Even if you don’t have a birthday or other celebration coming up, products from these small Black and Queer businesses are certainly worth the purchase! As Winter quarter reaches week 8 and finals season begins to come up, I hope that browsing these shops will be a fun way to productively procrastinate. All of these companies have incredible mission statements and a genuine purpose behind their work to fight racial inequality and injustice. If you are going to purchase from these three companies, I highly recommend reading each of their mission statements to continue supporting both their business and their cause:
- The healing place APothecary
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If you’re looking to expand into the realm of self-care, The Healing Place Apothecary will meet all of your skincare and relaxation needs. With thousands of purchases and reviews for their products on Etsy and an average of 5 stars for their products rated by their customers, The Healing Place Apothecary has a well-established reputation for being such a new start-up. Their most popular products include their “Daily Greens Whipped Body Cream” and their “Zero Waste Deodorant.” This company’s mission is to provide plant-based skincare for all skin types while employing young people of color in an environment where access to education and employment is limited. In addition to all of the incredible work that they do, their products are wonderful gifts that you could give your loved ones or yourself to increase the quality of your skin routine!
Photo via @itshealingtime
- Artbytye
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Ranging from disco ball earrings to flower-pressed resin plates, Artbytye is a store that offers personalized art pieces to every purchaser. In addition to creating jewelry and household items, Tye also sells 8×8 art prints that are sure to decorate any dorm room. The artist has incredible reviews in regards to both the quality of her product and for being a really kind person to discuss purchases with. If you have a friend who absolutely loves unique earrings or if you are looking to purchase gold-laced resin hairclips, be sure to support Artbytye!
Photo via @artbytye
- Xiomara Lorenzo designs
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If you are looking for more contemporary jewelry pieces, Xiomara Lorenzo Designs supplies pieces all created from her 3-D printer! Starting as an artist trying to make money from her college dorm, Xiomara works at the intersection of technology and artistry to create wearable art pieces. Many of her themes focus on the concept of continuous personal growth, as the designs on her jewelry pieces have no distinct ends or beginnings. She compares this infinite loop in her design to resemble the process of personal growth, and how she hopes her jewelry will help other POC and Queer individuals to continue their journey to personal self-discovery.
Photo via @xiomaralorenzodesigns
This list does not nearly do justice to the incredible small business owners of these companies, nor is it expansive enough to include creators who are just as talented! While I hope that you check out all of the companies mentioned, there are several thousand more to look into in just about every niche topic. With the consolidation of large conglomerates and the ongoing racial injustice that is finally being broadcasted on media platforms, the need to support these businesses is evident now more than ever before. Next time you or a loved one are looking to gift something meaningful or incredibly cute, I hope you’ll consider shopping at any one of these Etsy shops!