Support BIPOC-Owned Businesses

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Updated by Tiffany Hill

Courtesy of Mimi’s Fresh Tees

Support local throughout the Portland-area by shopping at these fabulous small businesses run by BIPOC-owners. At these places, you’ll find the perfect gift — or just something fun for yourself! — including leather goods, tasty pastries, art and more. Happy shopping!

Home Goods

Courtesy of Birds and Bees Nursery

Plant lovers can fill their homes and gardens at Birds and Bees Nursery (pictured above) and Larkspur Portland, both in Southeast. (Kids will also love Birds and Bees’ excellent selection of fairy-garden accessories.) Pro tip: Birds and Bees is part of Equitable Giving Circle — an organization that focuses on entrepreneurship and food insecurity — and partners to get free plants to BIPOC folks. Larkspur Portland is also a plant shop that focuses on community building. It partners with local organizations to offer free monthly therapeutic horticulture group sessions.

Local mama and illustrator extraordinaire, Taimani Emerald, sells posters, t-shirts, cards and more that celebrate all things diversity, equity and inclusion. Her “When I Grow Up I Will Be a Good Human” poster is one that should be hanging in every nursery. Pro tip: She’s also added baker to her already impressive resume!

Clothing & Accessories

Courtesy of Orox Leather Co.

Founded by designer and tailor, Komi Jean Pierre Nugloze, N’Kossi Couture Fashion & Alterations in Pioneer Place, features stunning, custom-made fashion primarily made from West African fabrics and inspiration. It’s impossible to leave here without looking stunning!

Mimi’s Fresh Tees creates colorful, impactful T-shirts with a purpose: like “Love over hate” and “Stop racism now!”

Started by local mom Ivy Chuang, Blendily, offers botanical skincare products for head-to-toe self care. (And even a balm for baby bums!) Bonus: Ingredients are locally sourced and the company is committed to sustainability.

Started in 1956, Dean’s Beauty Salon & Barber Shop has been making sure its customers leave happy and looking good. It’s the oldest African-American salon in the state!

Finely hand-crafted leather goods is a family tradition for Jose Martinez and his sons (pictured above). At Orox Leather Co., purses, wallets, belts and more are designed with durability and timelessness to become heirloom pieces.

Food & Drink

Courtesy of Chochu Local Island BBQ

Need a seriously spectacular kid’s birthday cake or a bunch of celebratory cake pops? Portlanders rave about DB Dessert Company.

When you’re in need of a proper caffeination, visit Bison Coffee House, Portland’s only Native-owned coffee shop. This Cully neighborhood joint features beans from Native-owned and operated roasters. The house-made baked goods are tasty, too. For tea drinkers, don’t miss Aesthete Tea, started by mother-daughter venture, Maggie Cassidy and Briana Thornton. The tea shop excels at loose-leaf teas and blends, all ehtically sourced.

Barbecue chicken and ribs. Lumpia and empanada. Titiyas, or coconut milk flatbread. Find all these delicious foods and more at Chochu Local Island BBQ food cart on Sandy (pictured above). Here you can nosh on dishes from Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

For the ultimate date night, visit Mermosa PDX. This supper and brunch club is the brainchild of Desiree Noisette, the founder and owner of Mermosa Wines, a Black, woman owned wine company. The restaurant features a menu with Southern and Caribbean fusion cuisine.

With Love From PDX is a one-two punch for local gift giving. With Love curates goods from 75 local purveyors of coffee, wine, chocolates and more into a wide variety of unique gift boxes that can be sent anywhere in the country.

Denise Castañon
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