Seasons greetings! I hope your hearts are filled with joy and gratitude as we prepare for the New Year. If your new year resolutions include supporting more Black-owned businesses, then this post will set you up for success.

I stopped at Ponce City Market about a month ago during my Saturday morning run and visited a new store called the Village Market Retail. I’ve been looking for stylish activewear and was thrilled to find this spicy leopard print outfit by J Dow Fitness. J Dow Fitness was created by Jacqueline Dow, DrPH, MSPH. It’s an athleisure apparel company that promotes “holistic wellness, fitness, and self-confidence among women of color.” The sports bra provides great support and I love the quality and comfy fit, which has been perfect for my outdoor runs and also for lounging around the house.

The Village Market Retail is a concept store that features Black-owned brands. Long before opening the store in Ponce City Market, the Village Market held pop-up shops, or markets, in Atlanta featuring Black vendors and coined the phrase “Support is a verb”. The mission of The Village Market is to “empower entrepreneurs through education, purpose-driven events, and community engagement.”

– Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon / Creator of The Village Market

It is exciting to know that the brands featured in the store will be rotated every few months to maintain a growing list of businesses to support. I consider this store to be a one stop shop for unique apparel, lifestyle, and beauty products. From the camo jackets to the brimmed hats pictured below, there were so many stylish pieces I wanted to purchase. Check out some of the products I saw during my visit and other photos from the store below.

I look forward to patronizing this store in the future and finding additional Black brands to support. You can learn more about the The Village Market here.