shoes Archives - SHOPPE BLACK

Published on April 12, 2024April 12, 2024

2 mins read

Black Owned Women’s Shoe Brands for Your Spring Wardrobe

As spring sunshine warms the days, it’s the perfect time to shed those winter boots and update your footwear wardrobe. Look no further than these fantastic Black owned women’s shoe brands to step into spring in style.

From chic sandals and statement pumps to comfy sneakers, these designers offer a variety of looks to match your unique personality and spring fashion plans.

Black Owned Women’s Shoe Brands

NinetyNine Products

NinetyNine Products is a global Harlem footwear brand focused on supporting the communities that drive culture and style.

Very Lovely Soles

Very Lovely Soles offers ballet flats and sandals, meticulously crafted for both comfort and timeless style.

FETE-ish

FETE-ish handcrafts statement shoes for the bold. Customize current styles or design your own with their Made-To-Order program.

Jessica Rich

Black Owned Women's Shoe Brands

Jessica Rich is a trendy shoe brand that offers spring-ready sandals, mules, and slides perfect for adding a statement touch to your warm-weather wardrobe.

Chelsea Paris

Chelsea Paris shoes are luxury footwear that mix European craftsmanship with African-inspired designs. Made with premium materials, they come in heels, flats, boots and sandals.

J.J. Gray

Black Owned Women's Shoe Brands

J.J. Gray is a New York-based brand that sells handmade luxury shoes crafted in Spain. Their designs are a unique blend of classic and contemporary styles.

Zou Xou

Black Owned Women's Shoe Brands

Zou Xou elevates everyday elegance with handcrafted leather shoes made in Argentina. Ethically produced and built to last, they empower artisans and minimize environmental impact.

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Published on April 1, 2024April 1, 2024

2 mins read

Blackstock & Weber is Reinventing the Penny Loafer

Brooklyn-based Blackstock & Weber isn’t your typical fashion and lifestyle brand. Founded in 2017 by Chris Echevarria, the brand has carved a unique niche for itself by offering limited-edition footwear with a modern twist on classic styles.

Echevarria, a veteran of the fashion industry, leveraged his experience to launch Blackstock & Weber from his own apartment. He bypassed the traditional route and sought out a respected English factory known for crafting shoes for Thom Browne.

This focus on quality is evident in Blackstock & Weber’s products, known for their use of premium materials and Goodyear welt construction.

The brand rose to prominence with its take on the penny loafer. Echevarria is credited with playing a role in the recent loafer resurgence. But Blackstock & Weber’s loafers aren’t old-fashioned copies. They feature modern details and a focus on comfort, making them ideal for the everyday wearer.

While some might compare Blackstock & Weber to streetwear brands due to their limited-edition releases, Echevarria himself disputes this. The brand prioritizes quality and craftsmanship over fleeting trends.

They offer a range of styles beyond loafers, including collaborations with partners like J.Crew and Kith. This ability to cater to a wide range of tastes speaks to the versatility of Blackstock & Weber’s design philosophy.

Blackstock & Weber represents a new wave of menswear brands. They bridge the gap between high-end quality and a contemporary, accessible aesthetic. The company’s focus on small-batch production ensures exclusivity, while Echevarria’s commitment to quality guarantees a product built to last.

Blackstock & Weber is a name to watch as they continue to redefine classic menswear staples for the modern age.

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Published on January 27, 2023March 18, 2024

5 mins read

Black Owned Sneaker Brands You Should Know

Within the multi-billion dollar sneaker industry, there exists a thriving community of Black owned sneaker brands that are pushing the boundaries of design, innovation, and social responsibility.

From sleek and minimalist designs to bold and colorful statement pieces, these brands are not just creating stylish footwear; they are also telling stories, amplifying voices, and challenging the status quo.

