Dana Bernardino
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and improvising a last-minute gift idea isn’t going to cut it this year.
No one wants to scramble around a crowded grocery store and spend an hour waiting in line just to leave with a wilted bouquet or a dented box of chocolates. It’s not COVID safe, and it’s not a very thoughtful gift for the special person in your life. This year is the perfect chance to level up your Valentine’s Day by planning ahead and buying a unique, meaningful gift from a Black-owned business.
So if you want to make your valentine feel extra special while supporting a Black-owned business, check out our top 10 gift ideas for Valentine’s Day 2021:
1. Adore Adorn: Timeless jewelry made to be passed down through generations
Adore Adorn is a Black-owned, woman-owned, and family-owned business that offers beautiful, one-of-a-kind heirlooms designed to be handed down for generations. The brand is heavily inspired by the memories of Sasha Flynn, the founder and designer of Adore Adorn. Flynn has reinvigorated her family memories through the art of jewelry design as a way to explore the past, present, and future. This business is also NYC-based and 15% of proceeds are donated back into the community. So if you’re looking for a long-lasting, beautiful gift this Valentine’s Day, then Adore Adorn is the perfect choice.
Price range: $95–$2,150
2. Alijhae Arts: Original artwork and illustrations
Alijhae Arts is a small Etsy shop featuring original artwork made by Alijhae West, a Black female artist based in Harvest, Alabama. Alijhae features affordable and breathtaking artwork that comes in all sorts of unique mediums like prints, stickers, unisex t-shirts, and blankets. Alijhae also offers five-star homemade lip balms made from fresh flower petals. This is a great choice if you have an artistic Valentine in your life or if you’re looking for a unique present to get your friends for Galentine’s Day.
Price range: $2.62–$75
3. ElysiumNaturalsCo: Natural Whipped Shea Body Butter
ElysiumNaturalsCo is a small family-run business that specializes in all natural, handmade, and sustainable whipped body butters that are naturally produced to ensure the best possible quality for your skin. Elysium is one of the most highly-rated shops on Etsy right now, and if you want to hear about how much people love these body butters, then just check this recent review from Roxann Jackson:
“This. Orangesicle. Whipped. Body. BUTTER!!!!! The feel: light but supremely nourishing to the skin The scent: Orange creamsicle with slightest hint of cinnamon and a touch of floral at the end (but don’t get me wrong- this is the orange creamsicle body butter of my dreams!) The sellers: kind, amazing, fast, lovely, incredible, amazing, thoughtful— just to name a few things! The results: your skin is smooth and hydrated. Your thoughts are positive. Your life feels at peace— even for just a moment. If you enjoy dreaming of summertime, little perks of citrus, and just having your skin look and feel amazing— get this whipped body butter NOW!”
Price range: $6–$20
4. InBooze: Teabag cocktail kits to infuse your booze!
InBooze is an Etsy shop based in Michigan, where all of their packets are handmade and filled with dehydrated fruits, veggies, spices, and herbs. Every infusion kit makes 8-10 cocktails, and they have options for all kinds of drinks. So whether your valentine likes tequila, vodka, whisky, or wine, InBooze has got you covered. This is an especially great choice for couples who love getting a Valentine’s Day drink together. Just because you can’t go to a restaurant and order a cocktail this year doesn’t mean you can’t bring the fun and romance into your home this V Day!
Price range: $2–$48
5. Kaeess Nail Polish: The perfect mani at-home
Kaeess Nail Polish was developed to empower everyone to break boundaries through self-expression. Tekoa Savage, CEO & Founder, created this line to be diverse and empower those who are boxed in and want an outlet to express themselves through subtle yet bold color art. If your valentine hasn’t been able to go to the nail salon during the pandemic, this is the perfect way to treat them to colorful, radiant nail polish that they can safely apply at home. Plus, Kaeess was part of Beyonce’s curated “Black Parade Route” list. If Beyonce likes it, your valentine will too.
Price range: $7–$200
6. Maya’s Cookies: America’s #1 Black-owned gourmet vegan cookie company
Maya’s Cookies was founded in 2015 by Maya Madsen, a vegan with a sweet tooth who had never been able to find that perfectly delicious, soft-baked gourmet vegan cookie. Maya spent years crafting her award-winning and crowd-pleasing recipes, from the classic to unique and forward-thinking flavors such as “Chocolate Chip S’mores” and “Marble Fudge.” Every flavor has a story grounded in Maya’s travels, memories, and experiences. Each box comes with six cookies and comes perfectly packaged in a pink box for Valentine’s Day!
Price range: $24 for a gift box, $29 for a premium tin
7. Love, Vera: Inclusive lingerie for all women
This size-inclusive brand is Black woman-owned and was created to “celebrate Black women, Black entrepreneurship, and Black cultural influence.” Love, Vera is also committed to hiring Black talent to create more diversity in the fashion industry.
Price range: $6.99–$99
8. Nonily Studio: Minimalist wall art prints you can download straight to your computer
Nonily Studio is a California-based small business that’s filled with fine line, abstract, landscape, portrait, and botanical art. All of Nonily’s prints are digital downloads, which makes them easy and affordable to print at home, at a local print shop, or through an online print and delivery service. If you’re strapped for time this Valentine’s Day, you can print these beautiful prints in just minutes. And if you want to see how these pieces are styled, check out @nonilystudio on Instagram.
Price: $4.99 for all prints
9. Trufflin: Bringing high quality French truffles to home kitchens around the world
Trufflin was founded by Cornelious Robinson and Liv Woudstra-Robinson, a couple who is combining their shared culinary expertise to create high-quality products that “democratize gourmet food.” They have a wide range of gourmet products like organic truffle oil, imperial osetra caviar, and even Sriracha. So treat your valentine (and yourself) to Michelin-quality truffles that are sure to impress this Valentine’s Day. Trufflin is even having a 15% off site-wide anniversary sale, so it’s the perfect time to buy.
Price range: $14.99–$285
10. Our 10th Black-owned business is…
If you want to unlock our final Black-owned business that’s guaranteed to level up your Valentine’s Day, then all you need to do is correctly answer a question from 1Huddle’s Black History Month game.
Here’s the question: Who was the first Black man to become a lawyer in the U.S. and also the first African-American ever elected to public office?
Think you know the answer?
Email your answers to dana@1huddle.co and we will send you our 10th Black business to buy from this Valentine’s Day plus the chance to choose a Black History Month game that will be added to the 1Huddle Game Shop.
Dana Bernardino, Manager of Digital Marketing at 1Huddle
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