling fun and accessible. Today, each piece is handmade by Robbie. The Bowtie Behavior motto is “Everyday is a Fly Day.”
5. Haute Butch
Owned by Karen Roberts, Haute Butch fashion collection is a vibrant outward expression of dressing that represents the core of a butch woman’s gender presentation. From unique blazers, color contrasting dress shirts, sleek and highly tailored vests, preppy pastel polos – butch style seekers can consider this label a “go to destination for all things butch.”
Model at dapperQ’s CalAcademy show in Haute Butch. Photo by Miki Vargas.
6. Burkinabae
Sick accessories, period! Why dish out your cash on boring shades with some industry designer’s name on them (probably made in a factory), when you can adorn your face (and serve) with these Burkinabae sunglasses made by Karen Chatelain? Burkinabae also offers necklaces, rings, and other goodies that are just as beautiful and intricate as their shades.
Photos via Burkinabae.
7. Show & Tell Concept Shop
Owned by Alyah Baker, Show & Tell is an Oakland-based boutique that serves as a retail store, gallery, and small events space. Show & Tell offers sustainable and socially responsible apparel, accessories, and gift items, both in-store and online.
Photo via On the Grid.
8. Coco & Breezy
Stylish twin designers Coco & Breezy create “you can’t sit with us” cool eyewear that has received praise in Essence, Vibe, Glamor, InStyle, and other high-profile mainstream publications. It doesn’t get any more swag…
Photo by Sidney G.
9. Greenbox Shop
Greenbox Shop is an queer Afro-Latina owned activist apparel & lifestyle brand created by Kaylaa Robinson. All the lewks are stylish real talk for the people.
10. Trans Is Beautiful Apparel
Transgender advocate and blogger QuingNorelle recently launched the Trans* Is Beautiful t-shirt collection, a fashion-forward and philanthropic endeavor that leverags sartorial smarts to create positive change in the lives of trans individuals. A portion of each sale will go towards the Werk Those Pecs Fundraiser, which helps fund surgeries for trans people in need of financial assistance.
Photo courtesy Trans Is Beautiful Apparel.
11. KHIRY by Jameel Mohammed
Founded by queer designer Jameel Mohammed, KHIRY is a luxury jewelry line inspired by the African diaspora.
12. NO SESSO
Queer Black designer Pierre Davis became the first transgender designer to present a collection at official New York Fashion Week with her brand NO SESSO.
13. Feminist Speakeasy
Founded by Dāsha Guyton, Feminist Speakeasy is an intersectional gift shop, pop-up shop, and resisterhood that was founded on International Women’s Day (March 8, 2018) to channel outrage at sexism, racism, homophobia, xenophobia, transphobia, ableism and Trump’s America into something positive.
