By Quinn Riley
We scoured our design Rolodex and put together a hand-selected group of 18 fabulous wares from some of our favorite black-owned small businesses. From textiles and pillows, to salt & pepper shakers and handwoven throws, this list is vibrant and totally unique - just as your home should be! We are also thrilled to share with you a small portion of the rich stories behind each of these makers, artists, and creators, as edited by our kick-ass intern, Quinn Riley - a women's studies major at The University of Michigan.
Founders Jasz & Cheikh celebrate Senegal by using the traditional weaving techniques of Senegalese artisan women for their designs. Each basket is handmade by women in the rural areas of Senegal, using the “coiling” technique—a process that uses local grown grass and recycled plastic. Not only do these items support female artisans, but they are also eco-friendly! How sweet is this toy basket set?
Nicole Crowder has been designing and upholstering furniture since 2013. Nicole particularly enjoys upholstering one pattern on the front of the chair and a different pattern on the back of the chair. This application is inspired by her favorite women’s fashion—her most loved shirts and blazers are heavily detailed on the back. The chair here is a custom client project upholstered in “carricou” fabric from La Maison Pierre Frey.
3. Peace & riot
Achuziam Maha-Sanchez and Lionel Sanchez own a boutique in Brooklyn, NY that combines their African and Caribbean backgrounds. With a range of products, Peace & Riot provides the perfect detail-oriented pieces for one’s individual taste. These Acacia Wood Salt & Pepper Mills are the best combination of simplicity and intentional design.
4. xN Studio
Nasozi Kakembo founded the xN Studio in 2011 after working in social justice and international human rights fields. Each piece incorporates traditional artisanal techniques with modern design. The Batik SPOT Pillow pictured here was born out of an instructional study from artisans of Batik technique, an Indonesian method of dyeing cloth. The Kuba Cloth table runner in our header is a fun xN summer piece!
Kenesha Sneed, artist and founder of Tactile Matter, views art as essential to her being and self-preservation. In an interview with Apiece Apart, Kenesha spoke on expression: “For me, the process is a form of self-care; showing carefree color [is a way of showing] how proud I am to be who I am. Women are everything in my mind, and my relationship with them shapes the way I have navigated through life; showing women through my art makes up a huge part about who I am.” We love this throw based on her original artwork.
6. SHINE SHINE
Based out of Capetown, South Africa, Shine Shine carries a range of products that label themselves as “a creative explosion of African infused fabrics". This description perfectly fits the amazing pillow pictured here—a whimsical blue woman with her leopard, surrounded by rosebuds.
Jomo’s designs incorporate his love of African Art and Culture to provide contemporary alternatives to mainstream furniture pieces. The stool/end table pictured here was inspired by the headrests found in the Oromia region of Ethiopia.
The Harlem Toile de Jouy Wallpaper series was born out of a love for French toile pastoral motifs from the late 1700s. Founder Sheila Bridges created this wallpaper in response to the lack of black representation she faced when looking for wallpaper for her own home. The imagery explores several deep stereotypes of the African American experience in the United States. Sheila challenges the historical narrative by spinning Eurocentric decorative elements from the past.
9. Ron Nicole
How stunning are these Ron Nicole papers? Made by hand out of a one-woman shop, these floral papers are each one of a kind pieces. We were particularly struck by the beautiful photo journal on her site, depicting the delicate and rewarding process of making these intricate papers from her land in Pennsylvania. Visit her site to join the waitlist and purchase one of these hand-made beauties for your favorite space.
Inspired by watching her mother make dresses as she grew up in Sweden, Johanna has a deep love for artisanal work by hand. Each throw is 100% baby alpaca, woven and hand dyed by artisans over small pots to give them a beautiful ombré visual. These throws are lightweight and exceptionally soft!
Hana Getachew founded Bolé Road Textiles out of her love for Ethiopian handwoven fabrics and vibrant graphics and patterns that she grew up with in her childhood home. We are in love with this Bana Rug in Cerise, handloomed in Ethiopia
Raised in Paris, Marie Burgos combines her love for French design with inspiration from her family’s native home of Martinique. The sconce here in “smoke” is made from hand blown glass and detailed with hand painted golden edges and a black base. Check out the remainder of her unique lighting collection and explore furniture, art, decor, and interiors on her site!
13. Mitchell black
Not only are Mitchell Black’s textiles fabulous, but their wallpapers are free of hassle. As opposed to the traditional wallpaper that is often difficult to remove, all of these lines are fully removable, making it easy to re-work your living spaces without any stress. The pillow shown here is also easy to clean with fabric that is wipeable while remaining vibrant and colorful.
14. MALENE BARNETT
Handmade in Brooklyn, Malene Barnett’s pieces serve as a meditation on social relevance and inequality. The Yorubaland region of Nigeria is paid respect as each piece is made using the traditional hand-building techniques of the region. Malene finds inspiration in everyday challenges and life obstacles. While she is most known for her work with clay, she also sells a number of paintings and prints in her shop.
15. LIVvY & NEVA
A vintage and contemporary pillow collection created by Keita Turner, Livvy and Neva offers an abundance of beautifully detailed pillows. The Karachi pillow here was created from her grandmother’s vintage handkerchief.
Born in in 2006 out of Ghana, Reflektion Design views the home as “the ultimate canvas for self-expression.” Taking inspiration from the rich history and cultural significance of the intricate patterns, Reflektion has a particular admiration for the African textiles of the 17th century. The fans pictured here are great functional pieces of African Art.
Based in Atlanta, Rochelle Porter creates with a deep love for color and geometric patterns of West Africa. This lifestyle brand is eco-friendly and ethically produced, from pesticide-free organic cotton to happy and healthy employees. The pillow here is inspired by the vibrant painted houses of the Bo-Kaap neighborhood along South Africa’s coast.
18. YAËL & VALÉRIE
Yaël & Valérie, an upholstery and wallpaper company, focuses on Haitian identity and culture. We found an excerpt in their recent brochure particularly powerful: “If woman is the future of man and Africa the future of the world then the Woman from Africa after assuming her past is now undoubtedly the future of humanity.” The founder, Valérie, shared that her inspirations come from childhood memories and emotions.