15 Black-owned menswear brands and retailers you should get to know
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- Black-owned businesses are gaining more visibility as America reassesses the brands we support and invest in.
- This list spotlights Black designers and Black-owned retailers that put quality and community at the forefront.
- Find a vibrant range of contemporary and luxury brands that cover all price points below.
The Black Lives Matter movement of 2020 drew awareness once more to the value of the Black community and called for the entire nation to reassess exactly where our money was being spent. Are we supporting businesses that invest in Black talent, from team executives to designers? Or are we merely supporting businesses that have become experts at surface level marketing with the slightest hints of inclusion?
Here and now, in 2021, Black businesses and creators have seen varied spikes in sales that did not exist before as a result of necessary self-questioning and successful calls to action. Disenfranchised Black communities are nothing new but our evolving awareness as a nation greatly contributes to the "new America," one that proactively invests in the individuals of marginalized communities — for the advancement of all.
We enjoy each of the Black-owned brands and shops you'll find in this listing. Each offers creative and comfortable design aesthetics you'll recognize, but more than often features twists that set them apart from the rest of today's most common items. These brands maintain a healthy universe of Black talent, local manufacturers, and supportive customers that all contribute to extraordinary product rollouts.
From up-and-coming to well-established brands, we've got them all here.
15 Black-owned menswear brands and retailers to know:
Bricks and Wood
As a South Central, Los Angeles based company, Bricks and Wood offers a comfortable range of loungewear and goods to compliment relaxed lifestyles. The unisex "rarewear," as it's called by its owners and peers, features high-quality cuts of sweatsuit sets, tees, and caps all designed to have a long-lasting aesthetic.
Imagine Yeezy sweats and joggers with less inflated price points and a stronger streetwear connection to everyday walks of life in the South Central neighborhood. T-shirts begin at $32 while bottoms and sweatshirts range from $90 to $148. Bricks and Wood apparel can be purchased via their website and at 12 stockists nationwide.
What we recommend:
Bricks & Wood 50th Anniversary Earth Day Tee Check price at Bricks & Wood 
Bricks & Wood Tropical Paisley Bucket Hat Check price at Bricks & Wood 
Brick & Wood Logo Hoodie Check price at Brick & Wood Connor McKnight
Connor McKnight is the new luxury brand to watch in 2021. Created during quarantine, the first collection of this namesake brand launched in September 2020 with a reimagined take on workwear that's perfect for casual styling. All of the pieces are made to order and produced in Brooklyn, New York. Textured fabrics such as corduroy and fleece exist alongside cinched shirting and tiled leather jackets, giving character to each piece.
McKnight drew inspiration for the colors and textures of his brand from a midcentury home his grandfather built in the 1950s, then paired it with his take on vintage outdoor apparel as valued by Black youth in his hometown of Washington, D.C. You can find all of the gender-neutral styles from Connor McKnight on its website for $300-$2000.
What we recommend:
Connor McKnight Mockneck Varsity Sweater Check price at Connor McKnight 
Connor McKnight Cinched Explorer Shirt Check price at Connor McKnight 
Connor McKnight Tile Knit Rugby Pullover Check price at Connor McKnight Daily Paper
Daily Paper is rapidly becoming one the most sought after fashion and lifestyle brands from outside of the U.S. The Amsterdam-based company started off as a blog where co-owner Hussein Suleiman would share his take on streetwear. Coming together with partners Jefferson Osei and Abderrahmane Trabsini, the trio began creating clothing that spoke to both their African roots and Amsterdam upbringings.
Each season, Daily Paper releases unique pieces from pastel sweatshirts to one-of-a-kind monogram printed denim. The brand has also done various product collaborations. The most recent collection ranges in price from $55 for a T-shirt to $374 for outerwear, and you can find it at Farfetch, Eraldo, and the brand's new retail space in the Lower East Side of New York City.
