BIPOC Owned Must-Haves Just In Time For Spring

Written by: Lucy Dover (@lucy_dover_)

As Spring approaches, many of us decide it’s time to turn over a new leaf. That usually means decluttering, re-organising, and filling up the inevitable bin bag of pieces ready to be listed on Depop or Vinted. Of course, most of us end up replacing that newly cleared space with fresh purchases, slightly defeating the point of the whole cleanout.

At The Sanxtuary, we’re no different. While scrolling, we couldn’t help but notice just how many genuinely good Spring pieces are out there right now. So instead of pretending we’re not tempted, we’ve leaned into it and put together a list of our favourites, all from BIPOC-owned brands!

JW Pei new bags

This Chinese-American brand might be known for its designer-adjacent silhouettes (and yes, they’ve definitely mastered the art of a good dupe), but there’s a whole other side to JW Pei that feels a lot more playful. Their spring pieces in particular lean into texture, shape and colour in a way that makes even the simplest spring look feel styled.

The Flora Orchid Shaped Top Handle Bag is probably the most fun of the three. It’s quite literally shaped like a flower, so it’s not exactly subtle, but that’s kind of the appeal. It works best when everything else is kept fairly simple, just to let it do its thing. It feels very “plans in the sun” coded, brunch, birthdays, anything where you want to look like you’ve made an effort without overcomplicating it.

The Harlee Embroidered Shoulder Bag is a bit more everyday, but still interesting enough to not feel basic. The embroidery adds just enough detail without making it hard to style, so it’s easy to throw on with pretty much anything. It’s the kind of bag you’d actually use a lot, whether that’s running around during the day or just needing something that pulls an outfit together quickly.

Then there’s the Paisley Crystal Butterfly Clutch, which is definitely more of an occasion piece. It’s quite bold, covered in crystals and shaped like a butterfly, so not something you’d reach for every day, but perfect for evenings or events where you want something a bit more standout.

Flower Knows Bunny Garden Ruby Berry Eyeshadow Palette

This Chinese beauty brand arguably has some of the most beautiful packaging on the market right now, and it hasn’t taken long for it to become a full-on cult favourite across TikTok and Instagram. You’ve probably seen it mid-scroll, ornate compacts, pastel colour stories, everything looking like it belongs in a jewellery box rather than a makeup bag.

Their collections always feel very considered, and the whole brand leans into this soft, fairytale aesthetic without it feeling gimmicky. The ethereal collections are what really set Flower Knows apart. Each one feels like its own little world, and their latest, Bunny Garden, is no different. Our personal favourite product has to be the Ruby Berry eyeshadow palette. Flower Knows’ shadows are known for being creamy and pigmented and their powder pressings are so beautiful, you’re almost hesitant to use them!

The palette itself leans heavily into pink. With two mattes, two shimmers and two satin shades, there’s enough variation to play around with. You can keep it quite soft for daytime, just a wash of colour and a bit of shimmer, or build it up into something a bit more bold and glossy for evenings.

Susan Fang X Melissa Luna Bloom Sporty Ballerina

It’s no secret that The Sanxtuary are huge fans of Susan Fang’s whimsical designs, but as a high-end designer, she’s slightly out of our price range. Her pieces sit firmly in that “admire, save, and maybe one day” category. However, her new collaboration with Melissa offers a slightly more accessible way in.

While still very much an investment piece, these shoes feel like a more realistic entry point into her world. The collaboration takes her signature design language – soft, sculptural shapes, delicate detailing, and that almost dreamlike use of colour – and translates it into something you can actually wear day-to-day.

The Luna Bloom Sporty Ballerina is probably the standout. It sits somewhere between a ballet flat and something more experimental, which makes it surprisingly versatile. You could wear it quite simply with jeans and a T-shirt and let the shoe do the work, or lean into it with something softer and more romantic. It’s very “spring in London” coded, practical enough to walk in, but still interesting enough to feel styled.

What makes this collaboration work so well is how true it feels to Fang’s wider brand. Since launching her label in 2017 after graduating from Central Saint Martins, she’s built a very distinct identity around ideas of perception, mathematics and nature. Her work often draws on things like fractals and organic forms, which is why her pieces feel so detailed and layered. That same approach carries through here. Even though this is a footwear collaboration, you still get that sense of texture and movement that defines her clothing. There’s a lightness to it, both visually and physically, that makes it feel very in line with her previous collections.

It’s also worth noting that Fang’s work doesn’t just look good, it’s been consistently recognised by the industry. She’s been named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list twice and shortlisted for the LVMH Prize, which says a lot about the level she’s operating at.

Gentle Monster

If you know Gentle Monster, you’ll know they don’t do “just sunglasses.” Since launching in Seoul in 2011, the brand has built a reputation for pushing eyewear into something closer to fashion objects, oversized shapes, experimental frames – even their stores feel more like art installations than actual shops. Their collaborations are no different. They’ve worked with Blackpink, Maison Margiela, Bratz, and now F1/Disney. The new collab takes the structure of F1 cars, things like aerodynamic lines, sharp edges, wraparound shapes, and turns them into sunglasses. They have also dropped a new solo Spring collection as well full of bright colours and fun new shapes.

The Oragr10 leans more into that solo futuristic side. It’s quite sculptural, slightly oversized, and has that wraparound feel that’s been everywhere recently but done in a way that feels a bit sharper. This is very much a “full outfit” pair of sunglasses. They work best when the rest of your look is clean, letting the shape stand out without competing with anything else.

Then the Disney F1 Aerogr13 is one of the most literal in terms of the F1/Disney collab. It brings in those racing references a bit more directly – you can see the influence in the structure, but it still feels wearable. It’s sporty without going full performance sunglasses, which makes it easier to style day-to-day. 

The EQP8 sits somewhere in between. It’s still bold, still very much in that Gentle Monster world, but slightly more toned down compared to the others. If you’re not fully ready to commit to something super directional, this feels like a good entry point. 

What makes this collection interesting is how it balances all three worlds. You’ve got the playfulness of Disney, the technical inspiration from F1, and then Gentle Monster’s usual slightly surreal approach to design. It shouldn’t work, but it kind of does.

TirTir Matcha Toner and Cream Duo

If you’ve been anywhere near skincare TikTok recently, you’ve probably seen TIRTIR pop up more than once. Known for their viral base products, they’ve now leaned into skincare with their Matcha line, and it feels very on-brand for where beauty is at right now. 

The Matcha Toner is probably the easiest place to start. It has a lightweight and watery formula which you want in a toner. Infused with matcha PDRN, it’s designed to calm and rebalance the skin while still giving you that initial hit of hydration . There’s a very faint matcha scent, nothing overpowering, but if you are a fan of the green tea, then you will definitely appreciate it. The toner is especially good if your skin is on the sensitive side or just slightly irritated, as it soothes any redness.

Then the Matcha Calming Cream feels like the step that locks everything in. The texture is quite distinctive, thick but slightly gooey, almost bouncy, which sounds odd but works. It spreads more easily than you’d expect and sits comfortably on the skin without feeling heavy. As soon as you put it on, it has that cooling, calming effect, which is why people are reaching for it after stronger actives or when their skin is just not cooperating. Ingredient-wise, it’s doing quite a lot. The matcha PDRN, alongside things like peptides and vegan collagen, is there to calm redness, support the skin barrier and keep everything hydrated for longer.

Together, the two products work quite well as a simple routine. The toner preps and calms, the cream seals everything in.