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- Friday, March 8, 2019, is International Women's Day.
- Among the many ways to support and lift women up today (and every other day of the year), you can shop at female-founded retail companies.
- The 22 startups below make products that are designed to improve the lives of women.
- On International Women's Day, many are donating a portion of proceeds to non-profits dedicated to advancing the social and economic positions of women.
Today is International Women's Day (IWD), a day to both celebrate the social, economic, political, and cultural achievements of women and continue the push towards women's equality. In the business world, women are founding companies at record rates. According to the National Women's Business Council, their businesses employ over 8 million workers and generate over $1.4 trillion in revenue.
They still only comprise 36% of the country's businesses and there's a lot of progress to be made. However, as part of a team that has its finger on the pulse of up-and-coming consumer brands, I have to say we're certainly witnessing a wave of female entrepreneurship that provides inspiration and hope for the road ahead.
These female-founded startups should always be on your radar for the innovative products and services they offer, but especially today on IWD as many of these brands are putting forth powerful initiatives and campaigns to empower and support other women.
Learn more about the 22 female-centric companies and their International Women's Day promotions below.
Find more International Women's Day retail coverage here:
- 46 female-founded retail startups to support on International Women's Day — plus our favorite products from each
- 19 feminist gifts that give back to empower women and children around the world
- 9 incredibly inspiring memoirs written by women to add to your reading list
SEE ALSO: 11 San Francisco-based clothing startups that prove New York City isn't the only capital of fashion
ThirdLove
Shop bras at ThirdLove
Bra company ThirdLove offers a Try Before Buying program that lets customers try out bras for 30 days. When these gently worn bras are returned, they're hand-sorted and then donated. In 2018 alone, the company donated more than $4 million worth of bras, including to victims of the recent California wildfires.
It also expanded its bra sizing and now carries 70 bra sizes, compared to the industry average of 30. You might've also heard about the company when CEO Heidi Zak took out a full-page ad in the New York Times to critique comments made by the CMO of Victoria's Secret about plus-size and transgender models.
ADAY
Shop the #Future is Feminine Tank for $58 at ADAY
Conscious shoppers love ADAY because of its seasonless, technical apparel that looks great, feels great, and is made from sustainable materials.
On International Women's Day, you have another reason to support ADAY: 100% of the proceeds from sales of its limited-edition #Future is Feminine Tank will go to the Stonewall Community Foundation in support of numerous LGBTQ+ projects and funds.
Sugarfina
Shop the Barbie candy collection at Sugarfina
Before co-founding Sugarfina, Rosie O'Neill started her career at Barbie, the iconic doll brand that is now celebrating its 60th anniversary. To celebrate 60 years of Barbie careers, including astronaut, firefighter, and news anchor, Sugarfina has created a collection of themed candies. 100% of net proceeds from this limited-edition series will go to Step Up.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider