27 Thoughtful Travel Gifts From Black-Owned Businesses

A solid pair of leggings is integral to any travel wardrobe. This ink-black high-waisted pair from Re Ona are 93 Tencel modal and seven percent spandex, offering solid coverage (no transparency here) and supreme, stretchy comfort. Re Ona was founded by sisters Christina and Philiscia Abayomi who design their everyday, minimalist designs in Toronto before being manufactured in Bangladesh and China, where Re Ona produces products on a small scale so as to be conscious of its environmental impacts and not create unnecessary waste.

The handsome Aviator Weekend Bag is perfect for a weekend getaway. The soft leather bag, which is available in brown, natural, and black, features an attractive buckle and an adjustable and removable shoulder strap, as well as two sturdy handles. Like all of Made Leather’s products, the bag’s calfskin leather is processed through vegetable tanning and handcrafted by skilled artisans in Morocco. Made Leather Company’s founder Lenise Williams started her brand after touring leather tanning sites in Morocco during a business conference.

For those who like to travel light, Ashya makes slim crossbody bags that double as belt bags, like the Passport Bolo, an adjustable leather passport necklace made chic with hand stitching and 14K gold-plated hardware. Use it to hold your important cards while you travel or as an everyday wallet. Cofounders Ashley Cimone and Moya Annece started Ashya in New York City in 2017, and in 2018 they were an award recipient of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and Accessories Council Elaine Gold Launch Pad Fellowship.

Eula Smith started E Marie to create a product that combined portability, comfort, and style during her travels in her fashion career. She came up with this ultra-soft and packable travel blanket, which can also be used as a scarf, shawl, or neck pillow—plus, it’s machine washable. Available in a variety of colors, it was an instant hit, and since then E Marie has created several other products, including a travel blanket and eye mask set, and other cozy and super-soft clothing and accessories made from the same brushed-knit material.

We’re pretty obsessed with this funky Rolltop Rucksack sporting a colorful paint splatter design. Bring it along as your personal item on any plane ride and then on arrival you’ll have an eye-catching bag to use daily on your travels. Atlanta-based leather goods brand Mifland was started by Tobi Egberongbe to sell useful and attractive travel bags, wallets, and other accessories made from premium vegetable tanned leather—the kind that develops that awesome patina from daily use. He has since added an apparel line to the brand as well.

Looking for a new carry-on? The signature Q2 contains everything you want out of a good carry-on: inner compression straps and pockets, vegan cork trim, a tough polycarbonate shell, and 360-degree spinning wheels. Plus, a few surprises: a water-resistant zipper, a hidden underside handle for easy overhead bin retrieval, and multiple separate bags and pouches for everything from laundry to shoes to liquids. Did we mention it’s only seven pounds when empty? Ebby Rane founder Sonja M. Salmon used to travel constantly as a senior executive in banking and was often frustrated with inadequate luggage options. In 2014, she left her job to create the ideal carry-on bag, and Ebby Rane—named for her two Jamaican grandfathers—was born.

This is not your grandma’s fanny pack: Sleek and chic, this slim Italian full grain calfskin leather belt bag is super stylish and functional. The structured bag has a belted strap to wear securely around your waist and fits standard-size phones, keys, makeup, a cardholder, and more. You can also detach the bag and carry it as a clutch. Like all Silver & Riley bags and purses, the Parisian Leather Belt Bag is made in Italy and comes in a range of colors. Lola Banjo started Silver & Riley while she was traveling weekly for work and observed a lack of simultaneously beautiful and functional products.

We may have just found the perfect outfit to bring on your next trip: Diarrablu’s UMY jumpsuit, which comes in a range of colors and patterns. The bottom half features flowy pants—which they measure to size by asking your height when you order—while the top half features two wide, long strips of fabric that can be manipulated and wrapped into any number of fashionable tops. Oh, and did we mention there are pockets? This divine creation is by Diarra Bousso, who was born in Dakar, Senegal, and founded clothing and lifestyle brand Diarrablu in 2018.

Any shoe that can pass for something stylish but is actually a sneaker is our go-to when traveling. Løci makes a slew of cute, luxury sneakers with the promise of ethical practices and innovative materials (like a new Bio Leather, made from recycled textiles and non-food grade corn waste), and they’ve been seen on celebs from Eva Longoria to Gabrielle Union to Ben Affleck. Co-founded by London native Emmanuel Eribo after he witnessed the large amount of waste created in a previous footwear venture, Løci's shoes are made from sustainable, 100 percent vegan materials in eco-conscious factories. Each pair features 20 recycled plastic bottles, recycled bamboo, foam, and rubber. We’re partial to the classic Origin line, and especially love the collaboration with celeb stylist Ilaria Urbinati that features a hint of florals.

