Numerous Indigenous businesses await your support this back-to-school season. Below, we’ve listed four of our favorites for everything from clothes and backpacks to stationery and makeup! For a more extensive inventory of Native-owned businesses, explore the Native Business Directory at powwows.com. And remember to check out SweetGrass Trading Company for your essential food, gift, and wellness needs!
Apparel and accessories – Urban Native Era
Urban Native Era is an Indigeous-owned brand that offers all kinds of apparel: tee-shirts, tank tops, sweatshirts, hats, and more. The brand’s mission is “To bring Indigenous visibility through fashion and design.” You may recognize their iconic “You are on Native land” line, as seen on Reservation Dogs!
Makeup – Cheekbone beauty
Cheekbone Beauty was founded by Jenn Harper (Anishinaabe) with the goal to “create a space in the beauty industry where everyone, including Indigenous people, feel represented and seen.” The brand offers an array of makeup for the lips, eyes and face, as well as beauty tools. The reputation of the brand stems from its sustainable and top-notch color cosmetics, known for being clean, vegan, and cruelty-free.
Notebooks/planners, jewelry, accessories and more– Eighth Generation
This Seattle-based art and lifestyle brand is owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe and offers 100% Native designed products. Eighth Generation is also the first Native-owned company to ever produce wool blankets. You can find everything from jewelry, socks, and scarves to mugs, tumblers and stationery on the Eighth Generation website and in their Seattle location near the famous Pike Place Market.
Bags, Apparel – Native Anthro
Owned and operated by Yakama Tribal members, Native Anthro is an online store specializing in providing customers with “wearable history.” All art and design work is done by the store’s owner, Jon Olney S. Native Anthro offers Native-designed bags and backpacks, apparel, shoes, jewelry and more.
What’s your favorite Indigenous business for back-to-school essentials? Let us know in the comments!