five black-owned businesses you need on your radar

in honour of black history month, we want to uplift and highlight some local black-owned businesses we love. entrepreneurial spirit is a core facet of the bluboho identity, so it gives us joy to celebrate innovative business-owners, culture-shapers, change-makers, and entrepreneurs in the black community. 

proprlifestyle: founded by fashion, travel, and skincare blogger althea johnson, proprlifestyle offers award-winning, plant-based korean skincare products that are suitable for sensitive skin. inspired by a trip to seoul and dazzled by the results of a kbeauty skincare routine for her cystic acne and eczema-prone skin, althea wanted to connect with others to share her wealth of knowledge, techniques, and products from the kbeauty world. 

sulphate-free, paraben-free, synthetic-free skincare from proprlifestyle is available online or in-store at 458 ossington avenue in toronto. 

nile coffee club: there’s something so personal and inviting about the rituals we build around making and having a cup of coffee. honouring toronto culture, the african diaspora, and high-altitude grown coffee beans, nile coffee club offers coffee that can be enjoyed by everyone– from the most discerning coffee enthusiasts to the entry-level coffee sampler. not sure how to brew the perfect cup? check out their brew guide to learn some methods for the magic.

hanahana beauty: founder abena boamah-acheampong began the journey of starting her business by reverting back to the tried-and-true skincare essential her family has sworn by for generations: shea butter. in the four years that followed, hanahana beauty has become a consciously clean skincare and wellness brand that strives to increase transparency, sustainability, and accessibility in order to disrupt the global beauty industry. We’ve got our eye on their discovery set, which includes an exfoliation bar and an unscented shea butter bar.

cup of té: after an accident left aspiring olympic gymnast taylor lindsay-noel quadriplegic and using a wheelchair, she was driven to transform her situation by creating a meaningful and enriching experience for others: thus, cup of té was born. offering a wide selection of organic teas and charming teaware, cup of té also donates $1 of each starter kit sale to support mental health awareness. we especially love their ceremonial organic matcha and their immune system warriors bundle pack.

dr liza’s shoes: bridging the gap between form and function, manual osteopath dr liza spent years treating women in toronto for high-heel pain before deciding to design her own line of shoes and bags that minimize impact on the body. dr liza’s cute shoes and sleek, roomy bags work to prevent pain and poor posture without sacrificing style– get ready for spring with the lavender sneaker pumps, or treat your back to a commute-friendly backpack!