BLACK OWNED CANADIAN BUSINESSES
As I mentioned in my Canadian Small Business blog post, I am doing three blog posts to encourage shopping small businesses within Canada this holiday season. That first one was all White owned Canadian businesses, except one company. Blog two, this one, is going to outline Black owned Canadian businesses and the final blog post will outline Indigenous owned businesses in Canada. Every holiday season I buy more and more from small owned Canadian businesses, but I have never actively seeked out Black owned businesses to support. That changes this year, and moving forward. If you can’t support during the holidays, because you just have your usual businesses you gift buy from, ok fine, but seriously look to these businesses during the year to purchase from and support. If you can’t buy, then share them with your friends and family, engage with them through their social media pages. Are you a business yourself? Maybe work together on a collaboration? We need to put a bigger spotlight on our Canadian owned Black businesses.
ACCESSORIES/JEWELRY
All images from Not Magic’s Instagram
This is a slow “fashion” simplistic jewelry studio and online shop. I believe the studio is closed right now, but the online shop is definitely open for shopping for that special lady in your life. I don’t just mean your mum or wife. A niece, your daughter, your bestfriend, your favourite cousin, you aunt, grandmother, stepmother, stepsister etc. Danielle Leigh is the person behind Not Magic, and makes beautiful classic rings, necklaces and earrings. The studio is out of Toronto but pricing is in USD, and frankly incredibly reasonable. You have jewelry starting at USD18 (approx. CAD24) to the highest priced item I could find at USD65 (approx. CAD85). My favourite item on the shop is the mood rings. I repeat, MOOD. RINGS. Brings me back to my youth and obsession with mood rings. Obviously these are WAY nicer, classier and timeless. I can’t wait to buy one for myself and some special girls on my gift list!
All images from TISH Jewelry’s Instagram
Another online store to shop for that special person in your life. This shop has more spiritual crystal pieces, like beautiful necklaces with crystal’s as the focal piece, crystal earrings in varying styles and then of course gem stone bracelets. There are also a lot of tassle earrings, which are my absolute fave! The online shop has a very wide selection of pieces that it’s honestly hard to choose which would be the best to purchase as a gift. Also, good luck not putting items for yourself in the cart while shopping for others.
BEAUTY & SKINCARE
All images from Apprenti Or’ganik’s Instagram
The first thing that I noticed about this company is that they really care about their carbon footprint, which is another thing as a consumer I’m looking for when purchasing. They recently switched back to plastic from glass bottles after getting numerous complaints of broken products in their glass containers. The company did extensive research about how transporting multiple packages because of breakage is creating more of a carbon footprint than using plastic, and how only 20% of of glass in Canada is actually recycled. I had no idea it was such a low number until I read it on their website. The company is aware plastic still isn’t the solution, but in the meantime they’ve partnered with One Tree, so for every purchase you make a tree gets planted for that purchase. I can fully get behind a company with a belief like that. If their determination on being eco-friendly didn’t sell you enough on the company, I’ll let the products they create do that. Natural skincare products, all infused with Canadian Hemp. They create and sell body washes with gentle exfoliating benefits and scented with therapeutic oils, most scents are of an earthy tone like Cedarwood. There are herbal bar soaps, a body butter, natural perfumes and even candles can be purchased through their online store. A great one stop shop to fill up someone’s Christmas stocking.
All images from Atelier Sirah’s Instagram
Do not SIT on this one. They have a small line of products that include a face serum, a body butter, a body scrub, a variety of lips glosses and a lip scrub and they are CONSTANTLY sold out. I believe that speaks volumes on the quality of the products and the benefits you’re getting from using them. They are releasing a holiday lineup of lip glosses soon, and a restock of products. I’m anxiously awaiting the restock to get my hands on some of the nude glosses! Cross your fingers for me!
All images from Essentials by Temi’s Instagram
Another natural online shop of body scrubs and body moisturizers you can find in both earthy scents and fun holiday themed scents. Hi, pumpkin spice and candy cane buttercream’s! A candy cane buttercream would be a great addition to any Christmas stocking this year. Temi also sells face masques, face mists and oils that have differing benefits. I also liked that they had a category on their online shop labeled “Soul”. Under this category you’ll find facial rollers, Gua Sha tool and their Freedom Roller, which is a concentrated oil to help destress, uplift and bring you back down to earth through oil aromatherapy. I think one of the biggest things for healthy skin is living a less stressful anxious life, and I love that this company recognizes that and has items that incorporate that part into your skincare routine.
All images from Go & Clow Co.’s Instagram
Vegan cruelty online colour cosmetics. Currently the online shop only sells three illuminators in copper, gold and platinum but when I was searching for Black owned Canadian businesses Sherisse and her business constantly came up in articles. This will be a company to watch and support early on. I’ve always been obsessed with a soft natural sparkling glow for the skin, and this is exactly what I want. The price point is in line with any high end cosmetic you’d buy from a big brand, probably even less than most. It’s also nice to know you’re supporting a company that believes in cruelty free cosmetics.
