It’s Time!!! Christmas time is here, and The Atlanta Voice has curated a list of Black-owned businesses to shop at this holiday season.  Shop Kawawe and Kirange Gold Handmade jewelry by Kenyan artisans can be purchased at Shop Kamawe. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice With many jo urneys to Nairobi, Kenya, James and Kris Kamawe shared a love of the native jewelry of James’ home country. Their jewelry business, Shop Kawawe, is an exquisite example of a little piece of the motherland in your collection. Every item is born from love and skill. Handmade by Kenyan artisans and brought to you by Shop Kamawe, these beautiful accessories will be the small piece of the Motherland that your heart desires. The Kawawe’s said people will be amazed at their beauty and charm. “The jewelry business is from my dad’s side, and it’s all handmade custom pieces straight from Kenya,” he said. Shop Kawawe became active on Instagram passively in 2017. “I would say I’ve been working on it the longest, but I really was able to launch this year fully, and we have our FDA certification. We had to get our export licenses as well,” he said. Additionally, on the website, guests can book a trip to Kenya. With many journeys to Nairobi, Kenya, husband and wife James and Kris Kamawe shared a love of the native jewelry of his home country. Their jewelry business, Shop Kawawe, is an exquisite example of a little piece of the motherland in your collection. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice In 2020, James and Kris also introduced another piece of the motherland to their roster: a coffee business called Kirenge Gold, where their family’s fourth generation grows coffee in  Kenya. In the heart of Kenya, during the transformative 1950s, a story of resilience and honor began to take root. Amid the Mau Mau uprisings, the British colonial government imposed restrictive land reforms limiting Kenyan coffee farmers to grow only 100 bushes each. This strict system ensured specialty Kenyan coffee remained under colonial control, symbolizing the challenges of the time. It was during this era that the Kirenge Farm was set up, embodying the spirit of integrity and perseverance. According to their website, there’s a legend about the founder who discovered he was given an erroneous amount of 105 coffee bushes instead of the allowed 100. He faced a moral decision, and instead of exploiting the mistake, he chose to uproot the five extra bushes, an act of honesty that would shape their farm’s legacy for generations to come. Kirenge Gold is more than a family-owned coffee estate, James said. “It is a celebration of tradition, a commitment to quality, and a promise of authenticity. Today, as an Atlanta coffee roaster, we bring our heritage to the USA, delivering authentic Kenyan Coffee that’s freshly roasted to order and shipped nationwide. From our family farm to your cup, we invite you to taste the richness of our heritage and the boldness of our values,” he said. A look inside Village Books, which is located in South Downtown, Atlanta. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice  Village Books Offers Holiday Warmth in South Downtown Village Books, located at 213 Mitchell Street in South Downtown Atlanta, is a new independent bookstore offering a thoughtfully curated selection of fiction, nonfiction, local authors, and culturally grounded titles. Opened in the second week of October, the shop was founded by Village Market and Village Retail creator Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon, who said she wanted to build a space that “edifies the mind,” fosters community, and honors the historic vibrancy of Mitchell Street. The store also carries journals, literary gifts, and artful goods, making it a timely stop for holiday shoppers searching for meaningful, book-centered presents. Village Books offers customers titles by Black authors. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice Since opening, Village Books has aimed to become a cozy destination for readers and creatives drawn to its warm, intentional atmosphere. As customers seek seasonal recommendations, Hallmon’s recommendations included Michael Harriot’s Black AF: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America, the novel A Sky Full of Elephants, and one of her personal favorites, Jonathan Eig’s King: A Life, a biography she says is perfect for anyone wanting to go deeper into Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s story. Looking ahead, she hopes the shop will expand its offerings and host major author events while continuing to serve as a comforting neighborhood refuge. As Hallmon put it, “We need to continue to create and invest in spaces that grow the community.” Mr. Classic’s Haberdashery, located in West Midtown, has become a top destination for Atlantans seeking meaningful, long-lasting presents. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice Tailored for the Season: Winter Suiting Shines at Mr. Classic’s Haberdashery As the holiday season brings a wave of gatherings, gift exchanges, and formal events, Mr. Classic’s Haberdashery has become a top destination for Atlantans seeking meaningful, long-lasting presents. The West Midtown atelier is known for its bespoke winter suiting, offering fabrics such as camel hair, flannels, and worsted wools explicitly selected for the colder months. Owner lead designer Jay De-Robinson said the shop’s mission extends beyond tailoring alone. “You’re not just going to purchase the suit,” he said. “You’re also going to be getting free tuition,” emphasizing the haberdashery’s focus on guiding clients through the nuances of proper seasonal dressing. Each consultation educates customers on fabric weight, texture, and functionality, ensuring every garment is not only stylish but aligned with winter’s demands. Each consultation at Mr. Classic’s Haberdashery educates customers on fabric weight, texture, and functionality, ensuring every garment is not only stylish but aligned with winter’s demands. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice For those considering gifting suits this season, Mr. Classic’s Haberdashery offers a level of craftsmanship and personalization that sets it apart from traditional retail options. Every piece is intentionally built, shaped by the wearer’s lifestyle, and tailored to elevate presence at holiday celebrations. Robinson believes a well-crafted suit has the power to make an immediate impact, noting, “Before people hear you, they must see you,” a reminder of how much first impressions depend on visual presentation. The haberdashery’s winter-focused selections embody that principle, giving holiday shoppers the opportunity to gift something both functional and transformative. As bespoke gifting grows in popularity, Mr. Classic’s Haberdashery stands out for offering garments that last far beyond the season, pieces that reflect expertise, confidence, and classic southern style. This holiday season, choosing to shop Black and local strengthens the very communities that make Atlanta thrive.   To continue that mission, The Atlanta Voice proudly introduces In The Black, our newest vertical dedicated to uplifting and amplifying Black-owned businesses. If you’re a Black entrepreneur looking to expand your reach, now is the time to join us. Sign up today at https://theatlantavoice.com/in-the-black-business-listings/  and make sure Atlanta can find you this season—and all year long. The post Here are Black-owned businesses to support this holiday season appeared first on The Atlanta Voice. ...read more read less