More than ever, it is important to support brands founded by people of colour and those that actively support people of colour.
People of colour bring unique perspectives and skills to their work, but they are often overlooked and unsupported by mainstream society because of entrenched racial biases.
There is also a disparity in wealth negatively affecting people of colour and indigenous peoples worldwide. While this is an uncomfortable subject for some, the racial wealth gap must be talked about if we are to do better and proactively close the gap.
Mahuru Wilcox is the woman behind Hau Botanicals, a skincare brand that focuses on natural ingredients. Passionate about the environment, Wilcox was driven to create a brand that centres around Māori traditions, infusing aspects like rongoā (traditional Māori medicine) into her products.
Using ingredients such as kawakawa and mānuka that have been used for centuries by Māori, products like the Hauora Healing Balm are used to heal skin irritations such as eczema.
Hau Botanicals is proudly organic, fair-trade and cruelty-free. Products are crafted in Raglan, New Zealand.
While not owned by a person of colour, this underwear brand focuses on giving refugee women employment opportunities. Nisa was founded over the shared love of sewing with women from refugee communities.
Born in Barbados, Summer Gribble is using her story to create leather handbags that are all about aesthetics, functionality, quality, longevity and versatility.
From large to small bags and even wallets, Gribble is extending her line of contemporary leather goods for any woman of any age and occasion. Self-taught, Gribble is very hands on throughout the design process, ensuring her Caribbean upbringing is expressed through her products.
Incorporating her Māori roots and values, Miria Flavell created inclusive activewear brand Hine Collection. Meaning ‘girl’, the brand empowers and motivates women to be confident and comfortable in their own bodied while wearing activewear.
Hine Collection sizing ranges from XS to 6XL, something which other activewear brands are quick to overlook.