image via Alivia Fields
….Continued from original BIPOC post….
Here’s the sad reality about the wellness, lifestyle and travel industries, they are marketed and geared towards white people. But the truth is that the communities of Black Women, and all BIPOC, are the ones that need the extra attention and means towards self-care and a lifestyle of “wellness”. Even the world of the travel, where do you see the top travel bloggers or photographers that are black, much less women — well the BIPOC on this list is shattering that! They are making it possible for their communities to be seen, taking care of and empowered to value their wellness and travel dreams!.
If you’re a true lover and passionate about all things wellness, Well + Good put together an extensive list of 150+ Black Wellness Owned Brands you should absolutely check out with so many more not mentioned on this list.
Like I mentioned in the original BIPOC post, this list not only consists of black individuals but several others within in the BIPOC community. There are so many inspiring individuals, some that I admire and look up to when it comes to my own dreams…
1. The Bohemian Brands // Morgan Ashley Oaklantathebohemian
Vanessa Coore Vernon and Morgan Ashley came together to create The Bohemian Brands, where they’ve built a community that’s rewriting what it means to live beyond a bohemian lifestyle, while also using their platform and featured creativity to shed light on the intersectionality of social institutions such as race, sexuality, and gender. Not it’s been a way to show their appreciation and celebrate for artisans on a larger scale encapsulating all areas of life. Souk Bohemian is their bohemian brand where culture meets curation — a sorts for the local and global, moody and minimal fashion loving bohémes. With Bōhēmian Eats they create some of the most gorgeous, cool and inviting restaurant designs, decor and inspiration. I could spend hours getting lost on all their accounts!
2. Kimberly Felix
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBwoC9Bgq-C/
When Kimberly Felix, of Fe’Lix Inside & Out, recently liked a few of my Instagram posts I of course checked her out, and immediately began following her!! She focuses and inspires others on all things wellness, to live mindfully and to always keep learning. Her most recent IG video “We are NOT Okay” is moving and powerful, a testament to her encouraging light, that Felix too is learning to be vulnerable along this journey we call life, something I’m constantly working on myself. Give her a follow, her family is darling, she is always inspiring with her words, tips on clean beauty and everything that helps take the shape of wellness.
3. Lalah Delia // Vibrate Higher
Lalah Delia is a spiritual writer, author, wellness educator, certified spiritual practitioner, and founder of Vibrate Higher Daily. She has spoken and given her advice on numerous publications and platforms to inspire and empower everyone to vibrate hight in their daily lives, especially navigating through the world we live in. I save almost all the quotes she posts, each one a beautiful inspiration and encouragement for whatever it is we may need to lift and empower us — simple, but powerfully true and impactful.
4. Black Girls Breathing
Black Girls Breathing is a beautiful organization putting Black women’s mental health and wellness on the forefront, something that is often forgotten and too be honest most of the times geared towards white women. They have created a safe space for black women to nurture their mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing through the beneficial power of breath work. Breath work isn’t meditation, breath work forces one to change completely our breathing rhythm. Trust me, when you learn how to powerfully inhale and exhale, your breath has the strength to calm and soothe even the most stressful and sensitive of times. Along with their select city sessions, they also hold a virtual breathwork circle.
5. Nicole Cardoza
Nicole Cardoza is making everyone reclaim what it means to be well, by making wellness accessible for everyone especially BIPOC. She is the founder of both Yoga Foster, a nonprofit empowers educators to include yoga/mindfulness in the classroom, and Reclamation Ventures, a fund investing in underestimated entrepreneurs with high potential by making wellness more accessible — which she’s already re-invested over $2.5M from the wellness industry into communities needing it most. Oh she also happens to be 2017 Forbes 30 Under 30, 2020 Well+Good Changemaker, and the face of Nike’s Spring 2020 Nike Yoga campaign!
