10 WOC-Owned Brands to Celebrate
While we believe women should be celebrated all year long, we thought this Women’s Month would be a great opportunity to uplift some women of color-owned businesses that we admire. From spices to beauty, women of color are creating the products they wish to see in the world for us by us. Keep reading to learn more about their inspiration and who knows, you might find yourself inspired to purchase something for the women in your life.
Nopalera
Inspired by the beauty and richness of her Mexican culture, Sandra Velasquez, founder of Nopalera, began her bath and body care line out of her apartment. Each product is formulated with clean ingredients celebrating the beauty and resilience in each of us, whether you’re Latinx or not.
OMSOM
Vietnamese sisters Vanessa and Kim Pham co-founded Omsom as a way to make delicious Asian flavors accessible to everyone. Their goal is to proudly share the multitudes that exist not only in Asian cuisine but also in their stories. You can find their products at a store near you or sign up for a subscription on their website.
The Lip Bar
After a Shark Tank rejection, Melissa Butler, Founder and CEO of The Lip Bar, reminds us that rejection is just redirection. From her very own kitchen, she created a vegan lipstick with the intention of bringing inclusivity to all skin shades. The products are non-toxic with five-star quality.
Bloomi
Co-founded by sexologist, Rebecca Alvarez Story, Bloomi is an intimate health essentials brand for all bodies. Whether it’s solo or with a partner(s), Bloomi has a range of products to elevate your pleasure. Their website also offers sexual wellness resources and guides.
Spice Tree Organics
Their shared passion for bold flavor and global cuisine inspired Doaa and Freda, two Muslim mothers living in NYC, to create Spice Tree Organics. Their line offers 21 spice blends from eight regions of the world. Aside from offering a variety of flavors, they donate 2.5% annually to grassroot relief efforts.
Harlem Candle Co.
Teri Johnson, travel and lifestyle expert, founded the Harlem Candle Co. as a declaration of her love for Harlem, jazz, and fragrance. As a world traveler, Teri discovered the ability scent has to transport us. Each candle is uniquely handcrafted and tells a story providing you a luxurious and relaxing experience.
Rizos Curls
Julissa Prado’s relationship with her curls has come a long way since her childhood. In search of the perfect curly hair products, Julissa decided to take matters into her own hands and Rizos Curls was born. From loose waves to coily strands, there’s a product for that and everything in between.
Home Beis
Like many of us, food was a significant part of Scherise Merritt’s upbringing. However, diet-related illnesses were common within her Dominican family and Sherise realized that it wasn’t the cultural meals that were the problem, but instead the harmful ingredients. She decided to create Home Beis, delicious spice blends that offer a healthier alternative.
Black Girl Sunscreen
Sunscreen is said to be the most important step in any skincare routine, but most sunscreens are created for light skin individuals. Shontay Lunday founded Black Girl Sunscreen for women of color to protect their skin from the sun without the white cast. Made with safe ingredients, you can find the right kind of sunscreen for your skin’s needs.
K’dara CBD
Founded in 2020, K’dara is a CBD wellness brand made with the intention of allowing women to pursue their dreams without letting the daily stressors of life take over. Katrina Thompkins, the founder of K’dara, saw firsthand the effects of stress as a Cardiovascular ICU nurse and was inspired to open the way to a new way of living through the power of CBD.
