15 Black-Owned Home and Textile Businesses to Support Now and Always (2024)

Purchasing Black makers' work is an impactful way to support the Black community, and doing so is one of many ways that we can intentionally practice anti-racism in our everyday lives. Here, we've curated incredible creatives—from ceramicists, upholsterers, furniture designers, and more—with home décor and textile shops that you need to know about, now and always. Learn their stories and support their businesses: We are, and we hope you will, too.

Black-Owned Restaurants You Can Support Right Now

Estelle Colored Glassware

Stephanie Summerson Hall (above)—an attorney turned entrepreneur—designs the prettiest, most delightful glassware. Her collection of candy-colored wine glasses and cake stands are inspired by her grandmother, and the brand's namesake, Estelle; Stephanie fondly recalls collecting vibrant glass and antiquing with her as a child.

Nicole Crowder Upholstery

Based in Washington, D.C., independent furniture designer and upholster Nicole Crowder has been upgrading pieces with maximalist patterns and colors since 2013; she favors eclectic, bold textiles that feel fashion-forward. "I love making a piece look and feel like it's dressed," she explained in an interview with Martha Stewart Living.

Harlem Candle Co.

A manifestation of her love for all things travel, jazz music, and Harlem, Teri Johnson's company Harlem Candle Co. was launched in 2014. We're particularly fond of the brand's Harlem Botanical Collection; these candles are as aesthetically pleasing as they are fragrant.

Hidden Gem NY

This treasure-filled shop, located in Southampton Village, New York, was founded by sisters Tanya and Temidra Willock at the end of 2018. As they transformed and filled the space, a former candy shop, they did so with island life in mind. They grew up visiting Antigua, something they channeled directly into their offerings, melding a global perspective with coastal Hamptons flair. In their online shop, you'll find colorful textiles, handmade pottery, rugs, and local art—it's a hidden gem, indeed.

Ron Nicole Robinson

Believe us, you haven't seen art quite like this: Ronni Nicole Robinson, of Ron Nicole, immortalizes wildflowers through her scenic plaster reliefs, or flower fossils, if you will. She times her work with the summer season, when blooms are at their best; her next drop of creations will be available this fall (so be sure to take the steps necessary to get on the waitlist).

Bespoke Binny

Natalie Yaa Obenewa's homeware brand, Britain-based Bespoke Binny, is an ode to culture and bright color. All of her creations—from table runners and pillows to aprons and oven gloves—are composed of West African cloth. Her lampshades, in particular, are one of a kind. Best of all, she's currently holding workshops to teach all of us how to make them ourselves.

Johanna Howard Home

Born in Sweden, designer Johanna Howard takes a global approach when curating her shop; she works with artisans—including "the dyers in the highlands of Peru and the weaving families of Portugal," reads her bio—from all walks of the life to create bespoke textiles, including throws and pillows, for your home.

Bolé Road Textiles

With pillows, throws, and towels in neutral, goes-with-everything monochromes and iterations in punchy pinks, reds, and purples, Bolé Road Textiles, helmed by former architect Hana Getachew, is a one-stop textile shop. Her creations meld her love for interior design and Ethiopian handwoven fabrics.

Malene Barnett

Malene Barnett works with wools, silks, pastels, and clay when creating her art, from ceramic tiles and sculptures to paintings. All of her masterpieces are designed to share her African heritage with the world—and uncover a deeper understanding of cultural identity.

Harlem Toile de Jouy

Interior designer Sheila Bridges' Harlem Toile de Jouy collection was born out of her own search for the perfect toile wallpaper. The French patterns simply didn't speak to her or her family, so she designed her own, composing toile-inspired scenes that tackle the stereotypes woven into the African American experience. She then expanded, bringing these patterns to fabrics, bedding, plates, glassware, umbrellas, and clothing.

Clare Paint

In the process of planning a re-paint? Support Nicole Gibbons' company, Clare, which has revolutionized the interior paint shopping process; designer-curated colors, mess-free swatches, and high-quality formulas make choosing and applying paint a breeze.

Baughaus Design Studio

Dana Baug of Baughaus Design Studio brings a tropical modernity to her hand-made ceramics, lighting, furniture, and soft goods for the home. We're particularly fond of her simple shell-shaped server trays, which are inspired by her Caribbean roots. They feel beachy and whimsical, but contemporary.