6. Black Girl Om // Lauren Ash
If you follow a few yoga and wellness platforms, than you can instantly see that lack of diversity, especially since these areas are often geared to affluent communities. But for years, Black Girl in Om has been working to change that with founder Lauren Ash, a meditation and yoga teacher, bringing it to all women of color through community-based programs like group meditations and events, The Annual Wellness Day. It’s truly a beautiful thing that needs to be brought into more communities, because people of color are too often overlooked in even given the same opportunities for taking care of their wellness.
7. Oumi Janta
If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen me post a few of Oumi Janta’s amazing and mesmerizing rollerblading videos…I’m obsessed with her!! Watching her carefree and cool skills are like self-care to me. Oumi’s rollerblading skills will certainly make you fall in love and want to pick up a pair of blades too! She teaches over at Jams Skate Club, because Roller Disco is back baby!
8. Alivia Fields
Alivia Fields’ dreamy photographs are enough to draw you in and make you feel like your in a soothing sunny flower field. She’s on a mission to spread light and love, highlighting her passion for slow intentional living and sustainability, as well as travel and photography. Her lifestyle and documentary photography experience has had her shoot in 19 countries around the world and half of the US. I connect to much to there draw to capturing the Earth’s beauty, even the smallest detail of nature, and has captured much of it on her travelogue, Never Going Home.
9. Jules Acree // Om & the City
Jules Acree of Om & the City is making wellness and mediation fun and upbeat! This wellness writer, content creator, and certified yoga + mindfulness teacher, and proud Hapa {of Asian or Pacific Islander descent} is on a mission to bring wellness down-to-earth and help you find more joy in this crazy digital age to lead a simpler life. Her wellness journey made it clear that small shifts add to sustained change and she’s sharing advice how others can do the same whether by making eco-friendly lifestyle changes or how to have a more mindful morning. I love how she’s all about happiness being a ripple effect, if you feel it, it inspires it onto others.
10. HealHaus
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCMjRU6J6n4/
Ok, I know I found out about HealHaus, quiet some time ago can’t remember where or from whom, but just know when it’s safe to mingle in beautiful gems like this wellness community studio and café, I’m running to Brooklyn! HealHaus was created for people of all backgrounds to feel welcome whether for a yoga or meditation class, a workshop, private therapy sessions or just to enjoy and relax in the aesthetically beautiful café.
11. Mama Glow
After giving birth to her son, Latham Thomas went on a mission to help mothers reclaim their childbirth journeys, and so Mama Glow, the first company to offer Doula support for every stage of childbearing. Based in NY, they support women and their families, from fertility, to pregnancy and well into new motherhood with a holistic wellness approach. I love the attention and care, but also the freedom and comfort they give women to follow the childbirth journey that feels right for them.
12. LOOM
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBV7HIhjdcA/
LOOM is an inclusive wellness-parenting-health platform with a mission to empower all people and celebrate as we navigate our reproductive and sexual journeys, by providing health education, offering resources, building a community that is nonjudgemental. LOOM is a complete new approach to health education and personal growth that is invaluable, even in today’s age when BIPOC groups, especially women still do not get the proper education or care when it comes to pregnancy/parenting.
13. Naaya Wellness
Naaya, a wellness and yoga community, was created by Zimbabwean Sinikiwe Dhliwayo from the her all too common feeling of uncomfortableness as a black woman in yoga studios. Naaya wellness is changing the BIPOC narrative within the wellness and yoga space, and does so through beyond mediation/yoga, she also offers online classes aimed at teaching self-love and helping young people process anger, including her powerful initiative working with BIPOC high school students through The Check-In.
14. Denise Vasi // maed
Denise Vasi is the founder and creator of maed, “an inclusive, accessible and diverse community for women who want to encounter each day mindfully, with balance, moderation and beauty” and let me know, I’m a huge fan now! I found out about Denise through Biossance’s IG page and there is something so inviting, comforting and indescribably positive and light about her, love following her along.
15. Jessica Barretto
Jessica Barretto is simply an inspiring soul! Her bio gives it away that regardless of what specific title she has her mission is all about freedom and healing, and sharing it with others in the world. And I LOVE that!!
