Ink Meets Paper
Every June, more and more major retailers deck the shelves with Pride-worthy gear. It's easier than ever to walk into Target or Old Navy and shop their offerings of rainbow-decked merch! But there are even more great options that are owned, run, and/or founded by members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Many of these businesses even take the extra step to donate their proceeds to incredible organizations that support LGBTQIA+ organizations and movements. What better way to truly offer support to the community? We've discovered our favorites (and our favorite things about them!) featured below.
Peace Out Skincare
Where have pimple patches been all my life? These would have been life-changing for me as a teen, but I'm perfectly thrilled to have discovered them in my adulthood when the odd hormonal zit still makes its way forward. While Peace Out offers a wide range of skincare saviors, their signature patches designed to zap blemishes overnight will always be a standout to me.Even better, $5 from every box of Pride-themed patches sold during Pride month will be donated to the Trevor Project, a non-profit devoted to providing counseling and other resources for LGBTQIA+ youth.
Lockwood
What originally began as a humble brick and mortar shop in New York City quickly expanded into half a dozen storefronts and now ships their wares via their website. Offering everything from apparel to candle warmers to gift box sets, Lockwood is an endless menagerie of ways to treat yourself - and maybe a few others if you're feeling generous.
Couplet Coffee
Founded with the aim of making specialty coffee a little less pretentious and a lot more approachable, Couplet Coffee is a fun and funky take on the typical modern coffee roasting company. Intended for lifelong caffeine addicts (including yours truly) and newbies alike, Couplet adds delightful flair to any coffee lover's morning cup and even offers wholesale options for independent cafes and shops.
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Me-est Me Journal
Described as "the ultimate workbook for reconnecting with your most authentic self," the Me-Est Me journal was created by founder Shana Rehwald after guided journaling helped her through a tumultuous year. Filled with prompts and exercises designed to get to the truth of your personal journey, this journal is worth a try for anyone looking to search deep within.
Pink House Alchemy
Named for the location in which it was first concocted, Pink House Alchemy was inspired by a love of food and drink that evolved into a passion for unique and delicious cocktail ingredients. With their line of syrups and bitters, Pink House encourages even the most amateur of mixologists to think outside the box and test new flavor combinations, such as blackberry sage, butternut spice, and more. As a fan of a craft cocktail myself, I have a particular fondness for their cardamom simple syrup. YUM.
Kin + Kind
Kin + Kind is on a mission to make affordable pet care products with only the cleanest ingredients - because who deserves better than our dearest companions? Offering products that are all vet-formulated and hand mixed in the United States, this is a company with a serious dedication to ensuring your furry friends are well taken care of (and tick free!).
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Ash + Chess
Named for founders Ashley Molesso and Chess Needham, Ash + Chess began as a stationary brand in 2017 and quickly grew to also sell books, clothes, accessories, and more Pride-worthy giftables. I'm a big fan of their bold, colorful tarot deck design, but the selection of greeting cards is not to be overlooked.
Ink Meets Paper
Cards for every occasion, pens that make you feel like a true artist, and other exceptional paper goods from recipe cards to art prints? Sign me up. Ink Meets Paper is the brainchild of wife-and-wife creative duo Allison and Jamie Nadeau following a printmaking course at their local South Carolina art studio. Too cute, right?If you're curious to learn more about Ink Meets Paper (and their adorable origin story), don't worry: we've highlighted them before!
Mason Dixie Foods
Is there anything more comforting than a good Southern biscuit? I live in Virginia, so perhaps I'm biased, but I really don't think so. Mason Dixie is a food company on a mission to bring scrumptious, Southern-inspired comfort food right to your home with tasty treats like maple waffles, buttermilk biscuits, and satisfying breakfast sandwiches. YUM.
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Freck Beauty
Freck began with a singular goal: to highlight and accentuate a feature that many beauty companies endeavored to cover up. Freckles! With vegan and cruelty-free products and a commitment to bringing out what makes every face unique, Freck has become a cult favorite among makeup artists, influencers, and beauty lovers everywhere.
Pals Socks
You'll never wear a more fun pair of socks. Pals began with a love for both color and character, and they believe that life is just better with happy feet. Every pair is mismatched, yet coordinated, with combinations like cats and bats, burger and fries, even chips and guac! Committed to ethical labor practices and sustainable sourcing, Pals Socks is the perfect, eco-conscious pick for anyone looking to spice up their footwear.
Bianca Designs
Bianca Negrón dabbled in fun and artistic side projects while working as a web developer and designer before they realized that their true passion was in creating unique, inclusive products that offer personality and visibility to the queer community. What started as a pronoun-friendly enamel pin business quickly grew to include patches, notebooks, magnets, and so much more.
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