Are you wearing purple? Today, the 8th of March 2021, is International Women’s Day. A day to celebrate for all those who identify as a woman, observed since the early twentieth century, we’ve seen much change over those hundred and something years, but still have so far left to go.
We should look back on this history with a mix of nostalgia, pride, and anger too. We still need to achieve full gender equality in many parts of our great world. Think of prejudice, the gender pay gap, the lack of women in power, domestic abuse, and so much more that suggests women to be somehow inferior to men. Well, we’re not – and you only need to open your eyes and take a look around you to see that.
Studies and data from 38 countries released by UN Women suggests that we have perhaps taken so many steps backwards, even decades, with women taking a more significant role in domestic duties and childcare than in recent years.
Of course, there is still a lot to celebrate and be proud of. One of those things is the amazing female founded businesses that are making their mark in their fields, but also giving back to other women while doing so.
We’ve included a round up of some of our favourites, as well as some products by other businesses that are making donations to various charities from product sales for International Women’s Day 2021.
Imp & Maker Wellbeing Hampers
Imp & Maker is a small Lincolnshire business started in December 2020 by award-winning food producer and entrepreneur, Sarah Louise Fairburn, who has spent many years working with some of the UK’s most prestigious food retailers.
Sarah has just launched ‘Hampers that Help’, filled with great food, drink and beauty finds from female-led UK businesses and £5 from every hamper sold will be donated to the Farm Africa Livestock for Livelihoods project, helping women in Uganda and Ethiopia launch their own sustainable businesses and improve the nutrition and education of their families, through rearing goats.
Wondering how your money could help? £60 is enough to buy two local female goats for pastoralist women in South Omo in Ethiopia and Karamoja in Uganda.
Sharkie & Bear
Jenny created Sharkie & Bear during the beginning of the first lockdown last spring. She wanted to create pieces that made people feel happy and uplifted, making women feel good about themselves and add joy to their day.
In support of breast cancer research, Jenny has released a pair of fabulous, vegan-friendly, faux leather earrings. Featuring a ‘boob’ design created by Rebecca McLoughlin from Iconicus Design, these statement earrings accentuate female empowerment.
For every sale, a donation is made to Coppafeel.
Nursem
Co-founder Antonia found herself returning from work as a paediatric nurse with constant sore, cracked and bleeding hands because of hand washing. Their studies show that on average, a nurse washes their hands 55 times a day. Antonia and her husband began to work on a hand cream formula – something natural and effective, and now there is Nursem.
This last year, those of us outside of health centres have seen more than ever just how much constant hand washing impacts our skin.
Since launching the team have continued to give free hand creams to nurses and midwives through their initiative, The Nursem Promise. Every month Nursem Promise Packs are delivered across the UK, which provide a month’s supply of hand cream for a nursing team. During the month of March, they’re also donating to vaccination centres. You can find out more about where these packs go here.
Winser London’s Gillian Anderson Lips Jumper
Gillian’s own iconic lips are featured on these slim fitting, crew neck jumpers – with the most gorgeous cashmere blend wool.
Winser London are donating 20% of net sales to the charity Women for Women International with all Lips Collection purchases. They have already donated over £14,000 to the charity.
Nut and Noggin
Shampoo bar, plastic free pioneers Nut and Noggin are aiming to change lives, ‘one head at a time’. They donate £1 from every shampoo bar directly to charities that support young people facing mental health issues. These charities are Winston’s Wish, The Yoga Therapy Foundation, and The Market Place.
LITTLEWINE
LITTLEWINE is an online wine experience platform, and are looking to tackle gender inequality in the winemaking field, where men historically occupy the majority of leadership positions, from the vineyards to the boardroom.
They are marking International Women’s Day with the release of the ‘Celebrating Women Winemakers’ selection, a limited-edition pack featuring winemakers Jutta Ambrositsch, Veronica Ortega and Saskia Van Der Horst. For every box sold, LITTLEWINE will donate £7 to the Refugee Women’s Association to help fund their vital work to empower and enable refugee, migrant and asylum-seeking women and their families with their journey to integration and a new life.
