5 CR-Tested Black-Owned Brands I Love
From the kitchen to the bedroom and everywhere in between, these companies are quickly becoming some of my faves
When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more.
The way consumers vote with their dollars is powerful. With my own spending power, I’ve chosen to support businesses that are reliable, purpose-driven, and ultimately improve my life. When those brands are woman-owned or Black-owned, when they help bolster local communities and address social, economic, and systemic inequities, my dollar becomes that much more influential. And that’s why supporting Black-owned businesses is not simply for a moment during Black History Month, but a movement that should be supported all year long.
“Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate African American triumphs and accomplishments, and it is also an opportunity to address some of the structural inequities inherent in our system,” wrote famed economist Julianne Malveaux in a 2024 op-ed outlining the foundations of Black History Month. “Celebrations remind us that Black folk are due more than Presidential proclamations. We are due economic justice.”
Providing avenues to financial prosperity for historically marginalized groups includes fair lending practices, dismantling widespread stereotypes, and ensuring equitable access to education and opportunity. But for many like myself, it also includes merited support of these businesses if and when I can afford it.
Thousands of Black businesses will open in the next year. According to the small business lending platform Lendio, roughly two-thirds of the entrepreneurs propelling those brands will be faced with challenges reaching new customers, retaining quality staff, and finding the capital to responsibly grow. A number of these businesses will shutter operations because of the obstacles they face—Bloomberg estimates eight in 10 within the first 18 months—despite some selling products that are well-crafted, valuable, and much needed in the marketplace.
At Consumer Reports, we strive to identify those very products by putting them through rigorous testing in our labs, and at times in our homes. Below are five products that have shined in our assessments. In the words of Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy, they are tested, approved, and trusted.
Premium Paint
Clare Interior Paint
I designed my home office to be a celebration of Black femininity, painting it a serene pink called Wing It from Clare. The startup paint company is owned and operated by interior designer and entrepreneur Nicole Gibbons. In our lab, testers find it does a great job covering with just one coat and is top-notch when it comes to stain resistance. In my own experience, the paint went on smoothly, it had a very low odor, and the color continues to stand the test of time.
Cookware that heats up fast and cooks food evenly is a must-have in the kitchen. And this 10-piece hard-anodized set from Ayesha Curry does just that, while also offering all the benefits of being nonstick—meaning cooked foods release quite easily as witnessed in CR’s lab tests.
The handles remain impressively cool as you’re cooking, but testers note that they’re susceptible to bending. Still, this cookware set as a whole is expected to last for a long time (and it’s backed by a lifetime warranty if it doesn’t). Standout pieces in this 500° F oven-safe set include a 1.5 and 2-quart covered saucepan, a 5.5 quart covered Dutch oven, and 8.5- and 10-inch skillets—my go-tos for making risotto, searing meat, and browning ground turkey.
Fall-off-the-bone stew chicken and oxtail—two of my go-to Caribbean dishes—are easy to achieve in this versatile Dutch oven by Tia Mowry. It can brown, braise, and slow-cook, and in our tests, it aced our bread-baking evaluation. It also heats up quickly and evenly and does a solid job at simmering sauces. Best of all, it’s a cinch to clean.
Dreamy Duvet
Clean Design Home x Martex Anti-Allergen Down Alternative Comforter
Robin Wilson created this allergen-aware comforter designed with a prewashed down-alternative polyfill and a woven cotton cover to help prevent allergic reactions. It’s warm enough for cold climates, and because it has some weight, it offers up a cozy feeling. Another plus: The king size measures 94x108 inches—roughly 4 inches more than the typical king duvet, allowing it to completely fill out my duvet cover and offer optimal draping.
This beach day must-have, made by Shontay Lundy with melanin-rich skin in mind, ensures full-body protection whether you’re laying out on the sand or just spending some time outside. It provides a very satisfying defense against harmful rays that can cause sunburn, and it’s an excellent safeguard against ultraviolet A rays. Plus, it rubs in quickly and gives my skin a shiny glow. No chalky cast in sight.