16. Earth Mama // Ps Love Joli
Joli or Earth Mama is taking creating content and the work of being a doula with a more nature driven bohéme approach. She’s also a holistic plant based nutritionist and holistic herbalist, raising her darling child to love Mother Earth and positive vibes.
17. Ehtel’s Club
Ehtel’s Club is a social and wellness platform, the first of its kind, to celebrate of color. It’s mission to create a healing safe community space where members can create the next renaissance of people of color by thriving and inspiring in whatever creative calling. You can tell that this is one crazy talented community of individuals who are bringing all sorts of new amazing colors into the world.
18. Tennille Murphy // The Tennille Life
Tennille Murphy is a former interior designer turned corporate flight attendant and blogger using The Tennille Life as a creative outlet to share her many passions — effortless sustainable living, fashion, wellness, and workcation…her way of balancing life on the road. She is all kinds of positivity and proudly rocks her grey hair, which I love!
19. Goodnight Darling
Here’s the reality, in general Americans have very bad sleep, it’s nonexistent or restless. I personally have good sleep, but I’ve also joined the crazy Quarantine dream club, are you having some weird dreams? Lack of sleep is a serious problem, so after years of insomnia Goodnight Darling founder Aycee Brown decided to research more natural ways to get her to sleep that weren’t pills. She dived into learning about fragrance-blending and herbs, that have now led to room/pillow sprays, teas, bath soaks and of course soothing scented candles all to help others ease into and promote good sleep habits. I know a few people I’m planning on gifting a few of these products to! In fact their entire mission is to break the sad reality that our culture has become one of busy-ness and burning our “candle” at both ends, well that is NO longer! They’re here to make sure we stay well, stay healthy, get happy!
20. Homebody
Cupcakes Wars on Food Network was all the rage when it premiered, and that’s how you may recognize sisters Rebecca Grammer-Ybarra and Christy Grammer, the first black woman to win a televised dessert competition and catapulting their 12 year careers running Suite 106 Cupcakery {which included 2 bakeries, an award-winning food truck, and a commercial kitchen}. And then the crazy fast paced life came to a screeching halt when Rebecca’s engagement ended and soon was in a car accident, but what resulted was a bath epiphany that led her to create something holistic to promote “total wellness of mind, body, and soul” — and so Homebody was born. Together with a holistic physician the sisters created the brand of organically farmed, pretty pearlescent CBD infused bath-bomb soaks to give everyone a truly soul soothing experience. Oh yeah, a little lady named Beyonce showed gave their products some major love!
21. {blade + bloom}
I think the process of handcrafting natural soup is lovely, and whenever I’m gifted a nice bar of naturally made soap I always cherish using it. Terri Foster has been making soaps for years, what started as a hobby making holiday gifts {as most great ideas are often started as a hobby} which then she expanded to created a business making and selling handcrafted 100% natural aromatherapy oils, body balms, candles, and of course a lovely bar of soap — all packaged in recyclable/reusable containers. Her product names are charming, her miminalist design is lovely but it’s her thought and consciousness into her business that speaks volumes.
22. Sacred Botanica // Empress Karen Rose
Brooklyn’s Sacred Botanica, was founded by well-known herbalist Karen Rose, as an international space to empower individuals to make thoughtful decisions about their health, and lifestyle as a whole. Using the traditional practices from her Guyana ancestors she offers a range of services, like tarot and astrology readings via Zoom, and products, like candles and crystals. Her space looks magical!
23. I See You Wellness
After working as an advertising creative and suffering for years from depression and anxiety—“a dark night of the soul,” as she describes it—I See You Wellness was founded by Mariam Mouna Guessous when she decided to lead a life putting herself first and of peace, after years of suffering from depression and anxiety. So created products, services and a space for others to choose to do the same with their lives. I love that she calls her herbs, bath salts and skin products “self-care and sou-care”. Soul care, everyone needs that!
