As the year draws to a close, which typically comes with gift-giving and merrymaking, renowned media personality Oprah Winfrey has released her Favourite Things of 2020. This year’s list celebrates black-owned businesses and the persons behind.
“This year, there’s a special twist,” Oprah wrote. “Because so many people want to support Black lives any way they can, we’ve found dozens of absolutely gorgeous gifts from Black-owned businesses that deserve to be celebrated, because we believe Black lives — and Black businesses — matter. So for 2020, most of my Favorite Things are from Black-owned or -led companies.”
The list contains 72 gift recommendations across various categories such as fashion, beauty, food, home, electronics and kids’ toys. Of the 72, 50 are black-owned businesses. Also, the prices vary from affordable buys to luxurious splurges. Furthermore, the list includes relatively unknown brands to big-name brands. It features Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty cozy jumpsuit and Ayesha Curry’s cookware.
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The list was published in an issue of Oprah Magazine and all the items can be found on Amazon. “It is my hope that this year’s list will inspire you to express your gratitude to the people who matter most and to support more black-owned businesses all year round,” the richest black woman billionaire said.
The Editor-at-Large for the Oprah Magazine, Gayle King, told etonline that there was a concerted effort to highlight more black-owned businesses in curating the list.
“We’ve always featured Black-owned businesses but we did, I have to say, make a concerted effort this year to up the ante on that. It’s amazing what is happening in the world, amazing,” she said. “There are so many wonderful things, and the thing about it was it wasn’t hard to find things. It was not hard whatsoever, so we’re very excited about that.”
Which black-owned businesses made the list? Below are some of them:
- Telfar bag: It was created by Telfar Clemens, a Queens native who started his eponymous unisex clothing line in 2005 at the age of 19. Celebrities like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Solange, and Selena Gomez use the bag.
- Bychari: The jewelry brand was founded by Chari Cuthbert in 2012. Former first lady Michelle Obama wore her coveted necklace design, “VOTE”, to the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
- Mandinka Style: Mandinka Style is based in Africa and it is founded by Fatima Makadji. She mades jewelries, handbags and more and they are all locally sourced and made by the country’s natives.
- Coco and Seed: This produce is founded by Tishana Richards. It is an indoor garden shop, Coco and Seed. The company sells planters and mini-home gardens with simple instructions—so we all can have a green thumb.
- Cookie Society: Following a trip to a bakery in New York, Marissa Allen sought to make her own version of the “Ultimate Cookie,” leading to experiments that lead her to bake dozens of (delicious) cookies a week. It was then that she and her NFL player husband, Jeff Allen, decided to found their bakery, The Cookie Society, based in Frisco, Texas.
- Ubuntu Life: It is a children disability centerin Nairobi founded by Zane Wilemon and Jeremiah Kuria. Their handmade products (bags, espadrilles, and bracelets) are sold in both Kenya and the U.S., and proceeds go towards the Ubuntu Life Foundation, which strives to provide “pediatric health and special needs education across the region,” according to their site.
- Ojai Lingerie: Malory Taylor’s online lingerie and loungewear boutique sells brands that offer inclusive sizing and fair compensation for garment workers who make the clothing.
You can see more of black-owned businesses on Oprah’s Favourite Things list on here.
