20 women-owned businesses to buy on International Women’s Day

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Today marks the 110th anniversary of International Women’s Day, a day dedicated to reflecting on the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women around the world. Besides donating to women-focused charities, raising awareness of women’s equity, and pushing for gender parity, spending your money on women-owned businesses is one of the ways the easiest ways to show your support for the DIF.
The women of yesterday and today are paving the way for future female entrepreneurs. According to a 2020 study40% of American businesses are owned by women and there are 114% more women entrepreneurs than 20 years ago.
Of the 12.3 million women-owned businesses, our shopping editors curated a guide to 20 of our favorites you must know – from fashion to beauty to food brands – all built and managed by pretty amazing women. That you are looking to give to your mother luxury jewelry for Mother’s Day, improve your skincare routine with spiritual beauty productsor comfortably installed eco-friendly loungewear, We have what you need.
Below, learn more about some of our favorite brands, their products, and the amazing entrepreneurs who created them.
Luxury and impact are at the heart of every handcrafted jewelry from Akola, which means “she works” in a local Ugandan dialect. Founder brand Brittany Merrill Underwood now employs more than 200 rural village women in Uganda and teaches them leadership and financial literacy skills. Its pieces are made from locally sourced sustainable materials, like recycled cow horns, which give back to the earth and are representative of the heart of Africa. In honor of IWD, Akokla launched a new version of his popular DIY kit which allows you to design your own pieces with a variety of beautiful beads and charms.
The incredibly supportive shoes of Avre, founded by sisters Julie and Connie Kuo, have caught the attention of celebrities like Olivia munn and Aubrey Plaza. Made from recycled plastics, Machine washable Avre sneakers are created with an emphasis on both durability and style. They wick away moisture and regulate temperature, making them ideal sneakers to wear all year round.
Keeping the women who inspire you closest to your heart is easy with Awe Inspired. The jewelry brand, created by Jill Johnson and her son Max in 2017, designs pendants with detailed reliefs of iconic women from the past, present and mythology, including Ruth bader ginsburg (the brand’s best-seller), Harriet tubman, Frida Kahlo, Jeanne D’Arc, Florence nightingale, and many more. He attracted the attention of a impressive list of celebrities who have worn the brand’s pendants, such as Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Sophia Bush and Sarah Hyland.
AYR got its start as a ‘sister brand’ of Bonobos, but this little sister has since grown up and moved on on her own. Founded by Maggie Winter, Max Bonbrest and Jac Cameron, three fashion friends who make clothes to wear all year round (hence the brand name), AYR is arguably the most famous for Dress feather coat, seen on top models like Emily ratajkowski and Kendall jenner, as well as Bonbrest’s incredibly chic grandmother, who is technically also a model. His high quality denim is equally flawless. And don’t neglect the AYRs simple pima cotton t-shirts – they’re always 20% off when you buy two or more.
Ask the beauty professionals and editors, and you’ll likely hear rave reviews for this all-natural, Black-owned hair care brand that will give you the softest, healthiest hair you could ever want. Created by Nancy Twine, Briogeo was one of the first African American-owned hair care brands to launch at Sephora. Its scalp cleansing shampoos and restorative creams have received rave reviews everywhere you buy them – in fact, Nordstrom buyers have called his rented revitalizing mask an “amazing game changer.”
Gigi Pip hats are made by women, for women. Simple, stylish, yet extremely fashionable, the brand’s mattress toppers are designed to inspire confidence and are meant to be worn for all the different “hats” women wear in life. That said, Gigi Pip’s hats are nearly impossible to get your hands on; they or they are still selling and have racked up thousands of waiting lists.
Swimsuit company Kitty & Vibe, famous by TikTok, is known for its colorful prints and inclusive size range. But did you know that founder Cameron Armstrong started the company with a never-before-seen sizing tool that features two revolutionary sizes to more comfortably fit large and small buttocks? With new “vibes” coming out every season, you might want to stock up on these flattering swimsuits before they sell out (again!).
Olive & June is a nail polish brand specializing in tools and varnishes for manis at home and pedis. Founder Sarah Gibson Tuttle has created two separate systems for your hands and feet, so you have everything you need to achieve professional looking nails at home. The brand now has over 60 Polish colors and continues to release new collections every season.