What we recommend:
Daily Paper Pastel Turquoise Elias Hoody Check price at Daily Paper 
Daily Paper Abstract-print Track Pants Check price at Farfetch 
Daily Paper Split Painting Long Sleeve T-Shirt Check price at Eraldo Darryl Brown
A former railroad engineer, Darryl Brown makes quality workwear pieces that easily rival those of Carhartt or Huckberry. Brown's modern approach is highlighted throughout his line of essential pieces that are a no-brainer for day-to-day, 9-to-5 lifestyles. Brown has also worked as a lead stylist for Kanye West, a time which he claims helped polish his skills and gave him the incentive to start his own brand.
We recommend checking out Darryl Brown if you love casual layering or want to elevate your monochromatic looks. Cropped T-shirts, cargo pants, and military-inspired shirts define the current collection, and everything is made in the U.S. You can shop the latest release for $80 to $180, and we suggest going up to a larger size in the tops if you're trying for an oversized look.
What we recommend:
Darryl Brown DB T-Shirt (Coyote Brown) Check price at Darryl Brown 
Darryl Brown DB Japanese Cargo Pant Check price at Darryl Brown 
Darryl Brown DB Military Work Shirt (Vintage Black) Check price at Darryl Brown Denim Tears
Denim Tears offers a diverse range of clothing created to convey the story of Black America. Los Angeles-based designer Tremaine Emory boldly creates everything from hats to trousers with times of slavery and credit to Black leaders in mind, which are recently expressed in Denim Tears' 2020 collaborations with both Converse and Levi's.
Any purchase you make from Denim Tears is guaranteed to be a statement piece. The vibrant range of apparel on the brand's website ranges from $30-$160, with a few pieces created from EcoLife cotton that cuts down on production waste. We're certain there will be more amazing collaborations to come for Denim Tears, just don't sleep on the original pieces.
What we recommend:
Denim Tears Black Moses & The Burning Cotton Tee Check price at Denim Tears 
Denim Tears Black Jack Johnson Tee Check price at Denim Tears 
Denim Tears Logo Jungle Hat Check price at Denim Tears Fear of God
American luxury streetwear brand Fear of God is effortlessly appealing and continues to reshape the world's perception of streetwear globally with each new collection. Having most recently released the highly anticipated "Seventh Collection," and fresh off a more sartorial collaboration with Ermenegildo Zegna, Fear of God has evolved from hoodie and jogger concepts into an aesthetic that's more timeless and modern.
Nonetheless, you can always count on founder Jerry Lorenzo, the new Global Head of Adidas Basketball, to create an assorted range of options from distressed denim to the hottest kicks on the market. You can shop Fear of God at a number of stockists from Mr.Porter to PacSun. The more affordable "Essentials" line starts at $40 while the higher-priced and collab styles can reach up to $3,500.
What we recommend:
Fear of God Essentials Taupe T-Shirt Check price at StockX 
Fear of God Skate Low-Rise Leather Sneakers Check price at Saks Fifth Avenue 
Fear of God Zegna Cotton Blend Tracksuit Pants Check price at Union Los Angeles The Folklore
Ever wish there was an online marketplace where you could solely shop high-end designs from emerging Black talent? Look no further than The Folklore which is based in New York City and exclusively sells a diverse range of garments created by designers from Africa and the diaspora.
Showcasing contemporary brands, The Folklore's curated stock of everything from apparel to footwear is purchased in limited quantities and often has one of a kind items. Globally recognized designers such as Orange Culture, Tokyo James, and Third Crown can all be easily shopped on this platform that was created to enhance visibility and financial success for the African garment industry. Consider this your new go-to for access to over 40 of today's greatest African luxury brands.
What we recommend:
The Folklore ALC Menzi Utility Workwear Jacket Check price at The Folklore 
The Folklore Kente Gentlemen Baba and Soke Blue Roi Suit Check price at The Folklore 
The Folklore Orange Culture V-neck Mohair Sweater Check price at The Folklore Heron Preston
Heron Preston is one of the bestselling luxury streetwear brands and is on par with collections from Off-White or 1017 ALYX 9SM. Preston, a Parsons School of Design graduate and former Nike marketing specialist, creates concepts for his brand with a deep admiration for uniforms, having always wanted to collaborate with NASA and the U.S. Postal Service.
