Heron Preston
No matter what trend cycle we’re in, supporting a diverse range of designers and makers is something that will never go out of style. And many fashion pioneers and innovators in the fashion space are Black.
This list is just a small compilation of some of the hottest Black-owned shoe brands that you can get right now. These designers have infused their innate culture into the structure and presentation of these items. If you’re looking for a new pair of steppers that will have people turning their heads, this is the shopping list to study. From fuzzy slippers and thick leather ankle boots to futuristic runners, these brands will meet all of your shoe needs.
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What happens when a dancer who shared the stage with Janet Jackson and Brittney Spears creates a shoe line? Meet Aminah Abdul-Jillil, who launched her namesake label in August 2012. This feminine brand offers the prettiest heels to spice up your life. Her motto, “try something different,” resonates loudly with each shoe.
Price Range: $295-$998
Armando Cabral is a Guinea-Bissau born fashion model turned designer. With a specialty in leather and fine workings, he released his first footwear collection in 2009. He prides himself on being able to connect with artisans in order to continue to maximize his space in the luxury mens footwear market. If you are looking for something carefully constructed and subtly show-stopping, Armando has got it.
Price Range: $455-$595
David Raysse is the founder of this self-explanatory namesake brand. He was always a huge sneakerhead before even considering venturing into this business. He worked in the industry long before he created the brand, lending his mind and eye to several footwear labels. Now David himself provides the market with creative athletic footwear styles under Brandblack and allows customers to add a pop of life to their rotation.
Price Range: $78-$295
From Ghana with love, Brother Vellies is the powerhouse brand founded by Aurora James in 2013. From vegetable tanned leathers, soiling from recycled tires, to floral dyed feathers, the hyper-sustainable label honors the artisans who craft its shoes (plus bags, small leather goods, and socks too).
Price Range: $195 – $1,195
Newly launched brand BYDOSE is keeping it simple and offering chic, minimal footwear that you’ll never want to let go of. These luxury shoes are just as beautiful on your feet as they are off.
Price Range: $212 – $333
Handcrafted in Italy, Chelsea Paris is created out of inspiration from the designer’s Nigerian heritage. Famously her shoes were seen down the runways of Bibhu Mohaptra’s SS20 collection. Chelsea Paris is certainly a fashion favorite.
Price Range: $295 – $595
Comfortable, cozy, and fashionable. What we all need right now are these luxurious furry slides crafted by the talented Duckie Confetti. A designer and tastemaker, Confetti specializes in cozy slippers. You’ll definitely feel like somebody important walking around in his styles.
Price Range: $100 and under
Who said comfort had to be boring? FETE-ish offers the cutest sandals with a unique appeal. From colorful, minimal straps to cute leather flowers and butterflies, these sandals are sure to be a conversation starter.
Price Range: $69-$150
Fini is a New York based Ethiopian-American brand, that specializes in a broad range of footwear. From knee-high boots to court sneakers, Fini has a luxurious collection. Debuted in 2018, so relatively fresh, Fini has proved themself to be a heavy-hitter.
Price Range: $149, $1,100
Hanifa is taking the fashion industry by storm with Anifa Mvuemba’s lavishly sophisticated and fun pieces. Launched at the founder’s ripe age of 21, Hanifa has been emphasizing a women’s versatility since 2011. This is a label for the fun and chic, everybody should have Hanifa on their personal radar.
Price Range: $369-$679
Heron Preston wears many hats– he’s a designer, DJ, art director and a collaborator who sources inspiration from sustainable products and technology. He founded his eponymous label in 2016 and it soared like a rocket, creating shoes that continues to push boundaries.
Price Range: $200 – $1,150
Jessica Rich’s brand is another celeb favorite, seen on Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B, and Saweetie, just to name a few. Rich’s heels primarily incorporate the use of PVC. She debuted her “Transparent” line in 2017 in response to her customer’s ongoing love of the material, and it has been history ever since.
Price Range: $105- $295
Founder and CEO, Jessica Perdomo believes that “everyone deserves to have a pair of shoes on their feet that feels good to wear and makes them feel good too.” Each pair offers a classic and timeless approach to footwear design.
Price Range: $350-$1,100
Who knew that a pineapple could have so many uses? Founder of Jo-Anne Vernay, Dyandra Raye, created unique shoes using one our favorite summertime fruits. It goes to show that the boundaries of luxury vegan footwear are limitless. Each shoe is made of pineapple leaf fibers, along with other sustainable materials like organic cotton.
Price Range: $498
Kahmune’s mission is for all women to have nude shoes that embrace true diversity, not just one skin tone. Motivated by the lack of nudes for darker skin tones, designer, Jamela A. Acheampong created Kahmune. The brand offers ten shades with names like Goa, Rio, Kumasi, Douala, and Juba, and offers makeup matches to help you pick your right shade. Personalization at its best!
Price Range: $235-$475
Launched in 2015, Chicago native Kendall Miles partners with family-owned factories in Italy to offer shoes that are put comfort first. Her luxury stilettos come with the bonus of double-padded leather insoles.
Price Range: $325-$975
Designer and artistic director Keya Martin seeks to represent dynamic women with an eclectic sensibility. Wearing a pair of Keeyahri shoes will certainly get noticed, as each pair is crafted with sculptural heels, hand-applied feathers, and more statement-making details.
