February 2021 was a great Black History Month—the spotlight was put on many stories of African American history and heroes. At AudiblWav, we want to continue to keep the stories and recognition alive.
As clothing design and manufacturing continues to be a sought-after profession, black designers are becoming some of the heroes for future generations of black youth. With this in mind, we have decided to highlight four affordable, black-owned clothing brands you can support. If you want to check out the list we did in the summer, read our article “Throw Your Support At These Black-Owned Clothing Brands.”
Starting off our list is Melanin Apparel, defining themselves as “a company focusing on bringing pride back to the black community. Our brand encourages all people of the African diaspora to celebrate our cultural differences while highlighting the beauty of blackness and the power of melanin.” They do this with pieces that focus on black culture, with the most notable being the “Malcolm X Stripe Baseball Jersey” and the “Kaepernick Stand Up For What Large Print.” The brand sets itself apart by showing love to all facets of black history, whether it be the Black Panther Party or black cartoons from the late 20th and early 21st century. If you want to wear clothing that promotes black culture and pride for an affordable price, Melanin Apparel is the place for you.
The second brand on our list throws things back a bit, with Backtrack primarily focusing on vintage wear. Backtrack was founded fairly recently, initially beginning in 2019 with founder Eric Brown Jr. selling clothes “out of a 1994 Ford School Bus that he converted to be his first store.” Each item was hand picked, something that still rings true to this day. When talking about what inspired him to start Backtrack, Brown said “I created Backtrack Vintage out of my love for all things ‘90s. Growing up in that era shaped who I am as a person and being able to provide sustainable fashion in a unique way is what drives me every single day.” If you share the same love for all things ‘90s and are looking to get vintage Nike, Tommy Hilfiger as well as custom Backtrack pieces for a good price, make sure to check them out.
Worship 95 takes the third spot on our list. This Chicago brand lives up to its namesake, being centered around various religious ideals, incorporating their creativity to put their own spin on these ideals. Their pieces take inspiration from classic paintings and portraits, with some of the notable ones being the “Last Supper Jacket” and the “Angelica Fear God Tote Bag.” Artists like Lil Durk and Polo G have been seen rocking some of their pieces, so if you want to match make sure to check out Worship 95.
The final clothing brand on our list is Chic Shirt Shop. Based in Chicago, Chic Shirt Shop specializes in empowering its wearers, especially black women. Whether it be the “Include Black Women” hoodie or the “Chicago Girl” hoodie, each piece does its part to support and empower wearers with their designs. Some of the most notable pieces are the Clear Chic Tote and the “Black Vogue” sweatshirt, as they utilize minimalistic designs to create products that will keep customers coming back for more. If you want to get your hands on some Chic Shirt Shop clothing, make sure you’ve got your wallet ready, as pieces range from $10 to $110.
Hopefully some of these brands caught your eye. If you are looking to get your hands on some affordable black-owned clothing, we hope this list does the trick. It is important to support black businesses to stimulate and spread the black dollar, as it helps bridge the economic gap between races.
If you want to learn more about why it is important to support black businesses, read our article “The Importance of Supporting Black Businesses.” If you want to find some black businesses to support in Chicago, read our article “Chicago Black-Owned Businesses You Can Support Now (And Always!).”
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