Start packing your flash tattoos and water backpacks and memorizing your favorite tunes because...
Welcome to Pride Month, a time to celebrate, uplift, and recognize LGBTQ+ plus voices around the globe! For those of you unaware, Pride Month is celebrated in June in honor of the 1969 Stonewall Riots. For the latest installment of Promo Hunters, we are shining a light on some incredible LGBTQ-owned businesses to support this month (and every month). Learn more about these progressive businesses and how their products are making a difference.
But first, let’s get in the Pride spirit with our Preferred Pick of the Week! No Pride Month celebration would be complete without a Pride Flag, courtesy of Showdown Displays. Did you know in the late 1970s, Harvey Milk – the first openly gay man elected to public office – asked his friend Gilbert Baker to design a symbol to represent the gay community? The flag was created with eight colors, each with its own meaning: Hot pink for sex; Red for life; Orange for healing; Yellow for sunlight; Green for nature; Turquoise for magic and art; Indigo for serenity; and Violet for spirit. In 2018, the flag was updated to its most current iteration to include and recognize people of color and the transgender community. Now, let's get back to our list!
Let’s step into Pride in style with the latest threads from Wildfang. The online apparel brand wanted to revolutionize and rethink gender norms regarding fashion. Gone are the days of faux pockets and "women's" button-down shirts: Wildfang is crafting looks to embrace our masculine side, feminine side, and every gender in between. Their size-inclusive pieces range from trendy boilersuits and coveralls to vivid button-downs and corporate-ready trousers. Some favorites include The Empower Wide Leg Short, the Coraline© Convertible Sleeve Button Up by Laika X Wildfang, and the Essential Utility Wrap Skirt.
From inclusive clothing to inclusive jewelry, let’s talk about the fine jewelry brand, Automatic Gold. The all-inclusive jewelry maker is the future of fine jewelry, crafting stunning accessories for everyone, no matter your size or gender. The company was founded in 2017 by jewelry designer AL Sandimirova (they/them) after working in the industry for a while and still not finding jewelry right for them. All the other jewelry options were either overly masculine or too feminine. They finally launched the company after their friends were dying to buy their creations. Some favorites that stood out to us include the Snake Earring, Gemstone Septum, and the Diamond Leaves Ring.
Time to indulge in something sweet from premium chocolate shop Kokak Chocolates. The company was opened in June 2020 by Founder and Head Chocolatier Carol Gancia (she/her). They specialize in small-batch single-origin heirloom chocolates in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco. The name of the company stems from Gancia’s Filipino heritage and passion for making bold, adventurous flavors. Kokak Chocolates focuses on handcrafted boxed chocolates, truffles, and hot chocolate drinks. Some mouth-watering favorites include the Pride Tee 2024 Chocolate Collection, Artist Palette Heirloom Dark Chocolate Bar, and Pistachio Rose White Chocolate Love Bar.
Let the warm inviting scents of Boy Smells ease your mind. The trendy candle manufacturer has been crafting their one-of-a-kind scents since 2015. Founders and partners Matthew Herman (he/him) and David Kien (he/him) were looking for products that were not only essential but accessible and fluid to a wider market. They wanted to combine more masculine scents like smoke and tomato vine with more feminine fragrances like rose and other florals. Standout scents include the Deeper Well Kacey Musgraves + Boy Smells Collab, Sweet Pits, and the Hinoki Fantome.
Finally, who doesn’t love fun, colorful stationery?! Ash + Chess creates bold, one-of-a-kind greeting cards, art prints, stickers, and more in retro-inspired patterns that uplift the queer community. The company was founded in May 2017 by queer and trans couple Ashley Molesso (she/her) and Chess Needham (he/him), based out of Kingston, NY. Since then, they can be found in over 700 retailers throughout the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Some notable pieces include the Bright Skies Ahead Art Print, the Let Me Merge Bumper Sticker, and Bunny Michael x Ash + Chess - You Look Good In Your Feelings.
