Our Story

BLK MKT Brand is a sustainable and inclusive brand that represents marginalized individuals. The beauty industry is crowded, with large companies monopolizing the marketplace. The top seven global companies own 182 beauty and personal care brands. However, many of these brands do not promote an inclusive message for individuals with marginalized individuals. The BLK MKT Brand’s solution to the lack of representation within the beauty industry is a line of solid fragrances that cater to the needs of the individual.

As a Black woman in American, I am no stranger to discrimination or being excluded. And sadly, lack of representation is present in every aspect of life. For years, Black women have been integral demographic to the beauty and personal care marketplace, yet they have been ignored by beauty brands. And though African Americans spend upwards of $1.2 trillion each year, over the past two decades the ad industry has minimized the presence of black women. Instead opting to shift toward a business model of merchandising and marketing to larger and whiter audiences. Only willing to present Black women that the industry finds highly marketable because of their accommodation to political appeal to the broadest possible audience.

Sadly, the demographic shift of the marketing audience within the U.S. has far outpaced the demographic shift of the industry. Diversity and representation are severely lacking within in the beauty industry! And though founder Faith Nixon may not identify with all of the customers of BLK MKT Brand, she does understand the need to see positive images of yourself represented in the brands you consume.

BLK MKT Brand’s founder, Faith Nixon, was inspired to create the inclusive line of fragrances after hearing the stories of her peers and reflecting on her own experiences regarding bias in the beauty industry. Her personal discouraging moment was the repeated occurrence of makeup brands of not carrying foundation shades for her darker complexion. However, for her friend Victor, it was their experience of not being able to purchase any affordable fragrance that aligned with their values and gender non-binary lifestyle.

It is interesting to think that something as simple as brand excluding your identity can have such a negative impact on an individual’s self-esteem. Faith along with her peers shared the common experience of being excluded from something so essential to their personal care, yet the beauty industry continues to not consider their identities as consumers.