Black Owned Sneaker Brands

Saysh

Black Owned Sneaker Brands

Founded by Allyson Felix, the most decorated track and field athlete of all time, Saysh is a community-centered lifestyle brand for, and by, women. Their mission is to create a future in which inequality is undermined by female creativity and athleticism.

FINI

Fini Brand is based on the principle of always time to delight. Fini Brand is a popular choice for fashion-conscious consumers who are looking for unique and affordable products.

Brandblack

Brandblack is a Los Angeles-based footwear brand that offers a variety of shoes for men and women. The brand is known for its minimalist designs and use of high-quality materials.

Ninety-Nine Products

Black Owned Sneaker Brands

NinetyNine Products is a footwear brand focused on supporting the communities that drive culture and style while using high-performance technology to build functional products that work in competition and in life.

ENZI

Black Owned Sneaker Brands

A footwear brand committed to the highest levels of quality in production, design, and materials while maintaining a commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

SIA Collective

black owned sneaker brands

SIA, which stands for Somewhere In America, is owned by Devlin Carter. The brand is known for its unique and bold designs, making them a popular choice among its loyal following.

RockDeep

Black Owned Sneaker Brands

ROCKDEEP is a 10-year-old athletic and outdoor footwear company providing function, style, and quality at prices that will make you mad at your favorite brand.

KEEXS

Black Owned Sneaker Brands

The KEEXS footwear brand is an African-inspired collection of casual footwear that accentuates the coolness of any man or woman. It is also for individuals who are expressive and unapologetic regarding their fashion choices.

Enda

Enda is an African running shoe brand inspired by the world’s greatest runners in Kenya.

Fabrice Tardieu

Fabrice Tardieu is a sneaker brand known for its hand-painted, “laid-back luxury” designs inspired by street cultures in cities like Miami, New York, London, and Paris.

TRONUS

Black Owned Sneaker Brands

TRONUS is a cutting-edge sneaker brand founded by the first female football player to own a sneaker company, Santia Deck. TRONUS offers limited edition styles and unique packaging, appealing to sneaker enthusiasts of all levels.

Ethics

NBA veteran Langston Galloway and his wife Sabrina started Ethics, with the goal of creating a product that goes beyond just a creative design and has meaning behind it. The company aims to change the narrative in basketball footwear and ownership of it through a unique product.

PerryCo

PerryCo is a brand that prides itself on being unisex, offering both footwear and accessories for all genders. The brand is known for breaking gender barriers and providing versatile, stylish options for all customers.

Q4 Sports

Q4, based in Los Angeles, was founded on the four fundamental elements required for success in any game: Purpose, Passion, Dedication, and Focus. Q4SPORTS is a brand committed to empowering others through sport and located at the intersection of sports and business.

Nagast Footwear

Nagast Footwear aims to uplift and create a positive outlook in the Black community. The shoes are inspired by African culture and are designed to be fashionable and high-quality.

Bungee

In 2018, Darrell Alston launched Bungee Oblečení, a brand of luxury sneakers and upscale athleisure wear, based on sketches he created while incarcerated. Bungee focuses on high quality materials and clean, classic lines.

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Published on October 5, 2021October 5, 2021

5 mins read

Black Owned Luxury Shoe Brand Launches In Multiple Nordstrom Locations

Keeyahri is a Black owned luxury shoe label focused on building up the confidence of the shoe wearer every step of the way. Founder and Artistic Director Keya Martin swapped out her corporate career for a more rewarding one in fashion with an emphasis on luxury footwear for the confident woman.

We caught up with her to find out more about her business and entrepreneurial journey.

What inspired you to start a shoe business?

My perspective on life changed once I felt that the corporate world had a way of eroding one’s sense of self value. After feeling unfulfilled, I prayed and searched for signs and guidance. I made a list of things that I took interest in, footwear was on it.

I’ve always had a good eye for shoes and I wanted to create designs that contributed to my confidence. I became passionate about making statement piece designs that women would love to wear. Once I received my first samples back, I would wear my shoes to networking events.

