As International Women’s Day (IWD) approaches, STC is excited to celebrate the remarkable achievements of women around the world. This year’s IWD campaign theme, “Inspire Inclusion,” calls on us to collectively foster a more inclusive world for women to create a sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment.
One way to do this is by supporting women-owned and operated brands to help forge economic empowerment. From makeup and skincare to clothing and lifestyle products, there are plenty of incredible brands helmed by female entrepreneurs that are worth supporting during International Women’s Day and beyond.
To help keep track of your fave women-owned and operated brands, check out our search engine, StyList. All you have to do is make a StyList account, search for your fave products from female-owned brands at STC and save them to a singular wishlist for future shopping reference or to share with your loved ones.
Read on to learn more about women-owned and operated brands that deserve your attention and support this IWD and beyond.
Move Female Fashion Forward
In an industry historically dominated by men, it’s crucial to amplify and support the voices of female designers. Fashion should reflect a diverse range of perspectives, ensuring that everyone’s unique vision contributes to what women wear. Some of our fave female-owned brands at STC include Aritzia, the celeb-loved fashion giant under the helm of Jennifer Wong, Reitmans, the Canadian clothing store founded by Sarah Reitman in 1926 that has become of the nation’s largest women’s specialty retailers and Laura, the Canadian fashion boutique founded by Laura Wolstein in Montreal in 1930, 10 years before women in Quebec even had the right to vote.
Reitmans
Laura
Makeup Mavens
BEAUTYBLENDER
Fenty Beauty
When it comes to the beauty industry, there is an abundance of women-founded brands that have revolutionized the way we approach cosmetics. Rea Ann Silva’s BEAUTYBLENDER single-handedly changed how we apply makeup, while Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty set new standards of inclusivity when it came to shade ranges. In the clean beauty space, Amy Liu’s Tower28 is one of very few brands designed for sensitive skin (and the only beauty brand to earn the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance), while Kosas founder Sheena Zadeh-Daly has proven that high-performing makeup that is actually good for your skin is possible. And then there’s Jen Harper’s Cheekbone Beauty, the very first Indigenous-owned and founded cosmetics company which is helping to create a space in the beauty industry where everyone, including Indigenous people, feel represented and seen. Find all these brands and more at Sephora.
Skin Saviours
If you look at your skincare closet, chances are your holy grail products are ones created by women. Take the celeb fave Tatcha Dewy Skin cream (available at Sephora), for example, which was created by founder Vicky Tsai who aims to marry Kyoto’s age-old beauty rituals with modern skincare tech. There’s also the TikTok viral Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream (available at Sephora), created by Heela Yang, Dr. Barbara Sturm’s highly coveted Glow Drops (available at Hudson’s Bay and Sephora) and Drunk Elephant’s innovative Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser (available at Sephora) from founder Tiffany Masterson.
Sol de Janeiro
Dr. Barbara Sturm
Leaders in Lifestyle
Heather Reisman
Linda Dang
In the lifestyle space, there are several women who have made great strides in creating brands and businesses to make everyday life better. For instance, Canadian founder and CEO of Indigo Spirit, Heather Reisman, reinvented book selling by transforming itself into a “cultural department store,” filled with lifestyle goods, while Canadian serial entrepreneur Linda Dang has brought everything exciting in the world of Asian beauty and lifestyle to the masses with her store, Sukoshi Mart.
Shop Local Love
While showing your support for women-founded brands, don’t forget to show some love for local makers, too! By shopping locally, you’re helping foster economic growth in your community. At STC, check out Bon Bon Jewellery, a Toronto-based jewellery boutique that offers a wide selection of men’s and women’s watches and jewellery.
Bon Bon Jewellery
With so many incredible women-owned brands, there are plenty of ways to inspire inclusion through your shopping choices. By consciously supporting these female-owned and operated brands, you’re contributing to an inclusive and empowered community not only during International Women’s Day, but also year-round.
