The Little Black Boutique Guide - Paperback

by Melody A. Boykin (Author), Da? Destino (Editor), Jermikko Shoshanna (Foreword by)

Are you traveling to Chicago? Or, are you a Chicago native and just want to know where all the cool Black-owned places are to shop fashion around the Windy City? Look no further! From the Bronzeville Neighborhood to the suburbs, this book offers places to shop for both men and women across the Chicagoland area --many in historical African American communities. There's no need to second guess where to go with this guide as each store is organized alphabetically by neighborhoods with a sneak peek inside the boutique, unique store writeup, easy to read key guide to help visitors shop by size, price and type of merchandise featured at each store.

This book serves as a way of increasing the economic empowerment of Black-owned businesses by supporting the current "Buy Black" movement that has widely spread across the US in the midst of the global pandemic and Black Lives Matter social justice movement. This fashion directory is the first of its kind in the nation and is considered the modern day version of the "Little Green Book" that was published during the 1940's to help African Americans travel through Jim Crow America. This book is vital to providing consumers, especially African Americans, with the information needed to help sustain black businesses in difficult times such as these.

In addition to featuring Black-owned fashion boutiques, the book features nearby Black-owned restaurants, cultural institutions, art galleries, book stores, beauty supply, and spa businesses; all very important in making a shopping trip worthwhile and uniting Black fashion communities. Bonus features within the book include special discounts across most of the featured boutiques listed to help consumers tour stores outside of their own communities. There's also body image charts for women fostering positive self-images, a fashion glossary, a citywide map for navigating through Chicago neighborhoods, and side trips to popular Black-owned stores across the nation.