Black-Owned Businesses in Ontario

A 2022 report by the Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce highlighted that Black entrepreneurs face greater challenges in securing funding and business growth opportunities compared to other groups. Despite this, Black-owned businesses contribute significantly to local economies, creating jobs and offering unique products that reflect diverse cultures. Choosing to support these businesses helps foster economic equity and ensures that a wide variety of high-quality goods and services remain available. Here are some Ontario-based Black-owned brands worth exploring.

1. Fashion and Beauty with Style

If you're looking for standout fashion pieces, wigs, or beauty products, these brands have something special to offer:

• RE ONA (reona.ca) – A Toronto-based fashion brand offering elevated minimalist clothing designed for comfort, versatility, and confidence.

• ALEXIS COUTURE (alexiscouturegpe.com) – This Toronto-based couture house specializes in custom-made Afro-caribbean inspired clothing.

• EM Wigs (emwigs.com) – Based in Kitchener, this brand provides high-quality wigs and hair extensions, perfect for those looking to switch up their style with ease.

• Urban Curls Boutique (urbancurls.ca) – Located in Toronto, this boutique focuses on curly and textured hair care, offering services and products that celebrate natural beauty.

• Cheekbone Beauty (cheekbonebeauty.com) – A St. Catharines-based company known for sustainable, high-performance beauty products, with a focus on inclusivity and eco-conscious ingredients.

2. Books, Wellness, and Self-Care

For those who appreciate literature, relaxation, and self-care, these businesses provide thoughtful and inspiring products:

• A Different Booklist (adifferentbooklist.com) – A well-known Toronto bookstore specializing in literature from the African and Caribbean diaspora, offering a diverse range of books for all ages.

• The Wellness Studio by Cicco Aroma (ciccoaroma.com) – Based in Vaughan, this wellness studio provides aromatherapy and self-care essentials, perfect for relaxation and stress relief.

• PleaseNotes (pleasenotes.com) – A Toronto-based brand offering guided journals, affirmation cards, and planners designed to encourage motivation, self-reflection, and goal-setting.

3. Food and Event Planning with Creativity

Delicious treats and unforgettable events start with the right businesses. Here are two brands that make every occasion special:

• Cute & Tasty Cakes (cutentasty.com) – A Brampton-based bakery creating beautiful custom cakes and desserts for weddings, birthdays, and celebrations.

• Belle Noire Events (bellenoireevents.com) – Located in Mississauga, this event planning company specializes in elegant and personalized event design, bringing visions to life with creativity and expertise.

• AndreOTT (andreott.com) –  A photographer and DJ based in Ontario, Canada. Able to capture your portraits, events, weddings, brands, foods, products, headshots, couples and lifestyle shots.

Why Shopping Local Matters

Supporting Black-owned businesses in Ontario means more than just buying a product—it helps sustain creativity, innovation, and local entrepreneurship. These brands contribute to the province’s diverse marketplace, offering unique products and services that stand out. Discover these unique products and services, and contributes to the vibrancy of Ontario's business landscape.