hey GIRL! Welcome to August, aka National Black Business Month!
Because we here at Ditch the Clique are forever in support of and advocating for our BIPOC friends, we want to EXTRA celebrate their business dreams-turned-reality this month with YOU!
Black owned business owners account for about 10% of businesses here in the states and we wonder…how many of those are female owned? From our research, about 2-3% of those are female owned….YES that is a number worth celebrating but GIRL we want to help GROW that statistic in every way we can! And what better way than to share with you a few of our favorite female owned BIPOC led businesses local to NYC and BEYOND!
& Seeing as we’re Brooklynites at our core, let’s start right here in our own neighborhood!
Baby Jane
Enter our fav spot for cocktails, Baby Jane. Quaintly situated in Clinton Hill (but not so quaint in spirit,) is this local favorite and absolute gem of a bar! Founded in 2016 by Sapphira Molina-Hill, who in her past life worked in fashion and music marketing for stars like 50-Cent and Beyonce (yeah, you read that right!!!!), Baby Jane features seasonal cocktails inspired by Sapphira’s Caribbean heritage.
A good go to order at Baby Jane?
Though my go-to cocktail is an extra dirty martini, Baby Jane’s signature “Sunset Park” cocktail made of tequila, fresh lime, cranberry chipotle syrup and orange liqueur with a spice-salted rim is a must order. As if it’s name (a very clever ode to Brooklyn) isn’t enough, one sip of this sweet but spicy bevy will have you living life like it’s vacay everyday! So cheers to escaping to happy hour while supporting Sapphira’s dreams too!
Effie’s Paper
& speaking of dreams coming true…
If you’ve had the awesome opportunity to attend a Ditch the Clique event with us in person or you’ve binge streamed our podcast, you’re probably familiar with Effie’s Paper as well as the stationary brand’s SheEO Kalyn Chandler. Since being introduced to Kalyn’s brand at a photoshoot in 2019, Effie’s Paper products have become an office (and LIFE) staple at DTC! From inspiring desk accessories to cute sleep masks and sassy travel bags for the girl on the go (raising our hands high!!!) Effie’s Paper has it all *literally!*
Our Effie’s Paper must-have?
The “Live Life” spiral notebook of course!!! It’s the perfect place for writing morning pages while doubling as the perfect desktop pop of color!
Learn more about Kalyn’s journey from lawyer to lifestyle brand entrepreneur here or stream her story here.
The Honey Pot
We were introduced to The Honey Pot Company via an Instagram live stream in 2019 and have been obsessed with the brand ever since! You may have spotted the brand on the shelf at your local Target, but did you know they are the FIRST plant-derived feminine care line? Crazy right? GIRL we absolutely recommend picking up the Refreshing Panty Spray during your next stroll through Target! Yes, it’s THE spray for a midday panty refresh (whether on your period or not) but also an amazing pick-me-up spritz for underarms or even your feet! The Aloe scent is our favorite and empowers “humans with vaginas” to live a healthier, more confident life too!
We love our favs but want to know yours too! What Black female owned businesses are you celebrating this month and BEYOND?
who is Rachel?
Rachel K. Grim is the Brooklyn New York based blogger, speaker, and empowerHER behind the event series and online community Ditch the Clique. In 2019 Rachel launched Ditch the Clique to empower REAL women of all ages, races, sizes, and careers with goal-getting resources to live the life they dream! When she’s not scheming new ways to grow the Ditch the Clique COMMUNITY, Rachel can be found eating and shopping her way through New York City, traveling abroad, or watching binge-worthy reality television (with a glass of prosecco in hand, of course)!
Follow Rachel @rachelkgrim
rachelkgrimstyle.com 