This aesthetic is often reflected in the utilitarian jackets, trousers, and even vests created by the brand; further emphasized by bold color contrasts and prints from uniquely pinned artist collaborations. The brand's first presentation was in 2017 at Paris Fashion Week and now successfully sells at an extensive list of global stockists from SSENSE to Bloomingdales. Prices vary from $112-$1000.
What we recommend:
Heron Preston Collage Popover Check price at Heron Preston 
Heron Preston Taupe & Yellow Herons T-Shirt Check price at Ssense 
Heron Preston Slim Jeans in Vintage Blue Check price at Bloomingdales Martine Rose
Established in 2017, Martine Rose is a menswear label based in London. Started by Rose as a shirting collection, it has now evolved into a widely respected and critically acclaimed brand. The designs for the collections are inspired by Rose's Jamaican-British heritage as well as the environment of the London culture.
Categorized as menswear but made for all, the collections feature a spectrum of fascinating prints, unique garment constructions, and pops of color. The Eurocentric look of the clothing requires one to step out of their comfort zone and into the designer's vision. With pricing between $115 and $1900, this is indeed a luxury brand, and it's currently sold at a range of premiere stockists including Dover Street Market in Los Angeles, New York, and Ginza.
What we recommend:
Martine Rose Printed Denim Shirt Check price at End Clothing 
Martine Rose Yes Tee Check price at End Clothing 
Martine Rose Roxy Croc Effect Loafers Check price at Farfetch Post-Imperial
Post-Imperial is a Harlem-based menswear brand founded by Lagos-born, Texas-raised designer Niyi Okuboyejo. The brand was established in 2012 and features signature textiles that are processed in Nigeria by master dyers using the rare craft of Adire, a wax-resist technique pioneered by the Yoruba people.
Post-Imperial's culturally named Jollof and Ijebu collections are each packed with vibrant tie-dye washes and eye-catching designs on fabrics like chenille and Funtua cotton. Each city-named product is hand- or Adire-dyed in Nigeria and constructed in Kenya. Prices start at $75 for tees and go up to $625 for blazers, which you can find at Farfetch and MATCHESFASHION among others.
What we recommend:
Post-Imperial Ijebu Adire-Dyed Camp Shirt Check price at No Man Walks Alone 
Post-Imperial Jos Sweater (yellow) Check price at Garmentory 
Post-Imperial Adire-Dyed Cotton-Jersey T-shirt Check price at MATCHESFASHION Pyer Moss
Founded in 2013 by Haitian-American designer Kerby Jean Raymond, Pyer Moss is a soon-to-be household name brand that's elite in its storytelling. Raymond, who was named the 2020 CFDA American Menswear Designer of the Year, depicts his collections as an "art project" meant to challenge social narratives and evoke dialogue through past and present depictions of the Black experience. Vice President Kamala Harris recently sported a coat designed by Raymond on the eve of the inauguration.
Pyer Moss' expressive menswear collections have recently offered tailored cropped jackets, "college slouch" sweats, and a variety of Black artist collaboration tees — all produced between New York, Milan, and Portugal. The pieces from this brand are stocked at luxury boutiques around the globe, however, you can shop all of the styles via its website. Prices range from $125-$2200.
What we recommend:
Pyer Moss Classic Logo Cropped Hooded Sweatshirt Check price at Pyer Moss 
Pyer Moss Sister Long-Sleeve Tee Check price at Pyer Moss 
Pyer Moss "Rock Me" Track Pant Check price at Pyer Moss Telfar
If you've heard of the "Bushwick Birkin," you've heard of Telfar. This inclusive brand embraced genderless clothing early on and hasn't wavered from its original concept of "it's not for you — it's for everyone." Liberian-American founder Telfar Clemens began creating avant-garde clothing back in 2002 and has since earned the brand two CFDA awards.
