It’s no secret we love a good shopping spree here at AD and Clever, and if we get to support innovative creators and entrepreneurs while we do it, all the more reason to splurge! To kick off Black History Month, we’re sharing some of our favorite Black-owned businesses to shop for furniture, decor, accessories, and more. From stylish bathroom accessories from Sean Brown, one-of-a-kind E&KO. furniture, or all kinds of gifts from Goodee, read on for the full exclusive on a few of the products that we know and love (or have added to our personal wish lists). Happy shopping!
54kibo
“Nana Quagraine’s decor platform 54kibo stocks everything from luxury dishware to textiles to baby gifts and high-end furniture. The common thread that ties all of these products together? Nana’s dedication to sourcing the best in contemporary African design. Most recently, I was delighted to see the work of South African lighting design studio Mash.T, whose work is woven and beaded by hand.” — Rachel Fletcher, commerce editor
AAKS
“Designer Akosua Afriyie-Kuma’s gorgeous raffia handbags are precisely the kind of accessory I’m always searching for to spice up a photo shoot—something with vivid colors, seductive shapes, and fine artisanal details. Handwoven in Ghana (where the designer currently resides), the bags radiate not just beauty but delight. AAKS should make a serious move into the home goods arena. After all, who doesn’t love a raffia pom-pom?” — Mayer Rus, West Coast editor
Alysia Mazzella
“There’s nothing like the smell of burning beeswax to make a room feel homey. I’m an Earth sign, so I thrive when I’m grounded—setting good vibes in your domestic environment through scent is crucial to unlocking this level of inner peace. I became familiar with Alysia Mazzella and her beeswax practice during the pandemic and have never looked at candles in the same way since. I get so much use out of these packs of tea lights that she sells. At this point, I should be on the subscription plan so I never experience running out again!” — Sydney Gore, digital design editor
Brother Vellies
“There’s a good chance you’ve seen a pair of Brother Vellies shoes on one of your favorite people (my latest obsessed moment: on Molly, in the season finale of Insecure). You also likely know the brand because of its incredible creative director and founder, Aurora James (hello, Fifteen Percent Pledge!). But onto the socks—since I don’t get to see my bare feet from October through June, I’m always looking for the most cozy, delightful footwear, and these cloud socks are perfection. Plus, they come in so many amazing colors, so an ideal item to stock up on.” — Zoë Sessums, digital design writer
Clare Paint
“If IRL hardware stores give you the willies, there’s never been a better time to spec your next wall finish from a distance. Clare, a brand founded in 2018, is shortlisted for my next home reno project. It’s zero-VOC, self-priming, and offers cheeky hues like Meet Cute (an updated millennial pink), Two Scoops (a sage variation), and the honestly named Greige. Clare also offers a Color Quiz and inexpensive sample packs—sweet mercies for tinkerers as indecisive as me.” — Lila Allen, AD PRO editor
Curves by Sean Brown
“Chances are you’ve seen one of Sean Brown’s custom CD rugs on Clever, your IG feed, or in many stylish celebrity homes, but the Toronto-based designer keeps a full selection of creative decor and design objects stocked in the Curves shop. I’ve been eyeing this incredible shower curtain covered with designs of iconic chairs (because yes, I too love chairs on everything), and I think 2022 is the year I need to bring it home once and for all.” — Rachel Fletcher, commerce editor
Deep Black
“I’ve been taking pottery classes on and off since 2019. It is a great creative outlet for someone who stares at a computer screen all day for work, and it is incredibly meditative and relaxing. It’s also extremely difficult. I’m proud of the progress I’ve made, but I continue to be in awe of other artists whose work I see at the studio I go to or online. When we were asked to highlight our favorite Black-owned businesses for Black History Month, I knew I had to share some of the Black ceramicists I admire who are doing awesome things with clay. London James of Porcelain Sneakerhead, Virginia Felix of Keraclay, Whitney Simpkins of Personal Best Ceramics, and Tiana Tucker are all great, as is Sherród Faulks of Deep Black, who makes minimalist pieces in rich colors, like this decorative dish that doubles as an incense burner. I also highly recommend following @black_ceramicists on Instagram to find even more!” — Rachel Wallace, digital entertainment editor
E&KO.
