12 Black-Owned Fashion Brands to Know (and Wear) This Summer
From major labels to dynamic up-and-comers, these are the fashion brands to have on your radar
Lagos Fashion Week has just wrapped and the internet is going especially wild for one Nigerian label: Hertunba. With punchy prints, beautiful beaded necklaces and sculptural silhouettes cut by hand, it's easy to see why—and worldwide shipping means we can all actually invest in the pieces rather than simply watch from the sidelines.
For any fashion fan in search of a striking piece that no one in their circle also owns, it's a label sure to shoot straight to the top of the moodboard. Though it's far from the only one that deserves a long moment of your attention.
More often than not, Black-owned brands carry a vibrant legacy that transcends ancestral stories and incorporates traditional dress—while some second and third-generation designers have combined Black culture with contemporary elements. Tolu Coker, Kai Collective and Grace Wales Bonner are just a handful of particularly celebrated examples.
Other labels have sought to fill a gap in the market. Take TOVE's refined silhouettes for the modern woman, or Nubian Skin's innovative approach to nude hosiery, crafted with darker skin tones in mind.
All command well-earned attention through sheer design prowess while collectively fuelling a broader and richly deserved interest in Black-owned fashion. Twelve key names of which to know we've listed below.
1. Hertunba
Derived from the word "her" and the Yoruba title "Otunba," Hertunba prides itself on crafting pieces not just for the body but for the spirit through handwoven textiles, vibrant colours and striking silhouettes. Kaftans, skirt sets and dresses make up the majority of the collection, each both statement-making and quietly elegant. Worth noting for overseas orders: many pieces are made to order, with a lead time of three to five weeks and potential import fees to factor in. In our opinion, these pieces are more than worth the wait.
2. Míe
Míe is a Nigerian brand built around full silhouettes and swathed textiles rooted in African cloth-wearing traditions—celebrating the natural fibres of the continent and the skills of its makers. A refreshing label advocating for an intersectional approach within the fashion industry.
3. Kai Collective
Kai Collective is rightfully gaining esteem as one of the most coveted independent labels in the UK. Founder and CEO Fisayo Longe's bold use of colour, print and texture now as instantly recognisable as the Swirl logo.
4. AAKS
You'd be remiss to visit Ghana without checking out one of its many mesmerising open markets showcasing the talent of local artisans, with tightly woven raffia bags among the most coveted offerings. And if a visit to the Gold Coast isn't on the cards, Akosua Afriyie-Kumi works directly with those same artisans to produce beautifully crafted rattan bags using age-old hand-weaving techniques.
5. Christie Brown
Aisha Ayensu, founder and creative director of Christie Brown, launched the label on a mission to tell a story—one where African heritage and craftsmanship merge seamlessly with the wardrobe needs of the modern woman. A tribute both to her grandmother, the namesake of the label, and to Ghanaian craft, artisanal techniques and prints blend with contemporary cuts to produce pieces that excel at occasionwear.
6. Tove
Friends Camille Perry and Holly Wright founded TOVE with the aim of creating versatile wardrobe staples that never date, and they've quickly become a fixture in many a well-dressed woman's wardrobe. Think well-made shirts, shorts and dresses that work for any occasion.
7. Diotoma
Rachel Scott, now creative director of Proenza Schouler, counts her own label Diotima among her many talents. A seductive and nuanced vision of Caribbean style, it is crafted between Jamaica and New York, blending core crochet elements with more office-appropriate silhouettes and a recurring use of sequins.
8. Oríré
With the majority of its pieces crafted in small batches in Lagos, Oriré is another Nigerian label to note. Local fabric suppliers, tailors and craftsmen work to produce co-ords, dresses and shirts in dynamic cuts and colours. Again, take note of delivery times and international shipping taxes if ordering from the UK.
9. Andrea Iyamah
Andrea Iyamah—the label of Nigerian fashion designer Andrea Dumebi Iyamah—draws inspiration from ethnic cultures and elements of nature in celebration of her African roots. The clothing is beautiful, but the jewellery may be the strongest category of all.
10. Tolu Coker
British-Nigerian designer and multidisciplinary artist Tolu Coker has become a fixture of the London Fashion Week calendar. Already worn by the likes of Rihanna and Thandiwe Newton, her pieces are crafted in London from deadstock fabric and upcycled materials.
11. Mateo
Born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Matthew Harris taught himself the art of jewellery-making at a young age before launching Mateo in 2009. Today, the fine jewellery label is stocked at Net-a-Porter, Matches Fashion, Browns and Farfetch, among other luxury retailers.
12. Tongoro
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).