The compliments I received condensed my insecurities and fueled my self-esteem. Wearing “feel good” shoes makes me feel as if my walk in life is elevated. My shoes transformed me. I design shoes for women who are in need of an artistic statement piece to provide a sense of elevation and certainty. My goal is to celebrate women by uplifting and empowering them.

Black Owned Luxury shoe

What has been the most rewarding part of your business journey? What has been the most challenging?

The Nordstrom partnership is by far the most rewarding part of my journey. Not only did they invest in my company, but they also gave me their full support to onboard my brand. This partnership opens doors for future growth of all Black owned businesses.

What was most amazing was their continued belief in my potential despite my brand being new to the industry. This is my proudest moment by far. Never in a million years did I think this would ever happen. The journey has been quite challenging but this solidifies all of my effort and hard work.

Black Owned Luxury shoe

Congrats on your Nordstrom partnership. How did that relationship come about?

I was connected to their designer buying team earlier this year. Once connected, they expressed that they were already interested in the brand. We set up a meeting, where I was able to share my story and present my collection. They shortly came back with the styles and quantities they were interested in.

What do you need to take your business to the next level?

As a small minority business, access to capital and funding resources remain essential to our ability to profit and thrive. With capital, I can streamline my processes, scale up my operations, hire great new people and continue working on the things I care about most: creating designs that uplift people.

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

We never know the outcome of our efforts unless we actually do it. Once I decided to book my trip to Italy to locate a factory, everything started to align and fall in place. My advice would be to make a move, shoot your shot, jump in that dm, make the connection, collaborate. Do not stay stagnant. If you’re scared, do it scared.

Where do you see the business in 5 years?

In 5 years, I see Keeyahri growing into a lifestyle brand. I’m more of an innovator as opposed to being a footwear designer. I foresee handbags, garments, perfume, and home accessories in the near future. I’m looking forward to partnering with more retailers around the globe.

-Tony O. Lawson

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Published on August 26, 2020

5 mins read

Meet The Owner of One of LA’s Most Popular Black Owned Luxury Shoe Cleaning Businesses

Sole Hue is a Black owned luxury shoe cleaning brand based in North Hollywood, CA. This business has become one of the biggest boutique sneaker cleaning services in the LA and the Hollywood area.

Cortini Grange caught up with Sole Hue’s founder, Drew Green to find out more about Sole Hue.

Where did the idea for SoleHue originate?

SoleHue originated in my hometown, Woodbridge, VA when I was a freshman in high school.

Jordan releases in my neighborhood were a big deal on Saturday’s, but my mom couldn’t always afford to buy me new Jordan’s. So, I started charging to clean my friend’s shoes after school. As the semesters went on, I started getting more and more shoe cleaning orders. And, my business mindset grew into an actual company.

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The current pandemic has caused a lot of small businesses to take big blows. What has kept SoleHue thriving and what pivots have you made to continue growing during this time?

For SoleHue, our biggest “Big Blows” have come in a more positive light, than negative. We have been able to successfully execute creative marketing techniques that allow us to target a genuine audience, unique to our brand.

It has been rewarding to build professional relationships with clientele that actually needs our services. This pandemic has also allowed me to live, bicoastal, between Los Angeles and Virginia. I appreciate the time to travel back home and connect with the core of SoleHue.

The support I receive back home is different. This has promoted the consistent strengthening of our values. In Addition, this pandemic has brought SoleHue the opportunities to collaborate with like brands who have also needed help staying creative since face-to-face interactions have been halted due to stay-at-home orders.

It’s been a lot of fun finding artful ways to overcome creative blocks. We have some things in the works with Sneakertopia. I can’t wait to share that.

Luxury sneakers have been a part of Black culture for nearly four decades. From Adidas in the 80’s to the rise of Jordan’s in the 90’s and the current Yeezy craze that’s eclipsed in the billion-dollar net worth mark in record time. Now, we even have a “stock exchange” for buying and seeking kicks (StockX). Where do you see sneaker culture going in the future?

