The 16 Best Female-Founded Brands to Shop for International Women’s Day

By Arielle Tschinkel March 8, 2020

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Woman's World aims to feature only the best products and services. We update when possible, but deals expire and prices can change. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Questions? Reach us at shop@womansworld.com

We’re going to let you in on a not-so-secret secret — women are amazing. And today, on International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating them and all that they do by tipping our hat to some of the incredible females behind some of our favorite fashion and beauty companies. After all, who better than our fellow ladies to know exactly which what clothes and accessories will flatter our figures and make us feel our best and which products will suit our ever-changing skin?

History of International Women’s Day

Though we’ll gladly salute a strong, powerful woman any day, this annual celebration of all things womanhood has become a time-honored tradition. As it turns out, the global movement began well over a century ago, with the first IWD gathering occurring way back in 1911 with a turnout of more than one million people.

Since then, people all over the world have used the day as a way to honor the achievements of women in all areas as we inch towards a future world where true equality is possible.

The Best Female-Founded Fashion and Beauty Brands

There’s no shortage of ways to support women who work hard every single day to make the world a better place, be it at one of IWD’s official events or simply by meeting up to toast your best girlfriends. Our favorite option, however, is to make a purchase that will support a female-founded business,

Not only does it allow for the perfect opportunity to check out some of the best fashion and beauty brands around, you can finally splurge on that gorgeous new lipstick you’re been eyeing or that magical pair of jeans that will look great and feel even better.

We’ve done the legwork of tracking down some of the best comapnies being spearheaded by women, including two fierce luxury brands beloved by Meghan Markle and several size-inclusive lines that will flatter women of all shapes and sizes. Keep reading for Woman’s World’s picks for the best beauty and fashion brands founded by women.

Woman’s World aims to feature only the best products and services. We update when possible, but deals expire and prices can change. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
Questions? Reach us at shop@womansworld.com

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Best Female-Founded Fashion Brands

