25+ Eco-friendly BIPOC Owned Small Businesses to Shop
As conscious consumers it’s so important to support BIPOC owned businesses. This guide features a variety of small businesses.
These BIPOC owned businesses are using eco-friendly materials, sourcing responsibly, and making a difference. Shop small and support ethical fashion brands, natural beauty brands, and more.
This post does contain some affiliate links. The Honest Consumer may receive a commission from select purchase, but our commission is at no additional cost to you.
The Importance of Supporting BIPOC Owned Businesses
According to the NCRC, despite the recent growth of BIPOC owned businesses in the economy, small businesses, particularly black and Hispanic- owned small businesses, face many barriers.
This is reflected in lower rates of business ownership among minorities.
The last U.S. Census Survey of Business Owners (SBO) shows that while the Black population comprises 12.6% of the total U.S. population, they make up just 9.5% of all business owners and own just 2.1% of firms with employees.
This contrasts with the white non-Hispanic population who comprise 62.8% of the U.S. population, own 70.9% of all businesses and 81.6% of the firms with employees.
There is a wide disparity in both the revenue and size of Black and Hispanic-owned businesses when contrasted with other groups.
These low rates of business ownership and size, along with other factors, such as lower rates of homeownership, contribute to the widening wealth gap between minority groups and the white non-Hispanic population.
In regards to the recent pandemic the California Reinvestment Coalition reports that BIPOC owned small businesses have had less access to affordable credit and financial services due to structural racism baked into the banking system, this has resulted in less access to the PPP loan program, a lifeline for small businesses in the early days of the pandemic. The result?
The New York Federal Reserve found that 41% of Black-owned businesses across the country shut down between February and April, about 32% of Latino businesses and 26% of Asian businesses shut down over the same time span, compared to 17% of white businesses during the same period.
Does Shopping BIPOC Owned Brands Have an Impact?
YES! As conscious consumers use your dollars to support BIPOC owned businesses & invest money into these communities to encourage growth.
As minority owned businesses continue to grow this creates more jobs for BIPOC communities. This round up features 25+ BIPOC Owned Brands that are primarily owned by women.
To discover more BIPOC Owned Brands be sure and also check out our other round-ups 50 Sustainable Black Owned Brands, AAPI Owned Brand List, 15 Gift Ideas from BIPOC Owned Brands, & 9 Sustainable Indigenous Brands.
BIPOC Owned Fashion Brands
If you’re looking to discover BIPOC Owned clothing and accessory brands this is a great place to start.
The Good Tee’s Fair TRade Organic Cotton Clothing
The Good Tee is a sustainable clothing brand focusing on high quality Fairtrade Certified organic cotton t-shirts.
Photo by The Good Tee
This socially responsible brand allows ethical shoppers to easily learn about the transparent supply chain and trace the manufacturing process through videos and resources highlighting The Good Tee’s partner suppliers and the materials used.
Plus, be sure to check out my review of The Good Tee’s clothing!
Darzah’s Embroidered Shoes
Darzah empowers refugee and low-income women in West Bank, Palestine through the creation of high quality leather goods.
This non-profit social enterprise is creating job opportunities for women to rise out of poverty, support their families, and keep the traditional artform of Tatreez embroidery alive. Darzah’s beautiful leather shoes, bags, and accessories celebrate fair fashion and modern style.
SheNative Clothing Made with Organic & Recycled Materials
SheNative exists to instill inner strength and unwavering confidence in all women, using teachings that come from Indigenous Nationhood. SheNative’s cozy sweatshirts are made with organic and recycled materials.
Global Mama’s Fair Trade Clothing
Global Mamas community is comprised of thousands of people from around the world working together with the mission of creating prosperity for African women and their families.
Photo by Global Mamas
Global Mamas is a non-profit, so while legally not owned the founders of Global Mamas were a group of six Black & white women. “The Mamas” produce beautiful clothing made using traditional practices and fair trade principles ensuring every Global Mama is paid a steady, living wage.
Global Mamas further empowers the Mamas by inviting them to be a part of organizational decisions and product development.
Kind Karma’s Ethical Jewelry
Kind Karma is a meaningful, minimalist jewelry line empowering at-risk and transitioning homeless youth in Toronto . Their unique ethically made jewelry is great for adding a touch of shine to any outfit while adding a bit of social impact to your accessory collection.
B.Yellowtail’s Wearable Art
B.YELLOWTAIL is a Native American owned and operative fashion brand & retailers that specializes in storytelling through wearable art.
Beyond Buckskin Native American Designed Fashion
Beyond Buckskin is based out of North Dakota and dedicated to advancing creative small businesses located throughout rural and urban communities by providing an online store where customers can connect with Native American fashion designers and jewelry artists.
The designers use traditional Indigenous artistic practices by bringing ancient designs, natural materials, and cultural stories to modern fashion.