I definitely see technology influencing our sneaker world for decades to come! We already see tech designs that include auto-lacing and fitness tracking.

I believe the ability to try on shoes without actually “trying them on” is coming, as well as more advanced tracking capabilities.

Black Owned Luxury Shoe Cleaning

Outside of the SoleHue brand, what is Drew Green engaged in? What brings you joy in the moments when you aren’t working?

Aside from SoleHue, I spend my time using my platform to influence the youth in my community.

I started mentoring a few young adults, I show them the ropes of business and personal success. And, the things that ultimately bring me the most happiness are working to break generational curses while building generational wealth and educating my family on financial literacy through love and by leading by example. These things are very important to me.

I am honored to be a part of such a platform. Thank you for highlighting myself and my business on Shoppe Black.

Black Owned Luxury Shoe Cleaning

Contributed by Cortini Grange

Cortni lives by the personal motto, “wealth, is the ability to fully experience life”. As such, Cortni wears many hats: he is a father, servant leader, social entrepreneur, spiritualist, and a proud Jamaican (which requires a three job minimum to maintain active status).

Cortni infuses his principles, belief, and life experiences into all he does. When Cortni is not doing 1,000 things, you can catch him dancing to Stevie Wonder or Bob Marley in the kitchen with his son Jameson Mosiah, deepening his knowledge of African Spiritual Science, back on his family’s farm in Linstead, Jamaica, or upholding his car freestyle championship belt at all costs.

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Published on November 29, 2019January 9, 2023

4 mins read

From Combat Boots to a Black Owned Fashionable Footwear Brand

During her 20 years in the U.S. Army, Natasha Standard jumped out of airplanes, led and developed multiple teams and was responsible for administrating a multi million dollar contract.

After each deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan, Natasha would treat herself to a luxury item. Unfortunately, the shoes that she bought may have been stylish, but they were not comfortable. She became determined to find a way to create comfortable shoes of high quality.

This determination led Natasha to enroll in Arsutoria School in Italy, where she trained in the design, pattern making, and manufacturing of shoes.

We caught up with Natasha to find out more about the inspiration behind her shoe company, The Standard Shoes and her entrepreneurial journey in general.

How did your tenure in the armed forces prepare you for entrepreneurship?

In the military, you learn and develop multiple skills and characteristics that and also beneficial in entrepreneurship. Some of these include leadership skills, discipline and tenacity. are among them. Other things I learned during my service were the importance of networking, financial skills and the ability to discern a situation.

norie shoes

What has been the most rewarding thing about your entrepreneurial journey so far? What has been the most challenging?

The most rewarding thing about my journey so far is being acknowledged by some celebrities, musicians, and athletes. The most challenging is convincing people to believe in me and my vision. People will never believe in you the way you believe in yourself.

How do you select your designs and materials?

Because I am school trained, I follow the very important trend analysis process that is published on a bi-annual basis to the fashion industry. What most designers do not know, is that access to trend information is $25,000 a year. That is technically a barrier to entry because most designers cannot afford that expense.

This barrier allows a small designer like myself, to be in trend so that buyers will take notice and give my brand a chance because my style is similar to the larger designers they are used to supporting.

Where do you see the business in 5 years?

In five years, I plan on opening stores around the world (including an airport), and in two large retail stores.

I also see my company selling ten thousand pairs of shoes per year and becoming a household shoe brand name that is popular with celebrity designers and stylists. I would like my brand mentioned in a rap or R&B song.

In addition to all that, I will give back to the community by providing free shoes + backpacks to school age girls. My team is working on it, we don’t have the details yet.

norie shoes

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

My advice is to go for it and buy the best website, consultant and advisor for the lowest price. For example, I spent $6,000 on a website and after it was built, the developer tried to charge me even more for something simple. I fired him and started using Shopify.

by Tony O. Lawson

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Published on March 15, 2019April 12, 2024

3 mins read

Black Owned Men’s Shoe Brands

Whether you’re thinking about expanding your wardrobe or someone else’s, consider choosing from these Black owned men’s shoe brands. From classic leather dress shoes to trendy hiking boots, these brands have got you covered.