24. Black-Owned Brooklyn
Black-Owned Brooklyn is an incredible resource, or shall I say community, to find and discover so many amazing local Black-owned businesses in Brooklyn! Through their publication husband and wife duo, Tayo and Cynthia Gordy Giwa, are able to empower and preserve the stories of these businesses ranging from food, culture, design, beauty, wellness and everything in between. If you’re a local NYC or just want to support these entrepreneurs check them out!
Golde
I first spotted Golde’s sponsored post ads on my Instagram awhile back, but never thought to much about it until I finally clicked and discovered that this superfood tonics and skin-care company, founded by Trinity Mouzon Wofford and her partner Issey Kobori, made history by making Trinity the youngest black woman to launch a line at Sephora. That’s right, in 3 years they have been able to “bring good vibes to the wellness industry” and gaining a loyal clientele base that brought them to one of the biggest beauty stores.
25. What Kay Says
Kalah, but you can call her Kay is a lot of things, a lot of creative and inspiring things that is, and I can relate to that feeling of feeling like you are so many things just navigating through it all and making it all work together. At the end of the day, each one of her loves and passions she pursues and focuses on is about actively healing creating beautiful inspiring things, seeing the world — living internationally.
26. Seventh & Gray
Seventh & Gray is completely transforming wellness, beauty, and lifestyle businesses with their custom branding and website design services. Their beautiful designs will definitely attract your dream clients and help propel your brand to the business you aways wanted, and more!
27. Abou Baker // African Boheme
About Baker created African Boheme, a black family travel blog, to interconnect the black travel movement and millennial motherhood. She’s documenting her life as a mother-daughter {Sunshine + Noon} black travel duo to inspired all women to have the confidence to travel with their children. African Boheme is her love letter to the beauty of black family travel, and when she’s not creating content or making tribal art at Polyglot Tot, she’s being bossed around by darling little Noon.
28 . Jessica Nabongo // The Catch Me If You Can
I’ve been inspired by Jessica Nabongo for sooo long!! She is the 1st black female to travel every single country in the world!! I mean how amazing and what an accomplishment! What an inspiration, seriously I want to travel and do what she did, yes this pandemic has stopped us from traveling which is really the things that’s been bugging me, but when we start safely traveling again, I’m ready to see the world! Jessica used her experience and knowledge to create Global Jet Black, a boutique travel firm curating a variety of travel-related services, and This is the Catch, her blog where she shares her journeys and stories along the way. Goodness, she is so cool and inspiring!
29. Lee Litumbe // Spirited Pursuit
Lee Litumbe’s mission with Spirited Pursuit is for all to travel, adventure, and experience new cultures with a “spirited pursuit”. Lee is a self-taught photographer and uses to tell stories about cultures, and brings a new perspective to lifestyle and travel that is off-the-beaten track. Her photography will make you want to drop everything and see all the beautiful places she’s been..you know whenever that’s possible again!
30. Hey Chiara
Hey Chiara has become a quick inspiration to me for her sheer bravery to quit her job to travel the world, all with solo self! It’s an action that for years is constantly at the forefront of my mind, in truth as an only child I’ve grown to enjoy being and doing almost everything alone, but traveling seems to be the thing I can’t quite fully embark on alone. The connection you get from having a travel companion is something I truly enjoy, but because I don’t have siblings and the people I would travel with can’t readily pick up and adventure as I can — it’s certainly a factor as to why I haven’t experienced so many countries I’ve been dying to. But Chiara did, and is doing it, and is seriously inspiring me to do the same…once we can safely travel around again.
31. Cátia Dombaxe
Cátia Dombaxe is another inspiring black woman taking over the world of solo travel. She comes from Angola, the country my parents were born in, and is studying to become a Forensic Chemist in the US while being a part-time traveler and photographer. Oh you know just casually finding the time to have visited 52 countries.