“Right before Emmanuel Olunkwa became the editor of Pin-Up, he debuted a line of his own functional furniture. My personal favorite piece from the collection is this adorable side table made out of birchwood plywood. I envy all who snagged it during the last lap of the Ssense sale! Long live flower power ✿” — Sydney Gore, digital design editor
Estelle Colored Glass
“I am consistently impressed with Estelle Colored Glass—their lineup of handblown glassware includes gorgeous stemware, decanters, and cake stands. All the colorful pieces are so unique and beautiful—they’re seriously one of a kind. Plus, I love the fact that the creator (Stephanie Summerson Hall) named the entire brand after her grandmother Estelle. What a way to carry on a legacy!” — Kristi Kellogg, senior SEO/content manager
“If you’re looking to make a good impression with a stellar housewarming or hostess gift, I’d go with any one of Estelle’s handblown colored glass sets, which are both elegant and whimsical. I have an all-red set of these stemless wineglasses, which I keep displayed on my countertop because they’re just so beautiful (especially around the time of day when they catch the sunlight)!” — Audrey Lee, commerce writer
Golde
“Golde makes you feel good inside and out. The superfoods brand, founded by Trinity Mouzon, makes two products I’ve had in constant rotation the past few years: the Clean Greens face mask and the Turmeric Superfood Latte. With chlorella and spirulina, this mask is the ultimate detox. Golde calls it a smoothie for your face, and I could’t agree more–my very sensitive skin drinks it right up. As for literally drinking, the turmeric blend is delicious in hot drinks or sprinkled in yogurt, on oatmeal, or wherever you might want a golden boost of anti-inflammatory goodness.” — Rachel Fletcher, commerce editor
Goodee
“If you’re shopping for any sort of gift (including for yourself!), I’d highly recommend Goodee, whose unique selection of homeware and decor items range from classic to totally unexpected at any price point. Personally, I don’t think you’d be disappointed with this classic hoodie from the brand or maybe this Acne Studios scarf-esque throw blanket for your space.” — Audrey Lee, commerce writer
Grounded Plants
“One of my favorite purchases of 2020 was an acrylic planter from D.C.-based Grounded. Not only do founders Mignon Hemsley and Danuelle Doswell stock gorgeous, healthy greenery for any experience level, they also curate plant accessories that are, dare I say, sexy, and have built a modern and visually distinct brand in a category that often looks more or less the same.” – Rachel Fletcher, commerce editor
Jungalow
“Though I’m charmed by just about anything from Jungalow founder Justina Blakeney, the designer’s wool and cotton hook pillows are a frequent fixation of mine. And while there’s plenty of eye-catching designs and motifs to choose from, as of right now, this Jams pillow is my current favorite thanks to the periwinkle and ochre color combination, plus the playful tassels adorning each corner.” — Audrey Lee, commerce writer
Kenni Field
“Philadelphia-based ceramicist Kenni Field is the designer behind my all-time favorite flower vase. Though they originally caught my eye with their colorful, sculptural pipes (which can be shopped through Kenni’s site or at Tetra, when they’re not out of stock!). I came across my vase through a sample sale and have been in love ever since–I definitely recommend giving Kenni a follow on IG to be notified of upcoming drops of their vibrant and playful work.” — Rachel Fletcher, commerce editor
The Koop
“The Koop New York is a Brooklyn-based, family-run candle shop that was established in 2020 by founder Kristin Balgar as a place of solace during the global pandemic. All of their candles are hand poured and crafted with nontoxic, phthalate-free fragrance oils and coconut-soy blend wax. The names of their candles (along with their scents of course) really do transport you to another place. A personal favorite is their Golden Hour candle, which instantly takes me out of a cold winter month straight into the sunsets of summer with its fruity and sweet musk notes. Even though it’s February, I’m ready to start blasting some Kacey Musgraves and get into the summer spirit with this candle.” — Rebecca Grambone, social media associate
La Réunion
“This beautiful patchwork pouf is high up on my wish list. Thoughtfully made by hand out of recycled materials and vintage deadstock fabric in Queens, New York, the piece is inspired by the leather poufs made by the Nigerian Hausa tribe. I envision myself getting a lot of really powerful sits out of this.” — Sydney Gore, digital design editor
Lichen
“Reminiscent of Alvar Aalto’s iconic Screen 100, this piece is the It girl of room dividers. Lichen is one of my all-time favorite design stores, and I fully believe in supporting everything that they do.” — Sydney Gore, digital design editor
“I first visited Lichen in 2020 when I was reporting this story about intrepid New York City shopkeepers. I’ve been obsessed ever since. The inventory is always changing, but step inside, grab a coffee, and look around. You’re sure to discover something incredible from the past or present. Maybe it’s a super rare 1980s Robert Venturi Chippendale chair. Or the work of an experimental young designer like Nifemi-Marcus Bello, based in Lagos, whose work I have been following since I first saw it at Lichen. I’m saving up for his Selah floor lamp, made with sheet metal typically used for electrical power generators. It feels a bit like a contemporary take on the classic Castiglioni Toio lamp.” — Hannah Martin, design editor
Palette Pots
“To me, The Cyn is the perfect plant pot. I love the cylindrical shape (no unnecessary lips or tapering here) with its perfectly fitted saucer and matte finish. My Pilea peperomioides loves it too. In a sea of basic terra-cotta, my lavender pot really stands out—though the Brooklyn-based brand founded by Latrice Price carries a ton of other color options.” — Rachel Fletcher, commerce editor
Partake
“Partake makes it easy for foodies with food allergies to safely enjoy delicious treats like pizza, pancakes, and cookies thanks to ingredients free of the top nine food allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, wheat, milk, soy, fish, shellfish, and sesame). For someone like me who’s nut-free and tries to avoid gluten, the brand’s easy-to-make fudgey brownie mix is a godsend that lets me get my dessert fix without feeling guilty.” — Audrey Lee, commerce writer
SustainAble Home Goods and Accessories
“LaToya Tucciarone scours the globe for the best in sustainably and ethically made home decor and every day essentials. Her Atlanta-based boutique is a one-stop shop for curated glassware, ceramic goods, textiles, and more. I treated myself to a ceramic mug and a bag of delicious beans from Portrait Coffee (a Black-owned, Atlanta-based roaster which, yes, led me to sign up for a monthly subscription of their coffee after trying! Shopping may be a problem for me.), but you can find something for any room of the home at this thoughtfully curated shop.” — Rachel Fletcher, commerce editor
Yowie
“I trust pretty much anything from Yowie, but this lamp collab might be Shannon Maldonado’s greatest invention yet. No exaggeration, it adds the most gentle glow to my space. While I have the best natural lighting in my apartment during the day, I can never seem to maintain that in the evening no matter how many lamps I acquire… (Don’t ask me how many I’ve adopted in the past year!) Tiny is the ultimate game changer, I swear you won’t be disappointed.” — Sydney Gore, digital design editor