Black Owned Men’s Shoe Brands

Blackstock & Weber

Blackstock & Weber designs and manufactures loafers for men and women. Their shoes are made with high-quality materials and craftsmanship, and they are known for their classic and comfortable designs.

Mandeaux

Black Owned Men's Shoe Brands

Mandeaux is a family-owned luxury brand that specializes in handcrafted footwear. Their shoes are made with high-grade full grain leather in Spain and can be customized to help retailers fulfill the various needs of their customers.

Armando Cabral

Armando Cabral shoes are a luxury footwear brand known for their sleek, modern design and high-quality craftsmanship. The brand offers a range of styles, including dress shoes, boots, and sneakers, and are suitable for both formal and casual occasions.

Blue Sole Shoes

Black Owned Men's Shoe Brands

Blue Sole shoes is a Philadelphia-based shoe store specializing in fashion-forward footwear for men in styles from dress to casual.

Tucci Polo

Tucci Polo is a luxury shoe brand that creates high-quality, stylish footwear. The brand is known for its use of premium materials, such as leather and suede, and its attention to detail.

LOLU

LOLU Esq is a London-based shoe brand that offers a unique blend of high-quality craftsmanship and contemporary design. The brand is known for its use of premium materials, such as leather and suede, and its focus on creating shoes that are both stylish and comfortable.

Southern Gents

Black Owned Men's Shoe Brands

Southern Gents is a great choice for men who are looking for shoes that are both stylish and well-crafted. Whether you’re dressing up for a special occasion or just looking for a stylish everyday shoe, Southern Gents has options to choose from.

Uptown Yardie

Black Owned Men's Shoe Brands

Uptown Yardie is a British company inspired by Jamaican heritage, selling a lifestyle, captured through shoes and clothes.

Style by Blain

Style By Blain is a shoe store based in the Chestnut Hill community of Philadelphia. They sell a fine collection of footwear for gentlemen and ladies.

KOFFI NOIR

KOFFI NOIR is a brand that aims to deliver premium quality footwear handcrafted by the world’s finest artisans.

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Published on September 26, 2017February 21, 2019

8 mins read

Kahmune Offers Luxury Footwear For All Skin Tones

Kahmune is the brainchild of Jamela Acheampong. The London based entrepreneur has launched a brand that aims to address the lack of diversity in the luxury footwear industry.

We wanted to find out more about more about her and her business. This is what she had to say:

SB: What inspired the creation of Kahmune?

JA: Kahmune was inspired by my own personal struggle to see myself, more particularly my skin tone, represented in the fashion industry. I spent hours searching online last year for a nude shoe that would match my dark complexion.

When you search the term “nude” it returns garments and accessories that are the same beige and tan colours and or hues, that are far from nude on my complexion.

I found it ridiculous, and slightly infuriating, that in 2016 something like this was still an issue! Why shouldn’t myself, or anyone else for that matter, be able to have access to skin tone accessories?

It was in that moment that I decided to make sure it was an issue no longer. ALL skin tones are beautiful and we all deserve to have our beauty represented in the fashion industry.

JA: What has been the most gratifying part of your entrepreneurial journey so far? What has been the most challenging?

The most gratifying part of the journey so far has been the transition towards being my own boss and making my own decisions. It’s something that I’ve always dreamed of doing and always known I wanted to do. It just feels right.

Additionally, a large part of my daily motivation has come from the response to the brand. Reading the comments, emails, and various messages from women across the globe has been incredible.

Hearing about how excited they are about Kahmune or that it’s given them more pride in their skin tone has made this journey more than worth it!