CLOTHING
All images from Cherry Gardens Instagram
I would label Cherry Gardens as chic athletic/leisure wear, mainly catered to women. Perfect for 2020 when you are home all day everyday, wanting to be comfortable but also still wanting to look chic. Their product selection isn’t large, but quality over quantity am I right? Their online store sells matching tops and biker shorts, though you can also buy the items separately, they have both a tank and sleeveless crop and even underwear! I’m super bummed their red logo CG long sleeve is discontinued, I love the retro looking print of the company name on that shirt. They did tease of a new logo shirt coming out for the holidays, so I’m excited to see what that will look like!
Images from Saint Lyon’s Instagram
This is for the fitness buff on your shopping list. This company has athletic wear, for women, in all sorts of gorgeous colourings. I really love their lilac pieces, and even their orange is a nice shade. The price point is incredible also, so affordable compared to that big brand store. You know, that one. You’re going to find sports bras, leggings, biker shorts, athletic t-shirts and they even carry a maternity legging, again at an incredibly affordable cost. Maternity anything is usually outrageously priced. They also have an ambassador program, so if you’re a blogger or fashion account, it would be a great way to help support them with exposure as an ambassador.
All images from the Comeback Season’s Instagram
Ok, so when I first found this company I was obviously drawn to the aethstetic of the tops they offered. They have a very simplistic style, literally just their logo on the front of a selection of t-shirts, hoodies, crewnecks and three different coloured windbreakers. They also have some toques and baseball cap, great for a stocking stuffer. What kept me on this company was the message behind the logo/name. Their message is about getting back to yourself and overcoming the hard season’s of life. That’s where “Comeback Season” comes into play, they represent you coming backing from all that hard shit. That just hits so close to home being in the midst of a hard journey myself. Purchasing an item from them is more then just a fashion statement, it’s the hope that one day you’ll have that comeback, or it’s showing the world, “hey, I did it. I came back from that hard time.” I’d say their tops are more catered to men, but I don’t see why a women couldn’t wear any of these items either. I’m eyeing the beige hoodie and putting that on my own Christmas list in hopes someone buys it for me.
HOME DÉCOR
All images from Seventh & Oak’s Instagram
A natural soy and coconut wax candle company. Candles are my happy place and I will never have enough candles. In fact I probably need to create a whole new cupboard just for candle storage in my house. They have two categories for buying, a Travel category and a Wellness category. Under Travel you’re going to find candles scented to certain destinations around the world, and the Wellness category has scented candles to calm, relax and destress. The Wellness candles have names like Zen, Serenity etc. Very cute jar designs too that will go with the decor of any household.
All images from Deekaay Art’s Instagram
A variety of trendy artwork for your home. There are some beautiful digital African and Black women and men prints, digital simplistic black and white word prints, varying versions of abstract and marble paintings, even world maps in different colours. This company can also customize prints for your home.
All images from Jean-Marie Candle Co.’s Instagram
If you can believe it, this was the only company I could find a lavender candle at. I desperately want a lavender candle for my bedroom to light at night and help get me sleepy. This company is more than just candles though, there are a lot of spiritual/wellness items to buy from the online shop as well. Bath bombs, sage kit, sage smudge sticks to purchase on their own. There is even a bath board which once my master suite bathroom is completed I’m scooping one up. I’ve always wanted a bath board! What I love about their candles is they are unique and hearty compared to other candles. When I say hearty, I mean the Birthday Cake candles you can visibly see little sprinkles in them, the “Calm Me” lavender candle has chunks of lavender in it. Maybe I’m a naïve candle buyer, but I’ve never seen candles like that before and it stood out to me.
FOOD & DRINK
All images from Mary’s Brigadeiro Instagram
Being a chocolate lover I really wanted to find a Canadian run business that made handmade chocolate for delivery, and Mary’s Brigadeiro literally fell into my lap. I wasn’t even searching specifically for it at the time, and there it was in an article I was reading. Not only does she make and sell chocolate, but she has a vegan collection of chocolates to purchase, chocolate spreads, coffee beans, a signature Brigadeiro cookie or 12 piece cookie dough batch to bake at home. I’m literally drooling as I go through the flavours she offers, and the chocolates themselves are a work of art. Though not pretty enough to stop me from devouring them.
I outlined this company on my Canadian Business post also.
STATIONARY
All images from DopeHaus Instagram
Think Hallmark store, but way funnier cards. Obviously, there are a ton of holiday cards to choose from right now, some are classic holiday but others are super funny. You’ll also find cards for other occasions, I particularly like the cards for the arrival of a new baby. Hilarious!
Though my Black owned business list is small this year, I’m committed to ensuring I spend more time seeking out black owned businesses to shop from going forward and I know the list will double in size next year! If you know of any Black owned Canadian businesses to support PLEASE share them by commenting on this post. That way anyone who comes across this post, can also find more Black owned business to check out thanks to your comments!
Happy shopping my friends!