Kim Kardashian showed off her latest hairdo: Fulani braids, inspired by Fulani women of East or West African. Except, in traditional Kardashian fashion, Kim robbed African American women of the credit for the style and called them “Bo Derek” braids instead. Bo Derek is a white actress who was seen with the hairstyle in 1978. The issue is that Kim Kardashian is acknowledging a white woman for wearing a hairstyle that Black African men and women have been rockin’ centuries before 1978. The ignorance (or pure, shameless culture robbing) comes at a time when Black men and women are still being told their natural hair is inappropriate for the workplace. Add that to the racial turmoil we are currently facing and it makes it nearly impossible to believe that Kim didn’t know any better. The Kardashian brand, as well as other brands, has been cultural appropriating, misrepresenting, and silencing the Black and Brown communities by cultural assimilation through fashion and entertainment. In this article, we showcase merch for you to support and shop women of color brands instead.
The truth of the matter is that these big corporations and privileged celebrities do not know our stories because they are not us. While we can support their careers in other forms, it is important to acknowledge and call out when we see our cultures being exploited in music, fashion or style. If we don’t shop women of color brands and instead cultural appropriating corporate brands that are silencing and stealing our own stories, we may soon forget how powerful our own voices can be. Investing our money and loyalty into brands that speak for us through fashion and style simply because they understand us is important. It allows us, as POC, to take back our narrative. It gives us a space to embrace and teach about our culture and it initiates empowerment, confidence, and awareness. It also creates a space for people who know us and embrace us to represent us.
Check out Latinas representing! Shop Latina, women of color, Black Latina/Afro-Latina brands who authentically are trendsetting:
Daughter Of An Immigrant
This brand is a beautiful dedication to our parents. It announces not only our support but also our pride in the parents who have had to cross borders, tread water, sacrifice and beat the odds for our sake. Daughter Of An Immigrant is making a statement that we are here because of them and that is all the reason to be proud of la lucha that we come from. Even in darkest and most confusing times, we are our parents’ children- (some of us) we are the daughters of Immigrants. As mentioned on their website, “we are the inspired breath of the brave”. Check them out!
Jen Zeano Designs
Jen Zeano created Jen Zeano Designs in 2016 with the help of her wife, @vzeano. The idea began in her one bedroom apartment and started as a shop that sold mugs empowering free spirits to roam fearlessly and be unapologetically true to themselves. The brand caters to the “wild hearts” and “gypsy souls” but when Trump took office, JZD designed a t-shirt to empower Latinas. JZD’s best selling tee, the Latina Power tee has made an impact reminding Latinas of their natural magic, courage, and resilience. Since, JZD has made products stating “Viva La Mujer Que Lucha”, “Morena, Morena” and “Not Your Mamacita.” In every design, there is a reminder of our natural power. JZD delivers a stylish important statement that during turbulent political times, we still know ourselves.
Yo Soy AfroLatina
Yo Soy AfroLatina was founded in 2017 with the intention to correctly represent the AfroLatina community as well as inform those who may have been miseducated (Young Hollywood) on it. In her own words, Yo Soy AfroLatina founder explains: “It’s a brand that seeks to bring awareness to the Black Diaspora within Latin America and the Caribbean via an array of products (hats, mugs, t-shirts). I created Yo Soy because I felt like there was a lack of representation of Afro-Latinas and a lack of knowledge. In hopes of educating myself on what it means to be Afro-Latina, I also wanted to educate others.” At the core of Yo Soy AfroLatina is the necessity to inform and embrace the culture without needing it to fit it into one specific category. Yo Soy AfroLatina reminds AfroLatinas that the beauty of loving who you are is loving all of you- no need to pick. With Cardi B rising to fame, and Amara La Negra’s powerful voice on Love and Hip Hop, we are seeing the AfroLatinx community take back the narrative!
Shop women of color – Latina, Afro-Latina everyday!
This article has been updated as of November 24, 2023.