The most challenging part has been doing everything on my own! I do it all- social media, emails, production, etc and it has proved to be quite demanding. It’s also been difficult dealing with the process of manufacturing shoes in themselves.

I’ve had to change manufacturers a few times and have experienced quite a few delays in production but it’s all part of the process!

SB: Can you explain the process of finding and selecting the right manufacturer?

JA: What I’ve learned now is it’s all about finding the right fit. It took me two tries to get it right but as they say third is the charm! Naturally, the most important part of the process is finding a manufacturer that you are confident will do your product justice.

I spent a lot of time researching European manufactures and was lucky to come across a group in Italy that specializes in matching new brands with Italian factories. I corresponded with a few before I traveled out to Italy to tour the one factory I felt most confident about.

Once I had seen the level of quality of the samples they made and was confident production was ethical and fair I knew I had found the right match.

SB: How did you decide what to name each shoe color?

JA: Having been fortunate enough to have a very international upbringing I wanted to pay tribute to that in some way with the brand. To a certain degree you can attribute various skin tones to different regions of the world so I thought having each shade reflect this was the way to go.

Kumasi was a shoe-in as that is the city my family is from on both my mother and father’s sides. Enugu is dedicated to my niece and nephew whose father’s family hails from that city in Nigeria. Juba was a must because I’ve always been so appreciative of the beautiful, dark skin tones of the people of that area in South Sudan.

Rio and Goa I chose to acknowledge two areas that have an incredible amount of diversity within them. I really wanted to celebrate that.

I chose Singapore because it also has an incredible amount of diversity in it’s population and I wanted to use an Asian city because through my research I found that many women of Asian descent feel left out of the beauty and fashion conversations.

Not with Kahmune! The last few names are quite sentimental. They’re dedicated to some amazing friends I have that are from those cities and regions.

SB: Where do you see the company in 5 years?

JA: Other than world domination? Though Kahmune is, and will always be at its core a luxury womens’ footwear line I’m definitely not ruling anything out in terms of product. In 5 years, we hope to have a few flagship stores around the globe as well as the moniker as the leading retailer of skin tone garments and accessories.

The goal is to be known for our sense of community and dedication to diversity, inclusion, and representation. In 5 years Kahmune will have set the bar in terms of what it means to run a truly inclusive luxury brand in this day and age.

SB: What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

JA: Don’t give up!!! If you have your heart set on a goal take the steps to achieve it. Work a bit on that goal everyday and remember that your journey is YOUR journey- don’t compare yourself to others.

Your brand is only as good as the passion and dedication you put behind it. You need to be your own number one fan. When people see how excited you are about your dreams they will be too. Don’t underestimate the importance of the basics, and appreciate all your gains – no matter how small or big.

Do your research. Build a business plan. Network, Network, Network- you’ll learn very early on, that what they say is true – your network is your net worth. Build a team who understands and shares your vision; no one man or woman is an island.

Visit their website to learn more.

-Tony Oluawatoyin Lawson (IG@thebusyafrican)

Published on March 16, 2017May 5, 2020

7 mins read

Black Owned Footwear Brand Blends British and Jamaican Culture

Uptown Yardie is a Black owned footwear brand that makes you stop and stare. Ever since we discovered this brand, we’ve been in awe of their bold and unique styles.

We decided to chat with the owners, husband and wife team, Rohan and Natasha Clarke to find out more about their brand.

What inspired you to start this business?

The designer behind the brand is Rohan Clarke. He trained at the London School of Fashion Cordwainers and had worked for several shoe companies. But the one thing that frustrated him was being told that his designs couldn’t be made.

He knew that this wasn’t true because not only does he design shoes he also makes shoes. He was disillusioned, but his wife convinced him that he could do this himself and so with some gentle persuasion this husband and wife team started Uptown Yardie.

How did you come up with the name Uptown Yardie and what does it mean?

Uptown Yardie is a British company inspired by Jamaican heritage, selling a lifestyle, captured through shoes and clothes.

