By Serena Thakkar By Serena Thakkar | February 20, 2025 | People, Lifestyle, Style & Beauty,
From fashion to food, jewelry to photography, these six dynamic Black-owned brands are reshaping their industries with artistry, innovation and cultural pride—driving Chicago’s creative scene to new heights.
Offering a fresh take on unisex streetwear, Sheila Rashid’s eponymous label seamlessly fuses tomboy and feminine styles, effortlessly blending ease with sophistication. Each piece is made-to-order in Chicago, crafted with an attention to detail that has caught the eyes of Zendaya, Bella Hadid and Chance the Rapper.
Rashid’s designs tell stories—Her Good Hair Day line is inspired by her mother’s salon, while the SR Open collection honors tennis culture and icons Coco Gauff, Serena Williams and Chicago native Taylor Townsend. Whether it's the oversize heavyweight SR sweatsuit, a luxurious 100% wool varsity burgundy cardigan or a Clueless-inspired sky khaki skirt, Rashid strikes a perfect balance between structure and comfort.
Her designs have made waves on the red carpet and beyond, with WNBA players Sydney Colson and Ty Young wearing her Watercolor Puffer Jacket and Lena Waithe donning the SR Heart Denim Set at the Paris Olympics.
Founder and designer Catherine Sarr blends cultural heritage with timeless design in her celebrated jewelry brand, ALMASIKA. Inspired by her global travels and background in the diamond industry, Sarr has created a signature aesthetic defined by organic curves, abstract lines and a refined Parisian elegance.
A-listers have embraced the sustainable brand, designed in Chicago with 18K recycled gold and responsibility sourced diamonds. Actress Amanda Seyfried debuted a custom-made ALMASIKA diamond and black gold Berceau Choker Flowing at the Time 100 Gala, and former First Lady Michelle Obama was styled in the Universum Medallion and Berceau Hoop Earrings.
Chicago native Kendall Miles founded her luxury footwear brand after honing her craft at the prestigious Ars Sutoria in Milan, Italy. Miles set out to build a brand that not only caters to women in a male-dominated industry but also celebrates Black excellence through her team of all Black women.
“I want my designs to be the source that allows women to see that luxury pieces are their birthright because luxury is in our DNA,” Miles shares on her website.
Each collection from Kendall Miles is meticulously crafted in Florence, Italy with family-owned suppliers and ethically sourced materials. Featuring custom-dyed leathers, exotic skins and semi-precious hardware, Miles’ vision has attracted the attention of notable figures, with Lupita Nyong’o stepping out in the BYOB heel at a Black Panther press conference and Cardi B showing off a pair of custom Lovesick pumps.
A New England-born Jamaican artist and creative director based in Chicago, Paul Octavious has earned acclaim for his innovative approach to visual storytelling. As a self-taught photographer with expertise in a range of media, Octavious’ portfolio has been featured in renowned outlets such as The New Yorker, The New York Times, Huffington Post and The Paris Review. One of his most lauded projects, The Hill Four a Year, documents the seasonal transformations of a single hill in his Chicago neighborhood over the span of 12 years through more than 10,000 images.
Octavious is also the co-founder of Eye Eaters, a creative studio based in Chicago, where he collaborates on high-profile projects including Selena Gomez’s Serendipity Brands, Ketel One at the BMW Championship and Nike’s collaboration with Virgil Abloh’s Off-White for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.
Founded by Mercedes Small, M.A.S is a Chicago-based beauty brand blending artistry and empowerment. Small’s diverse portfolio includes high-profile clients like Rosario Dawson, Aunjanue Ellis and Scottie Pippen as well as collaborations with global names Olay, Ulta Beauty and Nike. Through her craft, she has built a reputation for creating work that inspires confidence and celebrates individuality.
"I want to change the world like no one has before. To uproot lives and be sure they're never ignored. To come from silence, from darkness, from sleep. Towards a place where only willows weep," Small expresses on the M.A.S. website.
Small’s artistry has been showcased at events such as the WNBA Chicago Sky Media Day and an exclusive collaboration with Glossier, where she hosted an event ahead of the brand's Gold Coast opening.
Nestled in Lincoln Square, Chicago fine dining restaurant Atelier offers an intimate culinary experience with a thoughtfully curated multi-course tasting menu. Founder and chef Christian Hunter, a pioneering force in the culinary world, brings his Michelin-starred expertise to the table, blending new American flavors with global influences. Recognized as a finalist for the prestigious James Beard Best Chef: Northeast award in 2023 and honored with the Young Chef Award by the Michelin Guide, chef Hunter’s vision fuses his Southern heritage with his passion to showcase African American chefs' artistry in creating exceptional dishes from diverse culinary landscapes.
With a tasting menu shifting with the seasons, chef Hunter and executive chef Bradyn Kawcak elevate local ingredients with global spices such as chermoula, freekeh and house-made garam masala. While the restaurant’s unassuming exterior may be overlooked, inside guests are treated to a rare culinary experience—watching the team in action as familiar favorites like marinated beets, pimento cheese and Caesar salad are reimagined in front of their eyes.
Photography by: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
