Posted by Actively Black
on September 25, 2026
Forbes profiled Actively Black, the Black-owned athleisure brand founded by Lanny Smith in 2020, in Doug Melville's October 2025 feature "From Black Owned Cotton To $30 Million In Sales, Actively Black Is Shaking Up Fashion - And Ownership." The piece opened at our third New York Fashion Week show, where civil rights icons and their descendants walked the runway, and then turned to the bigger story: ownership, from the supply chain to the brand itself. Forbes framed Actively Black as a company working to rewrite the economics of fashion.
Key takeaways
- Forbes reported that Actively Black has amassed over $30 million in gross sales before its first five years in the market.
- According to Forbes, Actively Black generated $2.1 million in its first 12 months and then doubled revenue each year, while demand kept outpacing inventory.
- Forbes reported that Smith partnered with Bridgeforth Farms in 2025 so the cotton in Actively Black fabrics is Black-owned, described as "Black owned from the dirt to the shirt, from the seed to the stitch."
- Forbes noted that Actively Black's third NYFW show featured Dr. Bernice A. King, Ilyasah Shabazz, Fred Hampton Jr., Fredrika Newton, Ruby Bridges, Tommie Smith, John Carlos and Juneteenth flag designer Ben Haith, among others.
- Forbes described the team as two full-time members besides Smith: co-founder Bianca Winslow and his mother, Alfreda Smith.
- Smith told Forbes the brand has secured licenses from Muhammad Ali, Star Wars, Black Panther and HBCUs.
In Lanny's words
“That inventory sold out in the first 3 weeks, and we have been trying to catch up ever since.”
— Lanny Smith, to Forbes
“It is a testament to the need for a brand like Actively Black and the incredible support from our Tribe.”
— Lanny Smith, to Forbes
“Me being pro-Black doesn't mean I'm anti-anybody else, its about honoring our ancestors, uplifting our communities...”
— Lanny Smith, to Forbes
Why it matters
Most of the fashion industry has profited from Black culture while ownership stayed somewhere else. This Forbes feature documented a different model: Black-owned cotton grown by Black farmers, a Black-owned brand, and a runway that treated history as the headline. As Smith told Forbes, nearly everyone he spoke to said putting "Black" in the brand name would keep it from succeeding. The Tribe proved otherwise.
Forbes also reported that growth would have been higher with more access to capital, and that the company is looking for investors to help meet demand. That is the next chapter of building our own table: owning more of the supply chain, reinvesting in the community, and scaling a brand where the clothes are the uniform for the movement.
Shop the story
Feel the difference in our Actively Black Premium Cotton collection, explore the NYFW 2025 Collection, or wear a legend with Muhammad Ali x Actively Black.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Actively Black?
Lanny Smith founded Actively Black and launched it on Black Friday in 2020. Forbes reported that he signed with the Sacramento Kings in 2009 before a knee injury 33 days later ended his playing career.
What did Forbes say about Actively Black's sales?
In October 2025, Forbes reported that Actively Black has amassed over $30 million in gross sales before its first five years, after generating $2.1 million in its first 12 months.
Is Actively Black Black-owned?
Yes. Actively Black is a Black-owned athleisure brand, and Forbes reported it also sources Black-owned cotton through a partnership with Bridgeforth Farms.
Where does Actively Black's cotton come from?
According to Forbes, Smith partnered with Bridgeforth Farms in 2025 so that the cotton used in Actively Black fabrics is Black-owned, from the seed to the stitch.
Read the full feature: From Black Owned Cotton To $30 Million In Sales, Actively Black Is Shaking Up Fashion - And Ownership, Forbes (October 2025)
