18 Black-Owned Canadian Businesses To Support This Holiday Season

Buy local or bye local!

'Tis the holiday season and given all that’s going on in the world right now, it’s more important than ever to shop local and support Canadian Black-owned businesses — because like Issa Rae says, “I’m rooting for everyone Black.” Here are some of my favourite Black-owned businesses that you can spend your coins on this holiday season.

1. Taj Charles

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If you want to feel like a rich, luxurious auntie, Taj Charles Robes is how. Taj is a DJ turned fashionista who made a pivot *Ross voice* during the pandemic and started her loungewear line. She’s originally from Ottawa, but based out of Toronto, and funny enough, yours truly was one of Taj’s models when she launched her line. This long tiger robe will make you feel like the queen you are.

2. Omi Woods

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I’ve become a bit of a jewelry junkie throughout COVID and I live for a beautiful gold piece — I’m partial to small gold rings that I wear above the knuckle, and this Ethiopian Coptic necklace is a perfect replica of one. But what I love even more is how Omi Woods’ founder Ashley Alexis McFarlane pays homage to her Jamaican, Ashanti, and Maroon roots with the name of her brand: "Omi," meaning water in the Yoruba language, together with "Woods”.

3. Good Goddess

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Natasha Geddes is the founder of Good Goddess, a nutrition-based health and wellness company in Toronto. They focus on beauty from the inside. I LOVE their products and use them all, but the Powderful Collagen is my favourite. It has no colour, no flavour, and can make your skin glow and nails long!

4. Auxgod

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I’ve never been much of a game person IRL, but quarantining has forced us to get hella creative on how we have fun, and Auxgod is F-U-N. Battle it out with this card game for the best music in any genre so you can take the crown at your holiday celebration. Since this is a Toronto-based brand, there better be some Drake, Weeknd, and Biebs in the Hip Hop/RnB deck.

5. A Cookie Called Quest

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Calling all cookie monsters: THESE VEGAN COOKIES ARE INCREDIBLE! They ship Canada-wide, and each deliciously soft and scrumptious cookie is individually wrapped. These cookies are everyone's dream — vegan or not. The Stuffed Crushed Oreo cookies are my favourite.

6. So Supple Organics

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I don’t know about you, but winter has me out here In these streets looking ASHY AF and I hate it. If you’re looking for an organic, vegan skincare line with amazing products for the body, So Supple Organics to the rescue with their whipped shea butter.

7. Petal Pop Up

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You know how everyone has become a “plant parent” during quarantine? Well I haven't because I have what's called a "black thumb" and tend to kill all plants. I’ve heard that snake plants can be thrown in the back of your closet and will pretty much never die, so maybe that’s what I need? Anywho, if you’re in the GTA, Petal Pop Up offers interactive, DIY flower–arranging experiences and they sell snake plants, in case you want to test out my hypothesis.

8. Petits Genoux

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I think we can all agree that next year, we’re going to see an explosion of tiny small humans, aka babies outchea in these streets. So if you want the cutest handmade baby gear in all of the lands, Petits Genoux has you covered. Whoever I know that has a baby next is getting this cute ass romper.

9. Makeup For Melanin Girls

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As a woman blessed with melanin, there is nothing better than finding a nude lippie that doesn’t make you look casket ready (aka dead) — you know, because “nude” has been beige for so long *eyeroll*. The best part of this story is that MFMG’s founder started the brand for that exact reason -- she was tired of not having options for women with deeper skin tones. Her liquid lipstick in “raw” is pretty much a perfect match for my actual lip colour.

10. The Hustlers Agenda

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One of my favourite things about Twitter is the small community of Black women I’ve gotten to know — women who I’ve never met IRL but who are my people. That’s how I heard about this planner, "The Hustlers Agenda", a brainchild of Martika Gregory, Bianca Li Channer, and Vanessa Adams. I love to write things down still, because I’m old school and lists are how I commit things to memory. Plus when I think of this agenda, Jay-Z’s “I’m a Hustler” starts playing in my head and I like it.

11. Lana Rose Ltd.

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If you know me, you know that my least favourite gift to receive is flowers — and my number one gripe with flowers is that they die (remember when I said I have a black thumb?) But Lana Rose offers you beautiful boxes of flowers that DO NOT DIE. You’re welcome.

12. Teka Neufville

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I take my nail game VERY seriously — for real, I’ve been getting my nails done every 3 weeks since I was 16, and I’m 33 now. You can do the math. Teka Neufville is a master lash artist and nail tech who offers custom press-on nails and the most beautiful lashes EVER. Teka used to do Meagan Markle’s lashes when she lived in Toronto; she’s that good. I know we aren’t going anywhere these days, but there’s nothing better than feeling like your best self with a beautiful set of lashes and fresh nails.

13. Moissy Fine Jewelry

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Someone in the Black Toronto Facebook group recommended Moissy Fine Jewelry, a Black-owned company that sells Moissanite, which is basically a gemstone that mimics diamonds — for a fraction of the price. This is an ethically sourced option that won’t bankrupt you for jewelry and I’m kind of into it. I mean, I wouldn’t say no to these beautiful 3-carat earrings #AmIRight?

14. Essentials By Temi

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This is another organic, plant-based skincare company with a scrub that rivals the gods. Again, I’m a dry chicken right now because of winter and exfoliation is key friends — EXFOLIATE!! This cedar and vanilla body scrub is divine. It has magic from the Dead Sea and shea butter in it, plus it smells amazing.

15. Ophelia Maquillage

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Ophelia Maquillage is out here bringing your skincare dreams to life!! They have moisturizers, primers, toners, cleansers, masques, and everything you need to keep your skincare game strong. If it has the words "hyaluronic acid" in it, I’m sold.

16. Castlefield

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Okay, so Shop Castlefield is a super interesting brand. You can customize just about anything on the site in terms of accessories for your home, fashion, and accessories (you can even get customized luggage). AND you can get your branding done there too. Yep, like your logo and brand collateral. We love a multipurpose brand! Sophie, the owner, is an award-winning graphic designer, which explains the branding piece of her shop.

17. Cup of Té

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If you’ve ever grown up or been around Jamaican folk, you’ll know that a cup of tea in the morning with breakfast is pretty much mandatory. Needless to say, my Jamaican dad made me drink tea every single morning of my life with breakfast, so I love me a cuppa. Cup of Té’s branding alone sold me, and if you’re looking for an easy gift that’s impossible to go wrong with, this is it!

18. Love and Nudes

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I have strong feelings about the idea of “nude” anything (lipstick, clothing, whatever) because “nude” for so long has meant beige, and hunty, we are not all beige. As Canada’s 1st BLACK OWNED Skin tone intimates for PoC, Love Nudes solves that problem. Shoutout to them for the diversity of models on their page — look at these queens!

It is my sincere hope that this gift guide has made your holiday shopping a little easier and your day a little brighter. Let me know below which of these brands you’re going to order from this holiday season!

Want to support more local 🇨🇦Canadian🇨🇦 brands? Check out 15 Indigenous Canadian Brands You Can Shop Online.