When it comes to sneakers, the big brands dominate every aspect of the market. While many of the top selling sneakers get their cachet from the Black Experience and cultural identity, there are few black executives in the upper ranks. For decades, Black people have attempted to start their own brands only to have them struggle to survive. Part of increased black ownership is increasing the status of black owned brands in every aspect. Whether it is high fashion, luxury, or for athletic activity, there is no shortage of black owned brands. There is no real reason why black owned sneaker brands don’t have a larger market share. If you were unaware, here are 8 Black owned sneaker brands that you can support to help become as popular as the Jordan Brand or any Nike Air.
Update for 2022:
In the Summer of 22, we decided to come back and do some updates to this post. There have been advancements that have allowed more new companies to get started and some of the older ones to thrive and be able to increase their releases. Visit our listings for your other fashion and lifestyle needs and get your orders in on these brands. Make sure when you’re getting fresh and taking your pictures for social media that you’re tagging us and these brands so we can see how you styled them.
Brand Black
The designers at BrandBlack have been around the industry for a long time. Founder David Raysse worked at both Fila and Adidas before starting his own Brand. While it hasn’t always been the smoothest road, Brand Black is now producing designer sneakers for the luxury market.
Sia Collective
Sia Collective and its Founder Devlin Carter might have one of the hottest up and coming black owned Sneaker Brands. Calling it a Sneaker Brand however, merely scratches the surface, because while the shoes are on fire right now, they just are part of the fuel of the entire luxury leisure design. With so much hype, the brand had to institute a membership policy to help make sure true fans of the can get their hands on the shoes and not have the same type of issues that Nike or Adidas have for their large releases. The best way to go however is by catching a pre-order before it closes.
Ninety-Nine Products
The founder of this brand, Jeffrey Alan Henderson, spent over 15 years working for some of the largest brands and names in the industry. Ninety-Nine wasn’t even his primary focus when he started it as this article in Footwear News will let you know. However, the brand is steady and there are plans to expand the product line, while also building his And Them Creative Consultancy company. You can visit the site and get some for under 100 bucks
In the past year, Ninety Nine has been doing well in their mission. Their latest releases have been purpose driven with proceeds and workshops with Public School students and Native Americans who are too often overlooked. Check out their latest colorways for some nice flavor for your wardrobe.
RockDeep
It would be hard to pin RockDeep into one box. This Black owned Sneaker Company, is one of the most well rounded in the industry. They produces lines of both sneakers and actual athletic wear. While many of the sneaker companies that are up and coming are aiming for the casual and luxury markets, Rock Deep is an affordable brand with quality gear for exercise, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
Tronus
Tronus is a sneaker brand that is owned by a black woman, Santia Deck, a women’s professional football player, social media influencer, and certified personal trainer. This shoe is designed to be comfortable and have a unique luxury look to it. You can also grab the memory foam slides for some comfort after your workouts.
Ethics The Brand
For most NBA athletes, the idea of a shoe deal is something they will receive from someone else. For Langston Galloway and his wife, it was an idea they felt that they could bring to fruition. The LG One is their first design in what they hope will be a brand that cements their legacy even more than being one of the rare few to play in the NBA. Made with sustainable materials, you can get the first silhouette right now in multiple colors.
Superb Sportswear
You want a more classic flair but with some new elements, Superb Sportswear is a NY based brand that has the city at its heart. Their streetwear items are classic wardrobe staples and their sneakers have some solid classical elements to them that will have them be an important piece of your wardrobe.
PerryCo
Founder of PerryCo , Brittney Perry wanted to create something that was more universal when she set out to develop her own design. She was tired of the limited women’s selections that she found. She also was familiar with the industry trend of allowing men to design any and every type of shoe. With PerryCo, the design aims to be completely neutral so that anyone can wear it without assumptions being made.
Enzi Footwear
Enzi Footwear is a brand that offers up hand made casual sneakers made with great materials. This brand brings a contemporary look to and feel straight from Africa to the world. you can check out their mids and their low top designs on their site.
Fini Brand
Fini brand is based out of New York City and isn’t just a sneaker brand. This fashion company began in 2018 with an eye on developing sustainable luxury products. Their silhouettes are multi-dimensional for all walks of life to be able to find something that fits their aesthetic.
Q4 Sports
Starting out to compete in the pure athletic world, much like a sports car company, Q4 Sports was made for the court. Now, as the brand solidifies and continues to grow, the focus has expanded to the athleisure audience including musicians and influencers. Check out some of this brands initial run of sneakers and you can get them now at a discount as they continue to invest, innovate, and move into different directions.
If you’re looking to find some other ways to support black owned businesses you can get some men’s fashion brands here. You can also search our other listings to find great black owned brands here.
