In the United States, more than 2.9 million businesses are owned by Asian Americans, nearly half of them hailing from the subcontinent. With the season of giving upon us, there’s certainly no shortage of South Asian-owned businesses to support in finding unique, thoughtful gifts for everyone on your list — especially from the Indo Caribbean diaspora.
Whether you’re shopping for family, a local charity drive, a White Elephant, or a Secret Santa exchange with your friends and family, here are 10 Indo Caribbbean-owned businesses you can shop from this season and beyond.
1. Ish Dolls
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Featured in Entrepreneur and Parents Magazine, Ish Dolls (a name derived from the Sanskrit word Ishta-devata meaning “cherished deity”) is a multicultural toy company founded by American finance professional and businesswoman Amanda Ealla, who is from Trinidad and Tobago.
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The brand offers a variety of children’s apparel and plush toys featuring Hindu gods and goddesses but with its beautiful twists on Baby Lakshmi and Krishna, as well as the first-ever Baby Shiva, Radha, Ram and Sita, and adult avatars of Krishna, Saraswati and Durga. Ish Dolls are available for purchase online, with shipping to the United States, Great Britain, Australia, and Canada, and will make a great addition to your toybox or diverse classroom.
2. Designs By Nadia
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Designs By Nadia is a jewelry company founded by Guyana-born and Toronto-educated jewelry designer Nadia Jabour. Her colorful designs are handmade in St. Lucia from sea glass, sea stones, fish scales, indigenous seeds, wood and various other natural materials sourced from Guyana and the islands, making no two designs alike. These truly one-of-a-kind gifts are sold in stores in Toronto, Canada, St. Lucia, Barbados and Guyana, and are available for purchase and shipping worldwide.
[Read Related: 5 Indo Caribbean Food Experts you Need to Know This Winter Season]
3. Inspxre
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Inspxre is an exclusive line of wall art and designs curated to inspire and motivate Millennials and Gen-Zers to pursue their passions.
Founded by Indo Guyanese American actor and creator Jon Madray, Inspxre offers dozens of modern prints to match any office or home decor. Its products are available for purchase and shipment in the United States and Canada. The business also allows shoppers to donate to the charity of their choice with every purchase.
4. Sacha Cosmetics
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Sacha Cosmetics was founded by Indo-Trinidadian beauty mogul Kama Maharaj in 1979 and has been recognized by McKinsey as one of the world’s oldest brands made for and owned by people of color.
The beauty company sells a wide selection of eye, lip and face makeup as well as brushes, but is most widely known for its Buttercup powder, a loose yellow-toned setting powder formulated specifically to offer a matte and natural finish on brown skin tones. Sacha Cosmetics is sold online and ships worldwide.
5. Dolly Bollywood
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Started by Reena Nauth, Dolly Bollywood is a custom doll maker based in Canada, specializing in South Asian attire. Send her your wedding, birthday, or special occasion photos and Nauth will craft a beautiful, personalized doll in its likeness complete with handmade lenghas (or sherwanis, gowns, saris, etc.), handpainted faces, and custom jewelry.
While this is one gift that won’t arrive before the holidays, it’s one you can get the ball rolling on and that will leave your loved one speechless upon arrival. For more information and orders, connect with Nauth via a direct message on her Instagram page.
6. Ess Ess Designs
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Looking for a way to brighten up your loved one’s mailbox? Ess Ess Designs, a West Indian greeting card company, has you covered.
Run by Canadian-based Steff Singh, the small business offers a line of colorful designs for many occasions, including birthdays, weddings, Diwali, and Christmas. Every card is printed on high-quality matte brochure paper with a blank interior and envelope so you can customize your message as you wish. All Ess Ess designs are made-to-order and sold on Etsy.
7. Diana’s Candles & Soaps
Owned and operated by Indo-Guyanese American entrepreneur and mother of three, Diana Sookram, Diana’s Candles & Soaps offers a wide collection of handmade, all-natural beauty and wellness products.
Sookram first began making candles and soaps at home after witnessing her family struggle with respiratory issues and dealing with psoriasis herself. She was dismayed by the harmful ingredients and prices of products available in stores, so she set out to create high-quality and most importantly, safe products for families like hers at affordable prices.
Over the years, Diana’s product line has expanded beyond its namesake to include bath bombs, hair oils, lotions, face masks and more, but they all maintain her signature indulgent scents and amazing results. Diana’s Candles & Soaps is based in Waterbury, Connecticut, and all products are available for purchase online and ship worldwide.
8. WI Pride Inc.
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WI Pride is an Indo Caribbean family-owned business based out of Ontario, Canada. Started by Shereena, a mother of three, the small business sells a large collection of original West Indian-themed designs and products, including stickers, mugs, beanies, ugly sweaters, pins, magnets and greeting cards.
WI Pride products are currently exclusively sold on Etsy, but its online store is coming soon.
9. Big Dil Project
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The Big Dil Project, founded by Brown Girl Mag’s contributor Ramona Sukhraj, is a streetwear brand that promotes “Big Dil Energy™” or love, goodwill and good vibes.
Big Dil Project is a passion project Sukhraj started to honor her South Asian roots, unite and celebrate individuals of all backgrounds, and make a positive impact on the world around them. The project gives back to South Asian charities, non-profits, and other important causes worldwide.
The first signature “Big Dil Energy™” collection is live with clean, modern t-shirts, beanies, sweatshirts, and more for the whole family (including pets), but new collections with original culture-based designs will be released soon. All profits of the special edition “Wear Your Heart Gaza” t-shirt are donated to the PCRF (Palestine Children’s Relief Fund).
10. CYPK Collections
Last but not least, meet the CYPK (pronounced Sip-K) Collections. The Indo-Guyanese-owned business based in Canada is bringing more Caribbean representation to children’s toys with its original products.
The company’s Marketplace playset comes with six large, soft, and detailed plush toys in the shape of classic Caribbean pastries in a branded shopping bag, while its card game Hard Ears is a hilarious take on Taboo for the whole family. To purchase, follow and send a direct message to the CYPK Instagram profile or shoot them an email.
No matter who you’re buying for this holiday season, the 10 Indo Caribbean indie businesses listed above are exactly the gifts worth supporting and shopping this December.
