22 Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Owned Businesses To Support This Invasion Day
From food to books, to skincare- these Blak businesses are deadly as!
Today is Invasion Day and there are so many deadly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned business, big and small, that it would be truly impossible to cover them all in a single article.
You should absolutely be following Trading Blak, and Blak Business on Instagram to get updated on Blak businesses killing it out there. But here are some Blak-owned businesses ranging from fashion to food to education that you can support this coming Invasion day and always.
Supporting Blak business is not just about wearing your solidarity on your chest at this coming week’s Invasion Day rallies. It’s about supporting Indigenous innovation and autonomy and giving back to the peoples and communities whose land we all live on.
Fashion
The Minority Co
Created by Indya Hayes in the wake of the 2020 resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, The Minority Co‘s threads are all about sparking conversations we should be having about all Bla(c)k lives in so-called, “Australia.” Their threads have even been worn by Jason Mamoa. Order online from their store here.
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Ngali Australia
Ngali is a fashion label owned and designed by Wiradjuri woman, Denni Francisco. Her stunning Indigenous designs include scarves, dresses and tops– and her work has been featured in Elle, Marie Claire, and on runways around the world. The brand is high end and bursting with Blak pride.
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Clothing The Gaps
Clothing The Gaps is a Meanjin based fashion movement brand that has taken Australia and the world by storm over the last few years. Not only do their deadly designs advocate for Aboriginal equity, but they consistently put resources back into their community. As a confessed addict, I can vouch for the incredible quality, range of sizing, and fair pricing. This mob also never fail to use their platform to speak up and educate. Besides, its never too late to buy threads for next Invasion Day.
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Kirrikin
Kirrikin is an Aboriginal owned resort wear brand founded by award-winning Wonnarua businesswoman, Amanda Healy. Healy founded the label in a response to the proliferation of inauthentic Aboriginal art being sold around the world. The designs promote Indigenous artists’ work, and all profits are shared. As a Wonnarua woman, I could not have more pride seeing a woman from my own mob investing in our art and the survival of our culture.
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Gammin Threads
Gammin Threads is a deadly brand founded by Tahnee, a proud descendant of the Yorta Yorta, Taungurung, Boonwurrung & Mutti Mutti nations. Her slick typographical designs have even been worn by legends like Miranda Tapsel, and Nakkiah Lui. Gammin also labels which of their apparel is appropriate for mob and which for allies. If you are reading this, you’ll have to accept this list features a lot of brands I am obsessed with
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Food
Warndu – Feel Good Food
Damien Coulthard is Adnyamathanha man who co-founded Warndu with his wife, Rebecca Sullivan. Warndu is a company whose mission is to provide resources and products to educate people on cooking and consuming food sourced from native Adnyamathanha country ingredients. Their website has recipes for everything from pies, to cocktails– all made with Native ingredients. They also sell Native teas, oils and herbs that are to die for.
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Indigiearth
Founded by Sharon Winsor, a Ngemba Weilwan woman from Western NSW, Indigiearth provides premium bush foods made from authentic Australian native products that are ethically sourced and sustainably harvested. Their range includes sweets, coffee, tea skin care, candles, essential oils and much more that can be ordered via Indigieearth’s website. Personally, I can’t reccomend their Dreaming Infusion tea enough!
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Chocolate On Purpose
Chocolate on Purpose is creating handmade chocolate out of Millthorpe, NSW. The artisan chocolate shop is the dream of Fiona, a proud Wiradjuri Aboriginal Woman on her journey back home to connect with her mob. Flavours use combinations of Bush Food such as Daalgaal (Illawarra Plum), Garal (Wattleseed), Boombera (Macadamia Nut) and Wyrrung (Wild Rosella) and many others. Order something from their delicious range to refuel after attending your local invasion day rally via their website.
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Accessories
Blak Miyay Designs
Kamilaroi Dunghutti Noongar artist Shantelle Mckenzie is printing her beautiful designs on phone cases, posters and prints. Her artwork is absolutely stunning and can be viewed at her shop on Facebook.