Price Range: $695-$1,970
Designer Mauryn Kkira wants you to have “Happy Feet” with her colorful eccentric footwear. Originally from Uganda, Kkira brings you bold designs that mixes textures, allowing you to be as exciting as you want to be.
Price Range: $429-$599
Loci is a sustainable footwear brand that saves 20 plastic bottles for each pair of sneakers that is created. This ecologically friendly brand focuses on ocean preservation and praise worthy quality goods. Not only will you get a durable and chic pair of fresh kicks, but 20 percent of all profits goes to sustainable causes. These are truly the sneakers that smile back.
Price Range: $170-$215
Born in Brazil and raised between Côte d’lvoire and the US, Loza Maléombho has been designing since the age of 13. Sourcing inspiration from Ivorian tribal traditions and modern fashion, these heavenly adorned shoes are truly something special.
Price Range: $95-$250
Virgil Abloh is not only a designer, but an innovator. rom his humble beginnings in Chicago, Abloh has broken boundaries with his label Off-White and made the most “unique” shoes. Since the passing of Virgil, Ib Kamara has stepped up as creative director to continue pushing the label forward. Kamara is keeping the spirit of Off-White alive and you can certainly feel it in the footwear.
Price Range: $200-$1760
Brittaney Perry grew up with a love for sneakers, but was overwhelmed by an oversaturated market made by and created for men. Determined to shatter the glass ceiling, PerryCo changes the scope of sneakers as a unisex label that breaks gender barriers.
Price Range: $45-$170
Pyer Moss was founded in 2013 by Kerby Jean-Raymond, who humbly describes his brand as an “art project.” In 2018 he launched his highly celebrated collaboration, “Reebok by Pyer Moss” as an ongoing partnership that continues to push the culture forward. This last drop of Reebok X Pyer moss is going to be the last one as Kerby is retiring from this reebok collab. In order words, get them while you can.
Price Range: $250
While working in finance, Rebecca couldn’t find shoes in her perfect skin tone shade, which pushed her to launch her initial collection of five nude shades in three different styles. Each shoe is made in Brazil in small batches that offer quality and practicality. Her brand leads with the idea of helping “you walk into every situation in life with confidence.”
Price Range: $149-$185
Res Ipsa Loquitur is Latin for “the thing speaks for itself.” This brand was started by two former lawyers who felt that the world could do with fewer attorneys and more fabulous shoes. These shoes are not only eye-catching and inviting, but each pair of shoes sources materials from upcylced kilims to vintage Levi’s. If you are looking for a conversation starter, and a leather sole handmade in Morroco, click the link below.
Price Range: $155-$245
Salone Monet made her first pair of shoes in Brooklyn, believing that every women should experience what wearing a true nude heel does for your legs. With six shades in two different styles, you’re sure to meet your match.
Price Range: $295-$315
Handmade in Lagos, Nigeria, Shekudo uses local leather and traditional Aso Oke/Akwete cloth for its shoe uppers. As a champion for sisterhood, women’s empowerment, and being socially responsible, these are thoughtful and enriching shoes for your soul.
Price Range: $220-$675
Telfar , with its signature logo, is one of the most talked-about Black-owned brands as of late. Founded in 2005, Telfar Clemens is a Liberian American from Queens, NY that shares his view on the world through both colorful and fly signature apparel and accessories. The footwear selection ranges from Ugg collaborations to thick knee high-leather boots to sleek loafers. Telfar has anything anyone could possibly dream of in terms of having some heat on their feet (minus a heel…f0r now?).
Price Range: $60-$769
Less is more with The Proper Label. This line offers durable essentials with their low and high-top sneakers (plus some great tees and hoodies to match), all made sustainably. The Proper Label believes you should have only quality pieces that last forever. They also love a black and white color palette.
Price Range: $230-$275
“Within every woman lies a diamond–unique, resilient and imperfectly perfect.” That’s the ethos behind Titi Adesa, and also the reason behind that brand’s tilted diamond logo. Founded in 2019 by Titi Adesanya, the brand also created the TA foundation to empower and mentor young girls with aspirations of being fashion designers.
Price Range: $449-$628
Very Lovely Soles Footwear
Very Lovely Soles Footwear always wants you to have comfortable, timeless shoes. Made of buttery soft leather and hidden layers of extra foam cushions, each pair offers maximum support for all day wear. A veteran of Nine West shoes, founder Vanessa L. Seide sought out to make truly comfy flats. Mission accomplished, we thank her for her service.
Price Range: $40-$165
Launched in 2011 with a flagship boutique in Copenhagen, Yvonne Koné fuses the minimalism of Danish design with the Ivory Coast’s vibrant energy. Each pair of her shoes is handcrafted with natural colors, textures, and forms, and sourced from sustainable materials. Koné is simply the best of both worlds.
Price Range: $392-$672
One thing that Katherine Theobalds, founder and creative director of Zou Xou, loves is a pair of “good, sensible shoes.” So she made just that. Zou Xou is fun and cute, and relatively easy on the pockets, and that’s exactly how she’ll get you.
Price Range:$175 – $325
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