Eight months after its initial launch as an Instagram directory of Black-owned businesses, celebrity stylist to Beyoncé and sister duo Chloe x Halle, Zerina Akers, has taken Black Owned Everything to new heights.
Conceptualised during the height of the pandemic and amongst a time of unparalleled racial tension, Akers recognised the urgent need to highlight more Black excellence. She has now taken her Instagram platform one step further, officially launching the Instagram page as an online marketplace and cultural media hub. The launch of the new e-commerce site coincides with Black History Month in the United States and aims to celebrate both established and emerging Black-owned businesses across the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle categories.
“Black Owned Everything will serve as a content hub for creators to virtually connect with designers through immersive storytelling and activated experiences with the idea of becoming a destination for Black-owned excellence,” Akers shared in a press release.
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In less than a year, Akers' Instagram following has grown to 223k – an incredible, and exponential growth that entirely warranted the launch of the e-commerce site. Last year, Akers shared with CFDA that the original idea behind the account was a place where she could personally and easily locate Black-owned businesses tp support during the pandemic. Once she started the page however, Akers "realised that keeping the information to myself would be downright selfish so I posted it to my personal page asking people to refer companies to follow. The response was astounding. We received hundreds, even thousands of brands spanning many different categories."
With over 30 brands currently featured on the website, including the dreamy pieces of Fe Noel, show-stopping footwear from Keeyahri, unisex staples courtesy of K.ngsley and lip-smacking delights from William Okpo, it's clear that Akers is not playing around. Our current wishlist is also a very telling sign of the incredible talent and work she's sharing through the space and is available to shop now.
If you're wanting to support brands closer to home, look to our guide of Indigenous businesses to support here in Australia.
Image: Instagram
