Top HBCU Clothing Brands

African American College Alliance (AACA) celebrates the connection between hip hop and Black culture. The streetwear brand, created in 1991 by Howard University alumnus Chris Latimer, features colorful sweats, tees, and hats with the AACA logo. AACA also gives a percentage of its proceeds to the HBCUs linked to its brand.

Typical Price: $$

Kamirria Wallace — Howard University alumna — founded Black & Scholared. The brand, originally named after her two daughters and featured on Nickelodeon, promotes Black pride and HBCU love through its clothing collections. Black & Scholared sells tees, sweatshirts, and custom-designed apparel.

Typical Price: $$

Haute Greek Couture (HGC) apparel, created by Marcia Smith in 2006, unites a ’90s aesthetic with a desire to uplift the Black community. Marcia started HGC at Howard University, making shirts for sororities and fraternities on campus. HGC now designs and sells custom clothes with statements and prints that promote Black culture.

Typical Price of Clothes: $$

Tennessee State University alumnus Terrence G. Caldwell founded HBCU Alum in 2017. The organization highlights the achievements of HBCU students, faculty, staff, and alumni as a way to share Black college experiences. HBCU Alum sells its branded clothes and accessories alongside HBCU-licensed apparel. It also offers a scholarship program to HBCU students honoring their academic achievements and community involvement.

Typical Price: $$

HBCU Culture Shop highlights the heritage, history, and traditions of the Black community. Founder Dainelle Riley sought to fill a hole in the clothing industry by creating HBCU attire. HBCU Culture Shop began with a small line of items and soon grew into a collection of shirts, sweatshirts, socks, and duffle bags. HBCU Culture Shop sells self-branded attire next to HBCU-branded gear, with a portion of all profits going directly to HBCUs.

Typical Price: $$

Florida A&M University graduate Todd Finley created HBCU Grad in 2017 as a digital community platform. Finley’s familial connections to HBCUs established a love for the community and a desire to support those within it. After its start on Instagram, HBCU Grad later developed into an online shop that sells signature brand attire and HBCU graduation stoles.

Typical Price: $

Legacy History Pride (LHP) centers the three components of its name as a way to honor Black culture. LHP, launched in 2019 by Tahir Murray, invests in HBCU networks to give back to the community and its people. LHP sells company-branded and HBCU tops, bottoms, and accessories.

Typical Price: $$