Janine Davis

With the holiday season in full gear, it should be no surprise that footwear is one of the hottest items to buy. Google says And not just any footwear — the sneaker game is booming. According to statista.com, the sneaker industry is booming, valued at $21 billion in the U.S. And while the popularity is there, Black-owned sneaker brands still don’t get their just due.

For example, when researching to write this blog, it did not surprise me that the big-named sneaker brands still lead at the top. Consider when you think of a sneaker brand, what’s the first one that pops in your head? Nike? New Balance, or Converse? None of these are black-owned, though they attract millions of Black consumers.

Even the most popular athletes, celebrities, and influencers aren’t wearing sneakers owned by Black folks, but can we blame them? I say not, as most Americans don’t even know where to go to find Black-owned sneaker brands. With a little help from Google, I researched to find these eight Black-owned sneaker brands in the U.S.

And what I like about these brands is the diversity in design and boldness in colors. Some of them even look like statement pieces. They tell a story and challenge the average. Check out these eight Black-owned sneaker brands that may perhaps make someone’s holiday a bit more inspirational.

  • Saysh

    This brand was designed by Olympic Gold medalist Allyson Felix. She designed them for women she says because ‘Women Deserve Better.’

  • Fini

    The Fini sneaker brand is for the fashion-conscious consumers. It’s brand is built on providing foot apparel that is unique and affordable.

  • Ninety-Nine

    If you’re a runner and/or enojoy long endurance workouts, then this running shoe brand is made for you.  The shoes have a built in mesh, but are firm enough to provide for extra support for your ankle. Across the board, it’s considered one of the best in  Black-owned workout footwear.

  • Ron Donovan Footwear

    Based in New York, these sneaker brand is in the category la creme de la creme. It is considered luxury footwears.

     

  • Enzi

    Posted by ENZI on Tuesday, July 4, 2017

    With this brand, you get the best of both worlds. You get a top-tier design along with high-quality production. And then there’s the commitment to environmental and social responsibility.

     

  • Sole Rebels

    Creatively designed straight out of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia these innovative footwear is designed for maximum performance, comfort & style. 

  • Tronus

    Founded by the first female football player to own a sneaker company, Santia Deck, TRONUS offers limited edition styles and unique packaging.

     

  • Keexs

    This is the first social footwear brand to come out of Africa. It specializes in sizes that range larger than your average sneaker brand with designed for those who don’t mind standing out in a crowd.

     

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