The name is inspired by a Bob Marley quotation “me ah bring downtown uptown” meaning he is bringing the man dem from the ghetto to where he was living uptown at the time. The original uptown yardie is someone who comes from the more affluent parts of Jamaica.

For us using the term Uptown Yardie is about reclaiming the name from a negative association to a positive. To the true meaning of the word “yard” which to a Jamaican means home. For instance, “nowhere nah better dan yard” mean nowhere is better than home.

What separates your brand from the numerous other shoe brands in the market?

The Uptown Yardie brand creates for a progressive man or woman who does not follow fashion. We design for people like us who have a passion and love for things that are well crafted and that has more longevity than one season.

We believe that a shoe should have a distinctive and individual character that is shaped through the ideas and vision of its designer and craftsman who are united and driven by a common goal, a common spirit to create the most beautiful shoes.

Each piece has been carefully selected by our team to ensure it embodies the qualities of style, elegance, and exclusivity synonymous with the Uptown Yardie brand whilst reflecting the unique philosophies of design and craftsmanship for which Rohan Clarke the designer is renowned.

What has been the most challenging and most rewarding part about owning your own business?

The most challenging part of owning your own business is realizing that you have to have many strings to your bow, you have to be more than a creative to make it work.

What we mean by that is the creativity of what we do is our passion but we need to be able to market what we do, we need to be able to understand how to maximize our online sales, we need to be social media experts.

All of these things take skill, expertise, and time. Juggling this, whilst maintaining creative time is a constant challenge. But we are learning and we are pulling in people who do have that expertise.

The most rewarding thing about owning your own business is loving what you do, seeing your passion come into fruition. In the past when we’ve worked for other people they want to be safe, they want to follow the crowd, it stifles innovation.

Where do you see your brand in 5 years?

That it has an appeal to a diverse audience across the globe. Although the brand is inspired by our Jamaican heritage, Uptown Yardie is created to appeal to people that think outside the box.

It is a brand that crosses boundaries, ages, and races. Ultimately if we can do that and make the brand self-sufficient that’s where we want to be in 5 years’ time.

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Be prepared to put the work in. Owning your own business is not a 9-5. The other important aspect is to know your business inside out, costings, business forecasts, risks, and opportunities.

If you’re a creative, this isn’t the sexy stuff but it’s vital if you want what you to do to be more than a hobby. Ask yourself “If I was standing in front of a group of potential investors and they put me on the spot.

How confident could I answer questions about my product and my business model?” If you’d struggle, then there is some homework to do. We did it, wrote a business plan with costings and forecasts. It was long, believe you me but we are more confident about exactly how much it costs to manufacture every aspect of a shoe, what the wholesale cost is, and the retail price based on a formula.

Besides the above, if you have a dream and want to do it. Go for it. Don’t listen to the naysayers. You never know your idea might be the next big thing.

-Tony O. Lawson

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Published on December 3, 2015May 20, 2020

2 mins read

20 Black Owned Businesses in the UK

By now you must have seen our first list of Black Owned Businesses in the Diaspora. On that list, we mentioned several Black owned businesses based in the UK. This time, we are showing even MORE love to our brothers and sisters across the pond with a new list of dope businesses you should most definitely check out and support from your country or when you visit the United Kingdom.

20 Black Owned Businesses in the UK

Home Decor

Eva Sonaike is a lifestyle company that produces luxurious home décor, fashion accessories and textiles.

Fashion

Uptown Yardie is a British company inspired by Jamaican heritage, selling a lifestyle captured through shoes and clothes.

Afrination is an urban clothing brand inspired by African culture and tradition.

Dionne Gooding is a footwear designer that combines the latest London styles and soft leathers and suede with jaw dropping fabrics from West Africa.

Tsemaye Binite is an award winning contemporary fashion label characterized by exquisite clothing encapsulating a love of luxury and innovative design.