Jomo Furniture

Jomo Tariku resides in Virginia, where he spotlights African culture through his contemporary seating line, Jomo Furniture. He's known for his Birthing Chair, the design for which was inspired by seats women in Sub-Saharan Africa use during labor; modern, structural stools are also part of his arsenal.

Jungalow

Justina Blakeney, a designer, artist, and entrepreneur, created the ultimate line of bohemian home goods at Jungalow, which carries everything from her original art to wallpaper, mirrors, tabletop goods, baskets, and more.

Marie Burgos Design

Complete with romantic brushed ceramics and braided hanging lamps (they will take your breath away), Marie Burgos' eponymous homeware line draws inspiration from both French design and her family's native home of Martinique.

15 Black-Owned Home and Textile Businesses to Support Now and Always (2024)

FAQs

What is the most successful black-owned business? ›

The following companies are some of the largest Black-owned businesses in the U.S.: At the top of the list is David Steward's successful company, World Wide Technology. The corporation employs about 10,000 people across the globe and brought in $17 billion in revenue last year, according to Forbes.

How many Black-owned businesses are there in the United States? ›

The Annual Business Survey (ABS) recorded 161,031 Black-owned businesses in the US as of 2021. These businesses employed over 1.4 million people and generated about $206.1 billion in revenue (adjusting for inflation to 2023 dollars).

What city has the highest percentage of Black-owned businesses? ›

Atlanta, GA

Which state has the most Black-owned businesses? ›

Some of the most populous states also have the greatest number of Black majority-owned businesses. Florida had 18,502 such businesses in 2021, California had 15,014 and Georgia had 14,394.

Who is the richest Black entrepreneur? ›

Nigerian business magnate Alhaji Aliko Dangote with a net worth of $10.7 billion (2023/10/30), is currently the world's richest Black person. Mr. Dangote is the founder, chairman, and CEO of the Dangote Group, the largest industrial conglomerate in West Africa.

Who is the youngest Black business owner? ›

Lily Frilly Founder Gains Walmart Distribution as Youngest Black CEO.

What race owns the most businesses in America? ›

48.6% of all business owners are women, while 51.4% are men. The average business owner age is 44 years old. The most common ethnicity of business owners is White (67.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (15.5%), Asian (6.4%) and Black or African American (6.3%).

What is the largest black owned company in the world? ›

World Wide Technology is the largest Black-owned business with $17 billion in annual revenue. Black or African American women own an estimated 58,974 businesses with at least one employee, employing 481,930 employees.

What is the oldest black company in the United States? ›

But over the decades, E.E. Ward came to earn an even greater distinction: the oldest Black-owned business in the United States.

What is the failure rate of Black businesses? ›

The Bureau of Labor statistics consistently reports a third of new businesses close within their first two years and half exit within their first five years — for Black businesses the margin is even slimmer. Eight of 10 Black-owned businesses fail within the first 18 months, according to a Bloomberg report.

What are the problems with Black businesses? ›

One of the most significant challenges that Black entrepreneurs face is the pervasive stereotypes, bias, and discrimination that exists in our society. These negative perceptions can hinder their ability to secure funding, attract customers, have access to markets, and build professional relationships.

What was the 1st Black business? ›

Its roots run deep in American history. - I brag about it all the time, and it's funny because we were just on Jeopardy year before last. - [Alex Trebek] EE Ward Moving and Storage is the oldest black-owned company in the United States dating to the 1840s when a Ward was a conductor on this.

What is the most common Black-owned business? ›

The greatest number and share of majority Black- or African American-owned businesses are in the health care and social assistance sector. In 2020, more than 38,000 of the nearly 141,000 U.S. companies with majority Black or African American ownership, or 28% of the total, were in this sector.

What percentage of America is Black-owned? ›

United States, 2017 to 2021

However, despite Black Americans representing 14.4% of the population, only 2.7% of all businesses with employees were Black-owned in 2021—a minor increase of 0.3 percentage points from the previous year.

What is the top industry for Black-owned businesses? ›

Top industries for Black-owned businesses, 2021
IndustryNumber of black-owned firms
Health care and social assistance45,015
Professional, scientific, and technical services22,411
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services12,470
Other services (except public administration)12,468
1 more row
Feb 15, 2024

How many Fortune 500 CEOs are Black? ›

The bad news is only eight Fortune 500 companies have a Black CEO. That's just 1.6%, a far cry from Black Americans' 14.4% share of the population. Still, eight out of 500 leaders is a near-record high, second only to 2022.

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