You've heard of (maybe even braved) Black Friday. Your inbox is exploding with pre-Cyber Monday marketing emails. You've seen signage for Small Business Saturday... but have you heard about Women-Led Wednesday?
Meet the new retail holiday with an empowering purpose: to shop small and support businesses owned and operated by entrepreneurial women! Today, November 21st, 2018, marks its inauguration into the post-Thanksgiving shopping calendar.
Spearheaded by Cassie Abel, the head of both Wild Rye Mountain Apparel and the marketing firm White Cloud Communication, Women-Led Wednesday aims to celebrate and continue the monumental strides made by women this year -- which include a record number of women elected to Congress and the rise of #MeToo.
“Women-Led Wednesday is about voting for women in leadership and helping to grow female-led brands," Abel told Powder magazine. "The goal is to lift. It's not going to happen overnight, but supporting women-led brands financially is the quickest path to leveling the playing field."
To show our support, we've rounded up 8 women-owned businesses featuring incredible handmade products to make your holiday shopping easier (and more empowering)! Indulge in some uplifting retail therapy and check out these small shops that are making BIG moves.
1. KUVIT Beauty
The story: Hailing from Santa Cruz, California, sisters Taylor and Madison Williams created their inclusive cosmetics line as a means to celebrate a diverse range of beauty, with a focus on inclusivity, self-love, and positivity. We are loving their line-up of handcrafted pressed and loose shimmer shadows available in killer metallic and glitter finishes. Bonus: their ethos and branding are giving us MAJOR Fenty vibes, with names like "Trick Please" and "Shotta" at wallet-friendly prices (starting at $6 each!).
"The Other Williams Sisters" harness their passionate and personal understanding of both color and quality to welcome EVERYONE interested in beauty regardless of gender, color, or sexual orientation. Their site also hosts "KUVIT Konversations," an empowering platform authored by the co-founders and full of advice for other entrepreneurs, such as "The 10 Startup Commandments."
"Change is on the horizon and it is in OUR hands" say Taylor and Madison. If change and eye shadow go hand-in-hand, count us in!
TFW Fierce Find: This travel-friendly, holographic snake skin palette features a magnetic interior to store 8 KUVIT Beauty shadows! Get creative and take the palette of your dreams on the go.
2. Thistle Farms
The Story: Offering products that are just as healing for your body as they are for women getting back on their feet, Thistle Farms creates thoughtfully-sourced, natural bath, body, and home products that directly support women who have survived trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. At Thistle Farms, "love heals" is more than their branding phrase: it's their mission. Products are hand-poured in small batches by women survivors who are paid a living wage with benefits.
Key ingredients such as essential oils like lavender and eucalyptus, emphasize Thistle Farms' dedication to wellness. The company refuses to include synthetic fragrances, parabens, or petroleum-based ingredients in any of their products.
Last year alone, Thistle Farms employed 1,300 women survivors through global partnerships; provided 9,000+ nights of safe, supportive housing for women recovering from life on the streets; and 825 hours of counseling and therapy for survivors to ensure their mental well-being.
Virtually EVERY purchase directly supports the survivors who handcraft them. We'll be stocking up our shopping carts and supporting these badass survivors ASAP!
TFW Fierce Find: We couldn't pick just one of these do-good products (sorry-not-sorry)... so why not a box of Thistle Farms' bestsellers? Featuring their Calm Healing Oil, Enriching Body Lotion, Eucalyptus Mint Soak, soothing Tea Tree Mint Lip Balm -- all blended with 100% pure essential oils -- the Thistle Farms Bath & Body Gift Set does good for the mind, body, soul, and heart.
3. GRLTRBL
The Story: Anything boys can do, girls can do better -- and yes, this includes causing trouble. Enter GRLTRBL, a badass women-led brand that raises some humorous hell with a progressive, positive purpose.
Creator of gorgeous Afro-Latinx-inspired, intersectional feminist pins, totes, tees, and prints, Emerald Pellot of Harlem, New York, founded GRLTRBL in March 2017 as a direct response to President Trump. Pellot's mission statement says it all: "GRLTRBL believes that real change can only happen when all women come together to dismantle racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and classism. Those born into oppression are rebels by birthright — the girls of the world have always meant trouble for the status quo." (Could we love her more?)
Wear one of Pellot's statement-making pins the next time you go out to spark some meaningful conversation... and maybe a bit of informed trouble.
TFW Fierce Find: Sometimes you need a reminder to protect that precious energy of yours. This super soft cotton-poly crew neck sweatshirt will remind you to prioritize self-care because you're worth it, badass. Wear it and let energy-zappers know who's boss. Available in sizes S - 5 XL.
The story: What's a 9-year-old girl to do when her dad refuses to buy her a lip gloss? Teach herself to make her own on YouTube, of course! Cut to 9 years later: Zandra Cunningham is the youngest-ever graduate of the University at Buffalo’s Minority and Women Emerging Entrepreneurs program, a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners, winner of last year’s Etsy Open Call, and owner of Zandra Beauty... at age 18. With her natural product line of artisan soaps, body scrubs, lotions, soufflés, and lip balms, Zandra is dedicated to creating safe, fun, empowering products for girls like her.
Frustrated with the plain packaging of other natural products, Zandra's line-up features bright and uplifting packaging with inspirational quotations. "I want something that tells me I’m amazing and beautiful," says Zandra. "That’s what I want to hear, and that’s what young girls should hear!"
