To celebrate National Women’s History Month + International Women’s Day yesterday, I wanted to dedicate this post to some incredible women-owned companies that we can support all year round. As well as, to celebrate their dedication and passion towards their business and empowering others! There are tons of women-owned businesses that dedicate their time and business to give back to their community, so here is your chance to do the same as a consumer! These are 7 of my favorite women-owned brands that give back.
1. Starfish Project
Starfish Project is all about restoring hope and freedom to exploited women in Asia. They do this by providing life-changing opportunities through their Holistic Care Programs. Additionally, through their social enterprise where women create beautiful jewelry and become managers, accountants, graphic designers, and photographers.
Starfish Project provides vocational training, healthcare, shelter, counseling, and education grants for our women and their children. Additionally, they have employed over 140 women and has served thousands through our Community Outreach Services! Your support allows Starfish Project to help exploited women experience freedom, establish independence and develop careers!
2. Wild Fang
Wild Fang is a clothing brand founded by women and continues to be run by women. They carry gender-neutral apparel, suiting, badass feminist accessories, and basics. Supporting our LGBTQAI+ community is so very important to me, as there are very important people in my life who are directly affected by gender discrimination every day.
Wild Fang makes a donation to select charities with every single purchase. In fact, they have given back over $400,000 this year. In 2017 alone, they helped raise over $75,000 for charities including Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, Joyful Heart, and the Tegan and Sara Foundation, and in June 2018 they raised over $250,000 for RAICES. You can support Wild Fang and see the list of their favorite charities here!
3. Thinx Underwear
Thinx is an innovative brand that makes underwear that acts as a pad during a person’s period to absorb menstrual blood. The great thing about Thinx underwear is that can replace tampons and pads altogether or supplement them, depending on the person’s flow. Growing up, menstruation products were—and let’s be honest, still are—changing constantly to suit the needs of every person’s body. More and more we are becoming aware not only of our menstruation needs but aware of safer, healthier, and organically made alternatives.
The most important and greatest thing to me about Thinx is that they donate menstrual products to people and tweens in need, including underprivileged communities and the homeless. Thinx also leads an education initiative called The EveryBody program, which helps schools, after-school programs, and nonprofits empower young people with medically accurate and inclusive information about their changing bodies. As a future health teacher and as sex education changes, this is a cause I really stand behind!
4. Third Love
ThirdLove makes some of the best bras out there that fit every body type! Not only are they made out of high-end materials, but they are also extremely comfortable. This is coming from someone who hates wearing bras lol! Additionally, ThirdLove sells a wide variety of bras and you can find your perfect match by utilizing their Fit Finder quiz which makes bra shopping a breeze.
On top of making amazing bras, ThirdLove has partnered with I Support the Girls to donate bras to women in need. So far they’ve donated 10 million dollars in bras in 2018 alone!! I Support the Girls states, “whether they be homeless, refugees, in transitional housing, or fleeing domestic violence, women and girls should never have to compromise on dignity.” Which is such an inspiring and powerful message! I truly believe everyone deserves to look and feel good, and a proper foundation is where it all begins. Even with something as small as a bra!
5. Kona Benellie
This women-owned brand is so important to me as a pet lover! Because we can never forget about our beloved fur babies in need right?! I have two dogs of my own and they are my everything! I love to spoil the crap out of them and make sure that they are comfortable and as happy as possible 24/7! In fact, I shower them with new toys, new beds, and new blankets whenever I get the chance.
“Your comfort becomes their comfort,” is the motto for Kona Benellie, a brand started by Jessica Mashkevich, that doesn’t only warm our bodies, but also our hearts. If you’re the type of pet owner I am, your furry loved ones are showered in love and covered in warmth. Unfortunately, dogs without forever homes are in dire need, and blankets are at the top of most animal shelter wish lists. So, with every purchase of a blanket, for humans or pets, Kona Benellie donates blankets to shelter dogs nationwide! As someone who avidly volunteers at shelters, I can say that donations of blankets are ALWAYS greatly appreciated!
6. Inkwell Press
As a teacher, I know the importance of proper and organized planning! I’m sure every teacher can relate to that! However, planning can also be both exhilarating and very stressful at times. But, each teacher knows how rewarding it is at the end of the day! Therefore, in addition to creating a large array of daily, weekly, yearly, goal setting and specialty needs planners, Inkwell donates Academic Year Planners to teachers at the start of each school year.
Founder Tonya Dalton says, “our goal is to help alleviate the added financial stress teachers and home school parents feel at the beginning of the year as they begin to ready their classrooms.” Last year, they donated over $100,000 in planners to teachers! Teachers are oftentimes very underappreciated, and it’s so nice to see a women-owned brand give back and put her lives work into helping out teachers all over the country!
7. The Honest Co.
The Honest Co. is a wellness brand empowering people to live happy, healthy lives. When founder, Jessica Alba, couldn’t find one brand to trust for all her everyday needs, she knew she had to create it. Plus, she knew that there had to be others out there looking for safe products, simple solutions and clear information about their choices, just like her. And she wasn’t wrong! If you want trusted, effective products that work for your family, your home and yourself, The Honest Co. is the brand that you’ve been looking for!
This is why Honest Co. holds high standards of safety and transparency. In fact, they even develop many of their formulas right in their in-house lab. Not to mention, when you purchase from Honest Co. your product purchases help support their Social Goodness work. This allows them to fund access to safe products and advances research and education that ultimately drives positive social impact. For example, in 2018, Honest Co. was able to donate 1.5 million dollars to Baby2Baby to help provide diapers, clothing and basic necessities to low-income children across the US!
In honor of National Women’s Month, I hope you are able to go out and try some of my favorite women-owned brands. Especially since these brands help to give back to others and the community!
What brands would you add to this list?
Let me know in the comments!
Xo, Cydney
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