32. One Girl One World
Why do I connect more with BIPOC traveling the world on their own, because as a female who is also single, majority of the travel accounts I follow or those who make travel part of their brand, those who are white, they do so with a significant other. As much as I get inspiration and always jot down ideas for whenever I plan to travel to these amazing places; there’s always a feeling I get from them that my experience won’t be as full if I’m alone. In fact those traveling couples make single travelers feel a little shitty for not having that special travel partner. That’s why I love all the amazing woman of color taking over the world of travel, like Francesca Murray of One Girl One World who strives for all travelers, especially women, to embrace all forms of self-love and encourage a culturally-rich experiment wherever they travel! She mixes in all types of lifestyle tips that easily relate to traveling, and is an advocate for natural hair!
33. Las Morenas de España
Sienna and Danni moved abroad to build a life they loved, and wanted other women to be able to do the same, so Las Morenas de España was created — an online platform and community teaching you how to build a life you love, abroad! The way we want to live and work is changing, I see that personally, people, especially women don’t want to feel pressured that they have to be overworked in other to live the life they want, and the freedom to do so. LMDES is built on the foundation of connecting like-minded individuals who are dedicated in changing their lives for the better — no matter what country you call your base for work, travel and life, they’ll help you make it happen!
34. Tastemakers Africa
For as long as I can remember the one place I’ve always wanted to travel and experience is the continent of Africa, perhaps it’s the fact that both my parents were born there and this natural connection to the continent was born within me, and so it’s led to my intrigue and learning of travel services that are specifically geared to travelers wanting that unique and local experience. Tastemakers Africa is not what you think of when you think of an African tour service, and that’s what’s always appealed to me. They offering unique experiences created and hosted by artists, creators and makers in Africa, and beyond — connecting you with authentic experiences and journeys you won’t really get anywhere else. Their on a mission to build a world where people are valued on equal standing, no matter where they’re born or the color of their skin — truly giving black people at means to connect with their African heritage on a deeper level.
34. Wind Collective
Wind Collective is a global travel community giving explorers the freedom to live like the wind through adventure and creativity by traveling and discovering this beautiful planet. Every month they have set travel destination and packages that allows each traveler to get a unique experience that allows them to immerse in the culture with local partners. Some of their packages seem really great, and something I’ll definitely be looking into when we can start traveling safely again!
35. Dipaways
Dipaways was started by Chadricks, as former Travel Noire experience designer, as a way to bring people together give them with the amazing connection travel can give to them, the same way travel gifted him many years ago. They create full itineraries with accommodations, fun experiences and even a photographer so you can truly and fully experience your travels.
36. Miss Enocha
Miss Enocha started her blog as a way to share her personal style and music, over time that turned into a more complex journal showcasing her journey through life. The ups and downs, the in-betweens, to returning back to her center and love, sharing her music and life, her personal diary she is putting out into the world for all of us to experience along with her. She hasn’t left fashion completely behind, she also created Locks and Trinkets Shop, featuring vintage, handmade and up-cyled treasures.
37. Native Wellness
The Native Wellness Institute promotes the well-being of Native people through programs and trainings that embrace the teachings and traditions of our ancestors. It’s the leading provider of Native wellness-related training and technical assistance to Native people, communities, tribes and organizations all throughout North America. They bring together high-skilled and admired Native trainers/consultants to share their knowledge and wisdom through their various events that improve the overall well-being to people within the Indian community.
38. Blaque Fitness
Blaque Fitness is a space for movement, where Black people thrive through fitness and wellness. BLAQUE has created the first fitness space designed for the Black community with the vision that Black people deserve an inclusive, enjoyable, culturally resonant, and high-quality fitness experience especially during these times of racial and health injustices.
And these lists won’t end here, as I learn about more BIPOC I will continuously be updating these lists with as many inspiring talents as possible, so stay tuned!!
Don’t forget to check out these other inspiring BIPOC too!
Writers || Poets || Speakers || Publications+Books || NonProfits
Interiors || Home Decor + Design
Artists || Photographers || Creators
Wedding/Event Professionals || Floral Designers
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