We could all use cooking shortcuts, and Omsom’s flavorful starter sauces are ready to deliver. Imagined by two first-generation Vietnamese-American sisters looking to bring authentic Asian flavors to American homes, these meal kits are an easy way to cook dishes like sigsig, larb, bulgogi, and more. All you have to do is add the sauce to your favorite meat or vegetable and dinner is served.
The parade is the inclusive and ecological underwear brand not everyone knew they needed it. According to the founder and CEO of Cami Téllez, his goal is to “rewrite the history of American underwear” with super soft underwear in a range of stylish colors, textures and silhouettes, all made from fabric. recycled. Prices start at $ 8 and each pair is available in sizes up to 3X.
To celebrate her Chinese heritage, CEO and founder Lin Chen launched her company in 2017 with a gua sha tool and accompanying facial oil. In just a few short years, Pink Moon has grown into an online oasis of personal care, wellness and lifestyle brands founded by women who inspire sustainable lifestyles. The company offers everything from candles and body oils to lipsticks from 24 different brands, 30% of which are founded by women of color.
Co-founded by Iva Pawling and Tim Morse, Richer Poorer was already making comfortable bases before the pandemic made them all the rage. He started with sock and underwear lines, and now offers extremely comfortable matching underwear, sweatshirts, t-shirts and more on his site. The brand is also committed to sustainable development, therefore many of its pieces are made from recycled materials which you can feel good about.
The Reina Rebelde makeup brand is run by Regina Merson, of Mexican descent. Its unique eye shadow, liner and lipstick collections pay homage to various Latin cultures and celebrate Latin beauty in every campaign. In addition, it is Brava’s best-selling lipstick is a multi-award winning product that gives you the perfect red pout.
Owned by Latina entrepreneur Julissa Prado, Rizos Curls has quickly become a favorite with curly-haired “reinas” around the world. Its best-selling products are made without harmful sulfates, silicones and parabens. In just three years since its launch, Rizos Curls has quickly expanded its fan base and is even used by renowned Insta makeup artists like @viva_glam_kay. Add a bottle of the brand’s hair products to your cart on their website or while shopping at Target or Amazon.
A butcher who wants us to eat less meat? Yes, it’s Seemore Meats & Veggies. Founded and operated by a fourth generation butcher shop that wants to make the meat industry more sustainable, Seemore makes fully cooked sausages stuffed with human-raised meat, fresh vegetables and tasty herbs. Choose from five incredible flavors, like Parma Chicken, Loaded Baked Potato, and Bubbe Chicken Soup.
Professional Instagram-worthy photos that are really affordable? Yes please. Shoott consolidates consecutive sessions in one place for freelance photographers and offers clients a simple way to book a pro on demand for a free personalized session. From there, customers can choose to pay $ 15 per photo, $ 120 for 10 photos, or $ 240 for 40+ photos. The company was started in 2018 in New York City by Jennifer Tsay, Kat Tchernavskikh, and Daniel Kaufman, but is now available in 500 locations in more than 40 cities across the country. Check their website to find the latest reservations available near you.
Founder Tina Chow Rudolf wanted to create a range of beauty products that put a woman’s emotional well-being at the forefront. The result was Strange Bird, a herbal, crystal-laden brand that combines ancient Chinese beauty traditions with high vibrational alchemy so women can let their skin glow and let energy flow. All products are formulated using clean ingredients (nothing you wouldn’t put on a baby) with its signature G-Team, a combination of ginger, ginseng and goji berry. In the spirit of personal care, Strange Bird donates 1% of all its sales to support women’s mental health initiatives.
Founder Amy Liu set out to create a line of products that are safe for sensitive skin based on her own struggles with eczema, and the result is Soft Tower Makeup 28 that looks just as good on Instagram as it does on your skin. Its vast “blacklist“No-no products means her skin care and makeup follows National Eczema Association guidelines, and even meets stringent European Union ingredient regulations.
Advocating for diversity and body positivity in the athleisure space, Wolven founder Kiran Jade has created a brand beloved for their super-soft leggings and sports bras (followed by a huge celebrity). Inspired by her South Asian heritage, Jade “set out to create a brand that values differences – shapes, sizes, cultures, identities – as enduringly as possible”, as the the brand explains. As a result, Wolven partners with the non-profit organization Neutral climate to achieve its green goals, with the carbon neutral Wolven clothing production.