Seventeen Black-Owned Brands to Have on Your Radar This Summer

Míe is a Nigerian brand encompassing full silhouettes and swathed textiles akin to African cloth-wearing (with a sprinkling of languid silhouettes thrown in for good measure) — celebrating the natural fabrications of Africa and lauding the skills of its inhabitants, it’s a refreshing brand advocating for an intersectional approach within the fashion industry.

This summer, Kai Collective is rightfully gaining esteem as one of the most coveted independent brands and the highly anticipated release of the Adesuwa dress is perfectly timed for balmy days. Fisayo Longe’s designs have become instantly recognisable for saturated and patterned details that tease the female form and celebrate skin-bearing details.

You’d be remiss to visit Ghana without checking out one of its many mesmerising open markets showcasing the talent of local artisans and tightly weft raffia bags are amongst the most coveted of offerings. But fret not if a visit to the Gold Coast isn’t on the cards, for Akosua Afriyie-Kumi works with said talented artisans, to produce jolly rattan bags, utilising age-old hand-weaving techniques.

French Senegalese designer Sarah Diouf launched Tongoro in 2016 and has partnered with some of the world's leading e-commerce retailers (namely Net-A-Porter). The brand’s most notable moments include Beyoncé donning the Nari playsuit during her Renaissance tour. Tongoro’s bold prints, swelled sleeves and beguiling shapes speak to traditional African apparel, albeit with a contemporary lilt (courtesy of the refined colour pallet).

Trailblazer Ade Hassan launched Nubian Skin to fill a much-neglected space in nude shape wear for black women. With a business focused on inclusivity, it’s no wonder Ade extended her line to include breast prostheses in the form of soft bra inserts for mastectomy patients. Nubian Skin’s offerings span deep flesh-toned hosiery and breast tape to loungewear in the continued theme. Her work has rightfully earned her an MBE at Buckingham Palace. 

Natural fabrications, feminine silhouettes and fabric in excess encapsulate Sunday Archives, however, founder Trey’s SS24 release speaks to high-octane glamour. Its sweeping styles are awash with a captivating metallic sheen. 

Friends Camille Perry and Holly Wright founded TOVE with a liberated approach towards femininity. TOVE’s pieces exude a teasing yet mature femininity with figure-enhancing columned styles in typically muted colour ways. 

Black British swimwear brands are few and far between but with Half Baked’s expert cuts you needn’t look elsewhere. Kim Fraser founded Half Baked after piquing a gap for attainably priced, well-fitting swimsuits with an uncompromising emphasis on quality. The limited collection includes two refined bikini offerings and a high-leg swimsuit featuring a scooped neckline.

We Are Kin’s blueprint mirrors clean-cut minimalism and founder Ngoni Chikwenengere advocates for sustainable practices both in and outside the studio. Ngoni’s designs speak to the sartorialist seeking refinement and cultivating a sense of personal style. Although classic, each piece features an elevated touch —  from the spliced midi skirt to the decorative lace-up feature on the Arch mini dress.

Rachel Scott weaves inspiration from her West Indian descent into her work, thus juxtaposing Western trends with Jamaican fashion heroes. With themes of perforated knitwear, and looped stitching, Diotima evokes the aesthetic of a tropical paradise and the string vests which are fervently celebrated across the Island as an expression of liberation and fruitful living. 

East London designer Nina Hopkins founded Jakke in 2015 and it promptly gained esteem for its ethical faux fur coats, later awarded a PETA-approved “Best Faux Fur Brand” accreditation. We’d be amiss to miss out on its apparel, which is equally as exceptional. From full-skirted dresses to jaunty letter motifs, the jovial, tongue-in-cheek theme persists. 

Shanna Bent is an alumnus of Central Saint Martins and London College of Fashion, where she first honed her design skills. Inspired by her grandparents’ immigration from Jamaica, she designs easy-wearing, versatile pieces in block colours to withstand trends.  Look no further for your co-ordinate needs.

Roop was conceived from Natasha Fernandes Anjo’s adoration of handcrafted and vintage fashion. The accessories brand crafts its whimsical handbags from remnant and organic-derived fabrications, in line with its ethical ethos. It's most renowned for the plush furoshiki bag — a model utilising a traditional Japanese folding technique, resulting in the most darling, playful and organic shapes that best complement occasion wear.

Although Oríré is a brand in its infancy, its distinguished styles are guaranteed to sweep you off your feet in actuality and metaphorically speaking. Its spirited colour ways span tropical hues from yellow to terracotta and many of its fashions incorporate overstated occasion wear that’s perpetuated as a proud mark of West African culture.

Andrea Dumebi Iyamah’s Nigerian heritage heavily inspires her artistic practice — from the swathed silhouettes to euphoric colourways. Inspired by various art forms since her formative years, she went on to hone her design skills, resulting in the creation of her brand at seventeen. The current archive reflects bold, unapologetic expression. It’s bound to appease lovers of feminine profiles and directional shapes.

Bristolian designer and seamstress extraordinaire Carla Diogo launched her eponymous line with a capsule of linen skirting and shirts. She’s since dedicated her line to producing organic-rich cotton shirting (featuring playfully exaggerated scalloped collars) and scrunchies comprising fabric off-cuts. Carla Diogo shirts are individually made-to-order with the option of custom sizing.

Autodidactic jewellery designer Matthew Harris draws upon contemporary art, in particular, abstract linework when pencilling his designs for Mateo. His portfolio consists of minimalist, milky drop pearls, and diminutive earrings juxtaposed with opulent diamonds and semi-precious gemstones. The result is hushed glamour — refined and statement in equal measure.