Chocolate by Miss Witt
Kerry Witt is an world award-winning Master Chocolatier based in the New Forest and has teamed up with Susana Cárdenas, the renowned Founder of Cárdenas Chocolate, based in Manabi, Ecuador to create Exquisite 70% Dark Chocolate Hearts.
Their 2020 harvest has been called the ‘Harvest of Hope’, produced during a difficult time when the World has been so affected by the COVID pandemic. Kerry and Susanna working together helps four regions of Ecuador to create jobs and empower families and other women. Ecuador is a third world country with high rates of poverty, a high infant mortality rate, poor prison conditions and poor education levels. In Ecuador the cacao, chocolate industry is 99% men, so Kerry and Susana’s collaboration has given freedom to so many women.
The Sweaty Betty Foundation
The founding mission of Sweaty Betty was to empower women through fitness and beyond. Knowing that many women and girls lack the opportunities to get physically active they have launched a separate charitable foundation to empower women and girls from every background to get active, and stay active, for life. The Sweaty Betty Foundation will be working with partners and organisations who share the same values and who they believe collectively can help shift the dial on teenage girls’ activity levels.
To support the Sweaty Betty Foundation launch, Sweaty Betty has created a limited-edition set consisting of our new Power High Waist Leggings and Power Frame Workout Vest, featuring an original print designed specifically for International Women’s Day, made up of letters from the words ‘empower’ and ‘women’. Sweaty Betty is donating 100% of proceeds from each purchase to the Foundation.
PopSockets
PopSockets, makers of lifestyle accessories for digital devices, have collaborated with the Malala Fund as part of their Poptivism initiative.
The handpicked collection of new PopGrip graphics aims to celebrate women everywhere and support the charity’s important fight for equity through education by donating 50% of sales throughout the month of March.
Lasting partners of CoppaFeel!, Avon says it’s time to ‘grab life by the melons’ and support the breast cancer charity. You can purchase a dazzling clutch bag from Avon for just £10.00. 50% of sales from the Boob Clutch bag are donated to CoppaFeel!
Jo Malone London Limited Edition Peony & Blush Suede Cologne
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Jo Malone London have designed a bespoke bottle of their iconic Peony & Blush Suede Cologne. Throughout March, £20.00 from the sale of every limited edition Cologne will be donated to their charity partner, Phoenix Futures.
The charity helps women to manage their mental health needs, promote confidence and rebuild self-esteem. From access to exercise programmes that improve physical health, to nutritional education to aid recovery from eating disorders, these initiatives have been designed to improve overall well-being and self-care for women.
Love & Roses ‘Stand Together’ Tee
Love & Roses have partnered with The Prince’s Trust to #ChangeAGirlsLife and see that no woman is left behind as a result of the pandemic. Their exclusive ‘Stand Together’ tee raises funds for the charity to help support issues such as domestic violence, long-term unemployment, bullying, the challenges of single parenthood, homelessness and more.
SO JUST SHOP
Jennifer Georgeson started the business after seeing how women in vulnerable communities couldn’t access infrastructure like schools or healthcare because they couldn’t afford to. SO JUST SHOP set out to change that and lift 250K women and families out of poverty.
All the women artisans who make products for SO JUST SHOP have a safe, healthy working environment and are paid a fair living wage. The supply chain is free from child and forced labour.
In 2020, SO JUST SHOP’s impact equated to over 50,000 hours of meaningful labour, for 1,000 women in vulnerable communities in 20 countries across the world, positively impacting 6,000 people in total.
SO JUST SHOP is standing up for women around the world against companies that don’t pay them a fair wage and provide safe working conditions and against unethical and unsustainable supply chains. And, choosing to challenge the idea that ethical and sustainable products need to be expensive and inaccessible. SO JUST SHOP makes the supply chain fair for everyone and shows beautiful, ethical and sustainable things can also be affordable.
Shop the incredibly beautiful line now, which make the perfect gift for yourself or another. Just like this baguette ring.