By now, you're undoubtedly connected to someone who owns a logo-embossed faux-leather Telfar bag in one of its mini, medium, or large iterations — which all range from $150-$257. Apart from collaborations with Converse and White Castle, Telfar also offers culturally uplifting apparel, footwear, and other embossed accessories, ranging in price from $70 to $769 on their website and at retailers such as SSENSE and FWRD.
What we recommend:
Telfar Brown & Yellow Velour Track Jacket Check price at Ssense 
Telfar Dance T-Shirt (Off-Black) Check price at Telfar 
Telfar Logo Embossed Hat (Tan) Check price at Telfar The Brooklyn Circus
If you're into clothing with a retro-urban feel then look no further than The Brooklyn Circus which draws inspiration from the history books. Founder Ouigi Theodore creates with the intent to "refine the image of urban America" with a more sartorial approach and less exposure to baggier trousers and sneakers — concepts we see in excess.
The Brooklyn Circus first opened the doors to its boutique in 2006 and has since added spaces in San Francisco, Chicago, and a pop-up in Stockholm. Theodore's apparel is reminiscent of those formative American high school and college years where logo-embossed hoodies and varsity bombers were the biggest style statements. Check out the brand's latest collaboration with Todd Snyder and Champion on its website.
What we recommend:
The Brooklyn Circus TS x Champion The Brooklyn Circus Knit Cardigan Check price at The Brooklyn Circus 
The Brooklyn Circus TS x Champion Limited Edition: The Brooklyn Circus Longsleeve Boxing Tee Check price at The Brooklyn Circus 
The Brooklyn Circus TS x Champion Limited Edition: The Brooklyn Circus “B” Sweatpants in Black Check price at The Brooklyn Circus TIER
TIER was created by co-founders Nigeria Ealey, Esaie Jean-Simon, and Victor James in 2014 and has gained visibility over the past year. With each of the co-founders having a background in art and design, the brand creatively expresses the trio's more personal vision of everyday comfort wear.
Aiming to be a globally-known sustainable brand with inclusive incentives, TIER is sure to cross your path from time to time in 2021. From satin sweats to washed printed denim, and even "Black excellence" sweatsuits, this is a brand to watch for its refreshing spin on streetwear staples. TIER is exclusively sold on the brand's website with accessories starting at $35 and reaching up to $440 for clothing.
What we recommend:
TIER Cream Articles Jean Jacket Check price at TIER 
TIER Tier News Trucker Check price at TIER 
TIER Kale Open Paper Trench Coat Check price at TIER UNION LOS ANGELES
From Fear of God to Visvim, you'll find many of today's hottest designers stocked at Union Los Angeles. Founder Eddie Cruz opened the first Union in New York back in 1989 with the objective of stocking clothing that represents the youth and counter culture. 31 years later, the shop exists exclusively in Los Angeles and stocks renowned global designers that highlight the classics with a twist.
Chris Gibbs, a former employee of the original Union, is the current owner of the space and keeps it ahead of the times. There's a special variety of Black-owned, established, and newly emerging brands sold at Union that makes it unlike the many other narrow-minded concept stores. With over 80 designers currently available, the space sells everything from apparel to accessories which range from $48 to $3500.
What we recommend:
Union Los Angeles Union Los Angeles Disco 45 T-Shirt Check price at UNION LOS ANGELES 
Union Los Angeles CPO Oversized Shirt Check price at Union Los Angeles 
Union Los Angeles Reconstructed Carpenter Jeans Check price at Union Los Angeles 
Demetrius Simms Demetrius Simms is a D.C. native who has studied journalism at both Delaware State University and Howard University. In 2019, Simms managed luxury fashion and lifestyle brands as a publicist before beginning to write freelance for other publications such Men’s Health. His topics of coverage include menswear and grooming. Read more Read lessncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyowcidnKxno6nGrbGOm6Oam5tivLi6xJ1kpp2eqMSmrdFmmauZnpnA