Addicted to Retail? Shop Black
We’re all fans of designer tags, but there’s no better feeling than wearing a dope fit from one of our own. It’s hard to find local Black-owned boutiques, though, because our folks usually aren’t housed inside of the mall. Don’t worry! The TRiiBE’s got your back. Take a look at our list of Black-owned retail shops in Chicago.
Sir & Madame
5225 S. Harper Court | Price range: $35-$475
After stints as a pop-up shop in Hyde Park, and a storefront in Ukrainian Village, Sir & Madame found a welcoming home in Hyde Park’s booming Harper Court in 2015. Husband and wife duo Brian and Autumn Merritt, the store’s owners, carry popular sophisticated brands, such as Red Wing Shoes, along with their highly-sought after S&M pieces. With each article of clothing, Sir & Madame represents classy trendiness.
The Silver Room
1506 E. 53rd Street | Price range: $20-$1,000
What doesn’t The Silver Room sell? Though it’s most known for super fly rings and custom jewelry, the Hyde Park spot offers everything from coffee mugs and paintings to Black empowerment tees and handbags. And the cool thing is: The Silver Rooms opens its space for art showings, meetings, the Blackest annual block party ever and weekly public watch parties for TV shows such as Issa Rae’s Insecure.
Essential Elements
1640 E. 87th Street | Price range: $30-$400
Boasting a wide array of indie designers, Essential Elements is the place for posh shawls, jackets, ponchos and more. The store tends to trend on the pricier end of the spectrum, but the clothing and shoe options are definitely worth the money.
Leaders 1354
1152 W. Madison Avenue | Price range: $25-$180
Made popular by hip-hop ambassadors like Chance the Rapper, Leaders 1354 is the hub for Chicago streetwear. The store carries everything from sweatshirts, hoodies and tees reppin’ local neighborhoods and featuring Black leaders like Muhammad Ali and Martin Luther King Jr., to overly popular snapbacks and skullies with the LRDS logo. While Leaders 1354 is best known for its own brand, the store also sells other brands such as Adidas and Nike.
Agriculture
532 E. 43rd Street | Price range: $50+
This Bronzeville men’s shop is super cool and decked out with motorcycle and guitar decorations. If the in-store suits aren’t to your liking, owner Milton Wordlow will make sure to get you one made from any material and in any style you desire.
Fat Tiger Workshop
836 N. Milwaukee Avenue | Price range: $30-$230
Joe Freshgoods has been popping locally for years. But his infamous “I Wanna F*ck Rihanna” hat in 2013, followed by this year’s Thank U Obama collection and Chicago Bears collab, certainly propelled Fat Tiger Workshop and its street couture to new heights. Now located in River West, Joe Freshgoods’ Fat Tiger Workshop is a creative hub for fashion designers. No matter the homegrown brand – Don’t Be Mad, Sensei or Lost Paradise, to name a few – you’ll leave Fat Tiger Workshop feeling like the flyest n*gga on the planet.
Kham’ryn B. Shoes & Accessories
8301 S. Ashland Avenue | Price range: $40-$500
Owners Karyn and Khamiya wanted to offer convenience and fashion at an affordable price, thus the sisters opened their cozy, Southside boutique. Their goal is to have customers leave with, “a look, a style, an image.” Selections include skyline trench coat dresses, knee-high boots and peplum jackets. And, if you need fashion advice, don’t worry. They offer a free personal stylist.
Bronzeville Boutique by Lady Mocha
4259 S. King Drive | Price range: $20-$185
Lady Mocha has been dressing women since 1991. Her dresses and bodysuits are the signature pieces of the boutique, though, she also sells dope custom tees with Black Power statements such as “Black Women Rock!”
Succezz
1329 S. Michigan Avenue | Price range: $50-$300
If you’re a sneakerhead, this boutique is your spot. Former NBA forward and Chicago brotha Bobby Simmons and fashion connoisseur LaVelle Sykes teamed up to create this South Loop shop, offering everything from the latest and dopest in Jordan releases to Adidas, Nikes and other trendy brands from around the world.