Mum Pina’s Dreaming
Created and owned by Kaurareg woman, Pina. Pina creates adorable accessories from wool. Her collections include scrunchies, earings bandanas– and all of them are available from her Etsy store here.
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Rosé Creations
Like Pina, Rosé Creations is on Etsy. Own and designed by a Bundjalung woman, Rosé Creations has a stunning range of jewellery that can be worn by Mob and allies alike.
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Haus Of Dizzy
A force to be reckoned with, Haus of Dizzy has even been worn by Drew Barrymore to red carpet events. Creator, Kristy Dickinson is a proud Wiradjuri woman with 20 years of jewellery making experience. She created the bright bold label in 2015. Like Gammin Threads, Haus of Dizzy has products specifically for mob and specifically for allies, but all of it is deadly.
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Beauty
Dark Side of Beauty
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WANGKATHAA BEAUTY
Created by proud Wongi woman, Kinta-Rose, WANGKATHAA BEAUTY is an Indigenous-owned small cosmetics company. The products are cruelty-free and include a wide range of glosses, faux lashes, beauty sponges and much more. Check out their website here.
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LOWANNA NATURAL SKINCARE
Lowanna Natural Skincare founder Sinead is a proud descendent of the Narungga people of the Yorke Peninsula region. All her company’s products are made from native ingredients, are vegan friendly, and cruelty-free. Check out their range of cleansers, creams, clay masks and more on their website here.
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Paperbark Love
Creator, Amanda Watts is a proud Kungarakan (NT Finniss River) woman who had a vision to create skincare with native, natural and simple ingredients that evoke love for her heritage. Paperbark Love is Indigenous-owned, handmade, and available to order from their website here.
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Art
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Charlotte Allingham
Artist, Charlotte Allingham is a 27-year-old Wiradjuri, Ngiyampaa Queer Woman. Through her work, she challenges perceptions of her people and creates in a variety of mediums. Allingham’s invasion day themed pieces are incredible. Her online store includes incredible prints, comics, tattoo designs and more.
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Rachael Sarra
Rachael Sarra is a contemporary Aboriginal artist from Goreng Goreng Country. Her style is feminine, fun and engaging but is strongly drawn from her heritage and her role as an Aboriginal woman in a modern world. Grab her bubbly prints and typography on notebooks, totes, canvas, and calendar at her store here.
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Education And Wellbeing
iBobbly
iBobbly is a social and emotional wellbeing self-help app for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Designed by mob for mob from across various communities, iBobbly is a trial of the world’s first suicide prevention app designed especially for use by Indigenous people on mobile phones or tablet devices. iBobbly can be downloaded from both Play and Apple app stores.
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Deadly Science
Kamilaroi man, Corey Tutt started Deadly Science as a charity to bring kids in remote Indigenous communities books. The Indigenous-run organisation is now committed to providing science Resources and Books to ATSI kids around the country. Though it is technically a charity, Deadly Science has fantastic shirts and memorabilia, all of which goes towards funding science resources.
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Magabala Books
Last, but certainly not least on this list is publishing house, Magbala books. Based in Broome, Western Australia, they publish Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors, artists and illustrators from all over Australia. They are an independent, not-for-profit Indigenous corporation, Magabala is governed by a dedicated Board of Kimberley Aboriginal educators, business professionals and creative practitioners. If you’re looking to learn more about Indigenous cultures beyond invasion day, Magabala is a great place to start.
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There are 100s of Blak-owned businesses small and large out there. This is in no way a comprehensive list of all of them, but a guide to some of my favourites. If you want to learn about more Blak businesses, check out Trading Blak, and Blak Business on Instagram. Remember to support Blak businesses as much as possible and not just around January 26th.
Merryana Salem is a proud Wonnarua and Lebanese–Australian critic, teacher, researcher and podcaster on most social media as @akajustmerry. If you want, check out their podcast, GayV Club where they gush about LGBT rep in media with their best friend. Either way, they hope you ate something nice today.