This badass boss also is on a mission to make products that inspire youth to take action in their communities. Zandra Beauty donates 10% of all profits to support girls education. Oh... and did we mention Zandra has a Ted Talk: The Business of Being A Girl? BRB, Swooning!
TFW Fierce Find: We're all about a multi-use product. This whipped, nourishing soufflé moisturizes both hair and body with the delicious citrus smell of Japanese Kumquat and features unrefined, fair-trade Shea butter and skin-loving oils. We'll use this to the last drop and keep the jar for the positive message!
The story: Brooklyn-based candle maker Rino Minami combines olfactory nostalgia with carefully-considered botanical ornaments to create candles that look just as beautiful as they smell (which is pretty freakin' beautiful). Minami's collections of all-natural, hand-poured soy candles made in small batches are multi-sensory representations of her travels, heritage, and culture, which also are reflect in her brand: Tokyo-inspired, Brooklyn raised.
Minami's signature collection captures the aromas of memories close to her heart and integrates the Japanese art of musubi, a form of knotting that represents unity and togetherness. Each candle is hand-tied with one of these knots (her signature stamp).
Tokyn Candles' botanical collection brings Minami's cherished scent memories to life with handpicked shells, plants, and crystals suspended in a unique gel encasing. "Each one is different because I hand position everything, which gives me the freedom to use different kinds of natural items," says Minami. "It’s like composing a flower bouquet — you get to play with colors and textures."
TFW Fierce Find:
Featuring real mistletoe and festive florals to capture the invigorating holiday scents of Fraser Fir, bayberries, and hints of cedar wood, this limited edition candle from her Botanical Collection is the perfect seasonal choice. Light it while you wrap presents, and enjoy the outer golden layer that illuminates beautifully. When finished, pack the jar away with the holiday decor to reuse as a decoration next year!
6. Vaya Bags
The story: Recycled bicycle tubes, scrap sailboat awnings, and old banners... but make it #fashion. That's the idea behind Vaya Bags a small, woman-owned and -operated company located in Queens, New York. Founded by Tianna Meilinger in 2005, Vaya Bags has grown into a tight-knit, three-woman operation of "creative recyclers." Together, they make beautiful handcrafted, one-of-kind bags and bicycle accessories out of scraps they salvage -- yay sustainability!
"Something that is handmade is a one-of-a-kind piece that a person truly puts their heart, sweat, and passion into creating," says Meilinger. "Since handmade items aren’t mass produced, each is a little different and unique, which gives them a lot of character -- which is something that I appreciate."
Inspired by Meilinger's love and appreciation of nature, Vaya Bags and accessories reflect the colors of nature with materials that minimize environmental impact and also remind you to get outside. We can get behind that message!
TFW Fierce Find: Recycled leather on the outside, pink interior on the inside. 'Nuff said. But here's abit more: waterproof, 100% vegan, and made from recycled bicycle tubes. Get this Recycled Bike Tube Purse on your holiday list for the environmentally-conscious badass in your life
The story: The all-women team behind This Many Boyfriends Club said good-bye to a work environment they felt unsafe in (a sexist, exploitative, male-dominated ceramics company in Philadelphia) and transformed their #MeToo experiences into a source of power and inspiration. Today, This Many Boyfriends Club is a collaborative, safe, creative space for ceramic artistry.
This talented line-up of ladies (including glassblower Reba Price, ceramicist and textile artist Nikki Lau, illustrator and ceramicist Steph Liebetreu, and ceramicists Maritza Liebetreu and Emily Daley) uses their work to empower and inspire women who share similar toxic workplace experiences. Their STUNNING product offerings include plant holders, jewelry, and home goods... not to mention SO. MANY. CUTE. MUGS. WANT. NEED.
By pairing the durability and strength of ceramics with delicate and whimsical feminine designs, this outrageously creative team strives to challenge the notions that femininity can't be multi-dimensional: strong, complex, silly, fun, and imperfect all at once.
TFW Fierce Find:
An adorable gemstone mug boasting lovely lady lumps? Consider us sold. While the artist didn't originally intend for this gorgeous white opal mug with a 24k premium golden handle to resemble boobs, we think her mug-half-full outlook just adds to the charm!
The story: Any stylish piece from this beautiful, quirky jewelry collection handmade by Washington D.C.'s very own Rachel Pfeffer is sure to bring a smile and lead to a tidal wave of compliments. Pfeffer's signature honeycomb necklace was worn by none other than BEYONCE (yes, QUEEN BEY Herself!), garnering the entrepreneur an international fan base. Today, Pfeffer continues to handcraft her jewelry in her very own living room.
Creativity runs in Pfeffer's genes. She's descended from a family of jewelry-makers and teamed up with her brother to co-found Stitcha, the completely customizable platform that lets you print your fave Instagram photos on just about anything from pillows to purses (read: 45 pictures of your dog). This badass designer has even been featured on Slate's Working podcast, which profiled her creative process and savvy business acumen.
From a simple gemstone ring, to a chunky statement necklace, Pfeffer's fierce creations aim to appeal to ALL women, by simultaneously remaining clever and beautiful -- and reminding us we are, too! (*hair flip*)
TFW Product Pick: My number? Your opinion on my reproductive rights? Let this handmade 14k gold petal and sterling silver pendant tell em' the answer so you don't have to: NOPE.
On Women-Led Wednesday this year and every year, let's band together to give our hard-earned dollars to badass women workin' on their crafts, their businesses, and to smash the patriarchy!
Header image via Unsplash. All other images courtesy of the brands and artists.
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