backBIPOC 2.0 is here!

backBIPOC is a directory of BIPOC-owned businesses meant to help people shop more consciously. It started in 2020 when I started bookmarking brands I could potentially buy from, but it came to life as a website when taking the ilovecreatives Squarespace Design Course.

From there, it sort of grew into its own brand — when I realized how much I cared about this website, I also started an Instagram account and built brand assets around it.

The original (and barebones) backBIPOC identity guide from 2020

The original backBIPOC website, launched in 2020

I’ve designed and developed many websites but this one has a special place in my heart because it’s the very first Squarespace website I ever made from scratch, and I’m still proud of it because of its design but especially because of its purpose.

Over the years, it was the project of mine that got the most compliments, and it has even been featured on ilovecreatives Internet Gems, Site of Sites, and by Squarespace themselves (😱 aaaah!!) — and it all started as a passion project.

While I had to take a break from maintaining it for a few years, I always had plans to come back with a bigger vision — something that was updated visually, but also used so many of Squarespace’s newer features to streamline the process of constantly update the website with new posts, categories, and more. I’m happy to say that backBIPOC 2.0 is now up and live!

The new and improved backBIPOC

This wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Naff, who will be continuing to write for backBIPOC, and Kacie, who helped set up the new site in its initial stages.

There’s so much more I’d love to say about this refresh, so stay tuned for more and bookmark the site or follow backBIPOC on Instagram!