As the holiday season continues, experts say that apparel are expected to be amongst the items facing extreme discounts.
According to a report by CNBC, apparel at stores like Walmart are already being sold at a 20% discount and stores like Target have already increased their discounts by four percent since last year.
For this holiday season, here are five Black-owned clothing brands and shops to support.
- REBDOLLS: Featured in magazines like BuzzFeed, Essence, Ebony, Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health, REBDOLLS is an inclusive fashion company founded by Grisel Paula in 2014. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Harlem, Paula started the company after being exposed first-hand to the lack of plus-size clothing by big brands. With REBDOLLS, she and her team offer everything from swimwear, bodysuits, dresses and jumpsuits for sizes small to 5X.
- Zou Xou: Created by entrepreneur Katherine Theobalds, Zou Xou is a shoe company with products that are made completely ethically. Theobalds created the company after successfully pursuing a fashion career in NYC and finding that, in most of the companies she encountered, the fashion world wasn’t aligning with her beliefs and created toxic spaces. With Zou Xou, she and her team offer customers shoes made of materials that are chosen for their sustainability and created by a team of workers who decide their own hourly wage and work in a safe environment.
- Aware Brand: Co-founded by entrepreneurs Richard Faison and Drew Sanders, Aware Brand is a clothing brand that focuses on promoting self-awareness. Through their designs, the brand promotes not only looking after one’s health- physical and mental- but also highlights important issues. Collections include the “Know Yourself Collection,” the “Pride Collection” and the “Carbon Collection.” Featured in GQ, Esquire, Foot Locker and RollingOut, the company’s tees and sweats have already gained worldwide attention.
- BLK MKT Vintage: Launched in 2014, BLK MKT Vintage is a Brooklyn-based vintage clothing store that promotes celebrating Black history through old clothing and collectibles. Founded by two Brooklyn natives, Kiyannna Stewart and Jannah Handy, because of their love of thrift shopping, the store uses vintage clothing to map out the history of Black America. Along with clothing, the store sells furniture, vinyl and books.
- Feben: Already a celebrity favorite, this Black-owned luxury clothing label is self-titled after fashion designer Feben. As an up-and-coming designer, Feben has already worked with celebrities such as Janelle Monáe and Erykah Badu. She was also the creative force behind Beyoncé’s Brown Skin Girl. Through her designs, Feben looks to celebrate Black identity and the beauty of Black women.
