Black-Owned Everything: Fashion, Freedom, and Leimert Park
Black-Owned Everything.
In the heart of a Black-owned block in Leimert Park, we showed love to brands and a neighborhood that are reiterating the essence of Black independence.
Written by: Channing Beumer
Model: Gynai Kristol
Photographer: Steph Paul
Before 2020, Juneteenth was more like the underground artist you love and hope never goes mainstream. Fast forward to 2025, and Juneteenth has been declared a national holiday, yet, it seems more often than not, people completely misunderstand the history that has had such a large effect on the present for African Americans.
On Juneteenth, we don’t just celebrate the freedom of ancestors we may never know—we honor the moment in 1865 when enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It’s a reminder that freedom, at least in a physical sense, was delayed with ill intention, even when it became unlawful to do so. Today, it serves as both a celebration of community and a continuous call to action. This year, that action is stitched into the seams of every garment worn in our latest CNKDaily editorial, captured in the heart of Leimert Park, Los Angeles—a place where Black history, creativity, and ownership converge.
Each piece featured in our shoot was intentionally sourced from Black-owned brands, including designers who don’t just make apparel—they make statements. “Every design is a tribute to the legacy of our heritage,” said Portia Blunt, former SVP of Global Product at Reebok and Founder of Bee Blunt, a brand rooted in the storytelling of ancestral pride and contemporary culture. “Our collections celebrate the beauty, resilience, and sophistication of Black life. Liberation, for us, means telling our stories on our own terms. It means placing Black narratives at the center of American style.“
For Brittney Perry, Founder of Perry Co Shoes, the mission is just as personal: “[We’re] reclaiming space in an industry that has long profited off Black culture while excluding Black ownership.”
Wearing the Revolution
From headwear to footwear, the looks tell a layered story: style meets storytelling. These aren’t just pieces. They’re resistance. They’re resilient. They’re circulating our dollars with intention. See below for the style breakdown.
Hat, 42 Jackie Robinson Negro League Baseball Hat by HRERTY.
Glasses, Unisex Luz Sunglasses by Perry Co.
Gold Accessories by Sucre (Oshun Bangles, Basic Bish Hoops, Nobody’s Free Until Black Women Are Free Signet Ring, Vintage Onyx Ring, Venus Necklace, Twisted Over You Necklace).
Handbags by Maya Winston (Mima Top Handle Bag in Rose Red and Lil Miss Everyday Crossbody in Beige).
Galveston Satin Scarf (worn as a bandana tank) by Bee Blunt.
Her Hammons Flag Sweater (in cream and Black) by Bee Blunt.
Primera Runner (in Mocha) by Perry co Shoes.
Fashion is political. Always has been. But in our communities, it’s also spiritual. A way to honor our ancestors, to showcase our genius, and to claim space—loudly and beautifully.
Why the Black Dollar Matters More Than Ever
The freedom to earn, own, and grow our wealth is an act of liberation. According to data from the Brookings Institution, if Black-owned businesses reached parity with white-owned businesses, it could add $1.6 trillion to the U.S. economy. But beyond the numbers is a truth we already know: when we invest in each other, we don’t just build—we preserve. We protect. We pass it on.
Degnan Boulevard is a Blueprint
We got us. Word to Issa.
Leimert Park Village isn’t simply a neighborhood; it’s a cultural pulse point. And on Degnan Boulevard, something historic is unfolding: a collective of Black merchants joined forces to buy back their building, creating a Black-owned shopping community in a city known for erasure and gentrification.
What’s happening on Degnan Boulevard is more than a feel-good story. It’s a roadmap. It’s what happens when a community becomes a coalition, when business becomes activism. When merchants say, “We’re not going anywhere,” and back it up with by buying the block—literally.
At CNKDaily, we believe style is storytelling. And this story? This Juneteenth? It’s one we’ll keep telling, one purchase, one partnership, and one platform at a time.
Support the Movement. Shop the Vision.
As you scroll through the images from our shoot, we encourage you to do more than double-tap. Click through. Buy Black. Follow, fund, and support the brands you see. Freedom looks good on us—and it looks even better when we’re all in.