How To Support Black Pound Day This Month
What is Black Pound Day?
Black Pound Day is a monthly campaign which encourages people to support black-owned businesses in the UK. Every first Saturday of the month, consumers are encouraged to change their shopping habits and seek out their local black-owned shop or support black businesses online. The ‘solution-based approach’ was originally set up in June 2020 to support the growth of the black economy, with the hope that people would continue to celebrate it indefinitely.
Who created it?
The idea came from the award-winning music artist and former member of the So Solid Crew, Swiss. In response to the unlawful murder of George Floyd in May and the subsequent resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, Swiss created the UK’s first Black Pound Day – now a national monthly campaign. As he told us – "My hope is that Black Pound Day creates a sustainable way to close the pay gap that exists in the UK and, in the future, it becomes a national day so that black entrepreneurs can fill spaces on the shelves of big corporations and high-street chains.”
How can we do our bit?
It’s simple – on the first Saturday of each month, instead of going to your local supermarket or nearest high street chain, seek out local black-owned shops and businesses. From small corner shops and restaurants, to beauty salons and hairdressers, you can support the movement in a number of ways. According to the Black Pound Day website, black people run only 0.67% of UK businesses despite making up 3.3% of the population, but if everyone was to spend just £10 a week on these businesses, it could inject £1.9bn into the black economy.
How can we affect meaningful change?
Do your research, actively seek out your nearest black-owned businesses and ask around your local community. As well spending the cash, you can also donate to a number of initiatives that help support Black Pound Day – BYP Network (a scheme that connects black businesses), and the Black Pound Day charity itself are a good place to start. You can also help create awareness on social media – share your purchases and donations on Twitter and Instagram using the #BlackPoundDay hashtag.
Feeling inspired? Here are six British black-owned businesses to support this month…
LIHA BEAUTY
Liha Beauty
Best friends Liha Okunniwa and Abi Oyepitan founded Liha Beauty to bring a range of natural African-inspired beauty products to the UK market. Made in the Yoruba (Nigerian) tradition, where ingredients are naturally sourced from the earth, the range consists of luxury bath and body essentials, candles and fragrances made with simple extracts such as Nigerian and Ghanaian shea butter, coconut oil and African moss. For a hit of moisture, Liha’s body oils and shea butters will resurrect even the driest of skin, while the Gidi body soaps are a great bath time treat. The products sell out quickly, so don’t delay when new releases hit the site.
Visit LihaBeauty.com
TOVE Studio
TOVE is a London-based brand founded by Camille Perry and Holly Wright. Born out of a desire to create timeless womenswear, the design duo create elegant clothing in luxury fabrics – ideal for day-to-night dressing. TOVE’s pieces are simple yet versatile with modern detailing – think relaxed tailoring, feminine silhouettes and grown up investment pieces. We love the brand’s silk midi dresses and trousers, which come in a range of soft neutral tones.
Visit Tove-Studio.com
TOVE STUDIO
BOWE SKINCARE
Bowë Skincare
Founded in 2019, Bowë has become a skincare staple for those in-the-know. After realising that women of colour were often an afterthought in the beauty industry, founder Roselyn Annor took inspiration from her West African roots to create a range of beauty products that deeply nourish and restore troubled skin. Specifically made for women of colour, Bowë Skincare is a business committed to diversifying the beauty industry. From intense body moisturisers and oils to luxury gift sets featuring organic botanical extracts, each product is vegan and cruelty-free.
Visit BoweSkincare.com
OHANA CBD
After being diagnosed with MS in 2015, Jasmin Thomas created OHANA CBD as a way to naturally manage her side effects. Fast forward five years and OHANA offers a range of CBD remedies that use plant-based formulations to tackle specific skincare concerns such as hyperpigmentation and irritated skin. Beauty industry experts rave about the Daily Defence Serum, while the Night Repair Face Oil is an SL favourite.
Visit Ohana-CBD.com
OHANA CBD
SELFMADE CANDLE
Selfmade Candle
After the resurgence of the BLM movement earlier this year, Ricki Lawal was inspired to create a business to give back to the black community – cue Selfmade Candle. Championing the ‘importance of aromatherapy, self-care and wellness’ during the pandemic, Ricki’s beautifully scented soy candles and candle making kits aim to soothe the mind and body. Made with natural extracts and essential oils, each candle is hand poured in London. The brand also donates 5% off its profits to the charity Black Minds Matter – even more of a reason to get on board this month.
Visit SelfMadeCandle.com
Line & Honey
Amberlee Green is a mental health adviser, researcher and facilitator who founded her illustration studio Line & Honey in 2017. After noticing the lack of representation in the art world, Amberlee set out to focus her art on the inclusion and positive representation of black women. Scroll through the Line & Honey Instagram for some Pinterest-worthy inspo where her prints elevate even the simplest of interiors with a simple yet chic aesthetic.
Visit LineAndHoney.co.uk
LINE & HONEY
EMOLYNE
Emolyne
After years of searching for products in the right shade for her skin tone, Emolyne Ramloy decided to take things into her own hands and create an inclusive make-up range. The brand, which caters to every skin tone, currently has 30 ‘suits-all’ shades available in matching lipsticks, lip liners and nail polishes. Each one is named after an African country, city or landmark that pays homage to Emolyne’s Ugandan heritage – the Casablanca red is one of our favourites.
Visit Emolyne.com
For more information visit BlackPoundDay.uk and follow @bpdofficial
DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@sheerluxe.com.