ShareHope’s Ethically Made Leggings
ShareHope is a people oriented activewear brand empowering garment workers in Haiti. Profits from their ethically made leggings are reinvested into educational and health focused social programs, furthering the growth of garment workers and creating bright futures for Haitian workers.
BIPOC Owned Home Goods Brands
Our Place Cookware & Home items
Our Place is an AAPI owned brand focused on responsibly made home goods. Conscious consumers will discover non-toxic cookware, dinnerware, small appliances and more.
PC: Our Place
I have one of their Always Pans and Wonder Ovens and I love having both of these in my kitchen.
Outer’s Sustainable Outdoor Furniture
Outer is an AAPI Owned outdoor furniture brand. Their patio furniture is crafted with recycled and other sustainable materials.
I personally have an Outer Loveseat in my backyard! You can even read my full Outer review!
REEL Eco-friendly Toilet paper
Reel is a Black owned sustainable paper product brand. Sustainable shoppers can find bamboo toilet paper, paper towels, and other tree free paper products.
You can use the discount code HONEST25 for 25% off your first order.
BIPOC Owned Self Care & Beauty Brands
BLK+GRN Sustainable Marketplace
BLK+GRN is an eco-friendly marketplace featuring all Black artisans and connecting people with natural lifestyles by featuring high quality, toxic-free brands. Use the discount code HONEST10 for 10% off your purchase.
Polite CBD
Polite is a woman and minority owned CBD brand founded on a mission to serve people by making cutting-edge cannabinoid products more accessible.
Polite uses clean and simple ingredients and all products are tested by third-party labs for your safety and wellness.
Honeyberry Studios Sustainable Stationery
Honeyberry Studios is an eco-friendly stationery brand featuring self care inspired art printed on recycled paper.
Sister Sage Self Care Products
Sister Sage uses traditional Indigenous ingredients to create modern self-care and wellness products.
This vegan brand is building a platform around that idea that will not only highlight the rich Indigenous culture, but to also promote sustainability, and to teach, lead and inspire future youth and female entrepreneurs.
Satya Skincare
Satya is a Indigenous woman owned organic skincare company focused on clean, simple skincare with a purpose.
This eco-conscious brand focuses on organic & steroid free ingredients.
228 Grant Street Candles
228 Grant Street Candle Co. creates high quality candles made with all-natural soy wax, braided cotton wicks, and scented oils, no other additives or dyes.
This Black owned candle company focuses on sourcing locally in the USA whenever possible. My personal favorite candle is the Wild Blackberry + Absinthe Amber.
untold Gift Boxes
untold is an Asian American owned gifting company focused on amplifying the voices of BIPOC entrepreneurs.
This eco-friendly gift box company curates care packages featuring products that promote BIPOC-owned small businesses to work toward a more socially inclusive economy.
This brand is on a mission to tell the unique stories of the entrepreneurs behind the brands and curate experience-based gifts with every box to build meaningful connections. Use the discount code HONEST for 10% off through the end of 2021.
Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics
Cheekbone Beauty is an Indigenous-owned and founded, digitally-native, Canadian cosmetics company known for creating high quality, cruelty-free beauty products such as liquid lipsticks and complexion products including contour and highlight palettes.
BIPOC Owned Food & Pantry Brands
Trade Street Jam Co.
Trade St. Jam Co. is a chef, woman and minority-owned and certified business that started in a tiny apartment in North Carolina on Trade Street.
Their vegan jams feature unique flavors. My personal favorite is the Blackberry Mulled Merlot.
Pipcorn’s Healthy Popcorn
Pipcorn is a Black owned heirloom popcorn brand! This brand features unique flavors and was featured on Shark Tank.
BIPOC Owned Boutiques
Discover a variety of goods with these online BIPOC owned boutiques.
Cambio & Co.
Cambio & Co. is on a mission to change how business is done and how people shop.
Photo by Cambio & Co
They showcase contemporary, conscious fashion made with Filipino soul - all designed and handcrafted in the Philippines by talented Filipino artisans.
BLK+GRN
BLK+GRN is an eco-friendly marketplace featuring all Black artisans and connecting people with natural lifestyles by featuring high quality, toxic-free brands. Use the discount code HONEST10 for 10% off your purchase.
Discover more BIPOC Owned Small Businesses
Another great way to discover BIPOC owned small businesses is by follow BIPOC content creators!
Here are a few BIPOC content creators I enjoy following are @Rachel.cargle, @xiuhtezcatl, @ibramxk, @manpreetkalra, @plantkween, @greengirlleah, @cookiecat.herine, @mspaulapresents, @chloegoslowly, @mariebeech, @browngirl_green, @hey.candace, @dominiquedrakeford, @chloejackmanphotos, @Diné Aesthetic(s), & @Illuminatives.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Emily Waddell is the founder of The Honest Consumer. She has always been passionate about business for good and has a Bachelor degree in Social Entrepreneurship. She currently lives in Seattle where she practices imperfect sustainability. When she’s not writing, Emily enjoys supporting small businesses, clean eating, ethical fashion, and practicing slow living.