The BeautyStat Brighten and Strengthen On The Go Kit will ensure you maintain a radiant and even-toned glow no matter where you are (or how many hours you spent on a red-eye). The three-step skincare routine kit includes BeautyStat's Microbiome Barrier Repair purifying cleanser, Universal C Skin Refiner, and Pro-Bio Moisture Boost lightweight gel cream. Best of all, BeautyStat’s products come from a veteran of the beauty industry, Ron Robinson, who previously worked for Clinique, L’Oreal, and Revlon. He’s known for his five patents related to the stabilization of pure Vitamin C for use in skincare.

For those who like vibrant, funky prints, Rochelle Porter makes bold patterns inspired by her Caribbean background and puts them on everything from this sleek neoprene, faux-fur-lined laptop case to stretchy workout wear perfect for long travel days (available in kids' sizes and adult sizes up to 6XL).

Founded in 2019 by Haitian American designer Arielle C Baril, Rielli is an independent brand, built on helping customers feel comfortable in their own skin. With a wide range of show-stopping swimsuits and cover-up designs, you’ll find something that’s both stylish and comfortable for your next tropical vacation. Our favorite is the looks-good-on-everyone Faye Bikini, featuring a crinkled metallic fabric with thin double straps. It comes in six color options and you can choose different sizes for your top and bottom; a high-waisted version is also available.

Johanna Howard is a Swedish designer who, after moving to the US, worked for fashion brands like BCBG and Gap. Eventually, she started her own homeware line inspired by her Scandinavian roots and worldwide travels, featuring cozy wool, cotton, and alpaca blankets and throw pillows. We especially love her hand-knit scarves, like the Aubrey Scarf/Snood, made from undyed fair trade baby alpaca yarn that will keep you warm on even the most frigid days. For warmer weather, the Whisper Weight Scarf is light and breathable.

Keeping your locks looking good on the road is more difficult than when you’re at home. Enter the satin-lined hat, made to protect your hair wherever you are. We love this corduroy bucket hat, but Kin Apparel also makes everything from beanies to baseball caps, as well as hooded sweatshirts, all lined with soft satin that’s said to not dry out your scalp or hair, promote stronger and shinier hair, reduce frizz, and calm your skin. Philomina Kane struggled to maintain her natural hair due to stress when she attended Princeton University, so she cut it off. After the big chop, her hair grew back thicker and healthier and she began to make videos on YouTube to help other women embrace their natural hair. In 2020, Kane launched Kin Apparel to help protect hair strands from the abrasiveness of regular hoodies and hats.

This set of six mini candles will give you or your giftee the chance to find your favorite scent—and see if it matches up with your favorite city. Addis Ababa combines frankincense, myrrh, milk, and honey to bring the Ethiopian capital alive, while Kingston features rum, grapefruit, and sweet pimento leaf to transport you to the beachy Jamaican paradise. Durham, where founder Tiffany M. Griffin, her husband Dariel, and their daughter Elena reside, uses scents of tobacco, cotton, and whiskey to recall the North Carolina city. Founded in September 2019, Bright Black was started to honor the African diaspora with its location-inspired candles. The company has since added other collections, like one called Genres that’s inspired by music.

Childhood friends Sarah Ribner and Jess Edelstein launched PiperWai as an artisanal natural deodorant brand when they realized how many toxic chemicals are found in antiperspirants. After more than 100 test batches, Ribner took their all-natural charcoal-activated deodorant on a trip to Central and South America, where it held up in the steamy tropics. This bundle of three mini stick deodorants makes for a great stocking stuffer, and is perfect for throwing in your luggage or gym bag.

How much do you despise packing piles of pads and tampons when you know you’ll be getting your period on a trip? Enter Ruby Love, which has expanded beyond washable period underwear (which it also offers) to bathing suits, activewear, and cozy sleepwear that absorb up to three tampons worth using organic cotton layers and Dri-tech mesh while helping save the planet from tons of waste. The brand now offers this beautiful, gift-ready collection box featuring your choice of swimsuit, two swim bottoms, one pair of sleeping shorts, two pairs of underwear, two reusable pads, and a special gift. Founded by Crystal Etienne when her daughter got her period and Etienne was disheartened by the decades-old products on the market, Ruby Love makes teen sizes, too, giving women of all ages the freedom and comfort to always keep moving.

If you’ve ever had your toothpaste tube squeeze out in your Dopp kit or had to toss a too-large tube because of TSA requirements, this charcoal-based tooth powder will solve your travel woes. The dry powder featuring activated charcoal is designed to whiten, strengthen, and detoxify your mouth and teeth, with a minty fresh flavor that will refresh you after any long-haul flight. Started by three sisters in San Diego, Dirt Don’t Hurt creates plant-based skin, mouth, and body care products.

Staying properly hydrated is always a challenge, and it gets even harder—yet more important—when you’re traveling. Enter this clever water bottle that makes it easy to track how much to drink and when with simple, discreet time indicators for morning and evening. The lightweight and minimalist BPA-free plastic bottle holds one liter of water, and can be filled twice a day to meet the daily recommended water consumption. Nya Jones established Inside Then Out when she wanted to become more intentional in her day-to-day life, creating journals and other self-care products.