Founded in November 2014 by Brooklyn natives Jannah and Kiyanna Handy, BLK MKT Vintage is a physical and digital concept shop dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing items that embody the richness of Black history and lived experience. Based in Brooklyn, New York, the vintage haven centers on reclaiming tangible pieces of cultural heritage—ranging from rare literature, vinyl records, and historic photography to vintage apparel, fine art, housewares, and unique curiosities.
With more than two decades of combined experience in picking and antiquing, the Handys view their curated collection as an essential archive of Black creative production throughout history. Each cast-off and artifact tells an intimate story, serving as a portal into the everyday lives, artistic movements, and resilience of past generations. By rescuing these objects from obscurity, BLK MKT Vintage transforms traditional antique shopping into an intentional act of historic preservation, memory-keeping, and ancestral reverence.
Expanding their mission beyond the physical shop, Jannah and Kiyanna authored BLK MKT Vintage: Reclaiming Objects and Curiosities That Tell Black Stories, published in October 2024 by Hachette Book Group. The celebrated book offers readers a deeper look into their creative philosophy, archival practices, and the profound narratives embedded within the material culture of the African Diaspora.
Through their brick-and-mortar storefront, online platform, and published work, BLK MKT Vintage continues to establish itself as a vital cultural institution, proving that vintage goods are far more than nostalgic decor—they are enduring monuments to Black history.