Black-Owned Goth/Alternative Businesses to Support

[thegothiclibrarian]

It's easy to feel helpless and overwhelmed with everything that's going on right now. Immense protests against police brutality, sparked by the horrific death of George Floyd, are flooding the streets in cities all across the United States. Not everyone is able to make it out to a protest, though, especially when the coronavirus pandemic is still posing a serious threat to our health and safety. But there are plenty of other ways to show support! One way is to show economic solidarity by spending our money at Black-owned businesses. There are many talented Black creators and businesses at the heart of the goth alternative community. Here are a few that you should check out:

Glam Goth Beauty



Glam Goth Beauty is a Black-owned, vegan, and cruelty-free indie brand. They primarily sell makeup, such as lashes, lipstick, and their impressive Diamonds collection of cosmetic glitter in every color you can imagine. They also sell clothing and accessories such as branded hats, shirts, and sweatshirts. You can visit their website at glamgothbeauty.com.

Spookie Kidz



Spookie Kidz is a gothic clothing brand owned by Emerald Davis. They sell clothing ranging from vinyl skirts and dresses to printed T-shirts and crop tops. They also have a wide selection of body harnesses and choker necklaces, plus some spooky earrings. You can visit their website at spookiekidz.com.

Dark Jasmine



Dark Jasmine is a small, Philly-based independent business owned by fashion designer Jasmine Goodwin. They sell a wide range of clothing, including shirts, skirts, dresses, and lots of goth swimwear! Jasmine also makes hand-painted jewelry boxes can come in round or coffin shapes and sport unique spooky designs. You can visit their website at darkjasmine.com.

Diva Dreads



Diva Dreads is a family-owned business based in Southern California that sells colorful, creative hair falls in many styles. They aim to destigmatize hairstyles like braids and locs and allow everyone to achieve beautiful, elaborate hairstyles without damaging their natural hair. In pre-pandemic times, you may have seen them vending at conventions, Renaissance faires, and other events across the country. Diva Dreads can make customized hair falls to match your natural color as well as brightly colored pieces for the perfect fantasy or cyberpunk look. Visit their website at divadreadshair.com.

Elegy Clothing



Elegy is a gothic lolita indie brand based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Much of their clothing is made from fabrics with original prints inspired by the occult. They sell dresses, tights, hair bows, collars, and more. Quite a few of the items on the website are sold out right now and they are currently closed to commissions, but they've been redirecting a lot of energy into making gorgeously spooky face masks. Visit their website at elegyclothing.com.

Gothic Lamb



Lastly, a shoutout to Gothic Lamb! They've currently halted operations due to the pandemic, but they've been considering reopening soon, so you'll want to keep an eye out. Gothic Lamb is a Black-owned alternative fashion brand that makes printed T-shirts and crop tops. They are known for hiring Black models with a variety of body types. Keep an eye on the website gothiclamb.com to see when they open back up for business.

And let's not forget about the smaller scale creators:

InterCosmic Dust is the shop of queer Black artist Amari von Fleek, who makes food-grade sparkly resin trinket dishes, ash trays, coasters, and boxes. The shop might not appear goth at first glance—in fact, much of their stuff is brightly colored and anime-themed—but they make particularly adorable coffin-shaped trays that can be customized to suit your style. See their creations and contact them for orders at @ Intercosmic_dust on Instagram.

Dining with Dana is a gothic web comic and blog by artist Dr. Calyn. Check out the comics archive for amusing and relatable tales of the daily life of a fat Black goth girl. And if you enjoy Calyn's art style, check out her Etsy shop for merch and commissions.


Bling Out Ur Dead is an ethically sourced taxidermy and oddities shop run by Rain Draper. Rain makes earrings, necklaces, and more out of bones, teeth, and taxidermied animal parts. She has a deep spiritual connection to her work and makes sure no part of an animal goes to waste. Check out their shop on Depop.

Be sure to check out the links above and show these businesses some love! What other Black-owned goth/alt businesses and creators do you recommend? Drop some links in the comments!