Universal Standard
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Universal Standard Universal Standard was founded by not one, but two incredible women, Alexandra Waldman and Polina Veksler, who were tired of the limited sizing options available in major retailers. Alternately, their company offers up a full range of clothing that keeps females of all sizes in mind, with its basic tees, blazers, and more. Not only do options span from 00 to 4XL, these genius gals also created Fit Liberty for their customers, a shopping program that takes a woman's regularly-fluctuating body into account (especially as we mature) and allows buyers to exchange their items within a year of purchase should their size change. Returned items are donated to non-profit organizations, such. as First Step and Dress for Success, which give back to homeless and underprivileged women by providing them with the tools and clothing they'll need to re-enter the workforce. What could be better than that?
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Cuyana
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Cuyana We already know that Meghan Markle is a fan of the brand’s gorgeous structured leather tote (from $195), and when you see the brand's other bags, jewelry, clothing, and accessories, you’ll want to snap them up, too! Founded by Karla Gallardo and Shilpa Shah, the brand aims to create high-quality goods that buyers will want to hold onto and use for years to come. They also partner with ThredUp, an online consignment store that allows you to cash in on the things in your closet you’re ready to Marie Kondo while adding something new that you’ll love from Cuyana. That shouldn't be too challenging, given the wide array of stunning options for sale in the brand's online shop!
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ADAY
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ADAY Perfect for mature ladies in the workforce, ADAY provides classic, tailored pieces that will look and feel good whether you’re in the boardroom or meeting with clients after-hours. Co-founders Nina Faulhaber and Meg He work directly with their shoppers to design garments their ladies will love to wear again and again. Case in point? Check out these Portfolio Pants ($190), which feature an ultra-flattering high waist and a loose, tapered leg that will feel comfy and chic no matter the season.
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Loeffler Randall
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Loeffler Randall If you’re more into Kate Middleton’s style, look no further than this Duchess of Cambridge-approved New York-based company, which was founded by Jessie Randall in 2004. Featuring a 35-person team of mostly women, Loeffler Randall creates apparel, accessories, and more, but its true bread and butter is the stunning selection stylish footwear and handbags. The expansive line of boots, sandals, and sneakers found here is sure to wow, and you won’t want to overlook the equally beautiful purses for all occasions, either. We're partial to this stunning leather Antoinette shopper tote ($350) and this splashy-yet-elegant Tab clutch ($250), which is perfect for evenings out on the town.
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Lilly Pulitzer
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Lilly Pulitzer Though Lilly Pulitzer herself is no longer with us, her legacy lives on through her signature colorful designs, which celebrate lively women everywhere. Whether you’re on a tropical getaway or enjoying some leisure time closer to home, the vibrant prints of this Palm Beach-based, resort wear-ready brand will instantly put a smile on your face and a heavy dose of pep in your step. On March 8th, the brand is partnering with the Women’s Tennis Association to donate 20 percent of sales from its Prosecco Pink Fronds Place Tennis collection to WTA charities that promote youth empowerment initiatives — along with a $50,000 donation to the organization.
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Darzah
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Darzah Founded by Child's Cup Full (a non-profit initiative that supports women’s economic empowerment based in Zababdeh, Palestine), Darzah is a fashion brand that's focused on ethical, sustainable practices, with the end result being truly unique, beautiful embroidered shoes, bags, and accessories. We're currently swooning over these pictured leather Tatreez flats in Rose ($209), where were hand-embroidered and handcrafted by local female artisans in need of work.
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Stature NYC
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Stature NYC This boutique of items specifically curated for petite women was co-founded by Camille Moroz and Avani Agarwal, who joke that they’re “10-feet tall (combined).” Together, they work to hand-select items made for smaller frames that feature shorter torsos and inseams, narrower shoulders, higher and smaller arm holes, pants with proper ankle-to-leg ratio, and shoes in smaller sizes, all of which are sometimes left out of standard sizing at larger retailers. Sounds like a dream come true to us!
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Eileen Fisher
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Eileen Fisher If classic, elevated basics make up most of your wardrobe, you’re likely already a fan of Eileen Fisher and her namesake brand. Fisher's company was founded when she couldn’t find what she was looking for in stores. As the story goes, with just $350 in the bank, she wound up developing a business that was focused on sustainability — no easy feat in a world of fast fashion and trends that tend to come and go with the seasons. Of particular note is the corporation's Modern Workwear collection (from $129) — a well-rounded line of blazers, cardigans, skirts, dresses, pants, and more, that will feel so cozy, you’ll want to wear it on your days off, too!
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Best Female-Founded Beauty Brands

Charlotte Tilbury
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Charlotte Tilbury British makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury has amassed quite an impressive celebrity client list over the years, with Cindy Crawford, Penelope Cruz, Salma Hayek, Sofia Vergara, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Aniston, and Julianne Moore all among her famous fans. More than applying makeup for the rich and famous, however, Tilbury has created her own line of luxe products that will make you feel like an A-lister every time you apply them. Beauty mavens especially love her eponymous Charlotte’s Magic Cream ($64) — a powerful blend of ingredients that will soften and soothe dull, dry skin for a breath of new life.
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Volition Beauty
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Volition Beauty Volition Beauty founders Patricia Santos and Brandy Hoffman are dedicated to developing beauty products that women want and need in their arsenal — so much so that they welcome submissions from fans, which are then voted on by the brand's beauty community before potentially becoming products that the rest of us can buy. Genius, indeed! Offering skincare for the face and body that's tailored to your individual skin’s needs, Volition Beauty is sure to have a product that's just right for you at any stage of life.
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Lilah B.
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Lilah B. With more people than ever paying close attention to the ingredients found in their beauty and skincare products, Lilah B. is having a serious moment. Founder Cheryl Yannotti Foland created the line to help women streamline their beauty routines with vegan-friendly, cruelty-free makeup that's formulated without gluten, parabens, phtalates, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances. Its packaging is as beautiful as it is functional, and its multitasking offerings, like this Divine Duo lip and cheek compact ($46), which can be used on your pucker as a lip tint, on your cheeks as a blush, and as an eyeshadow for a pretty wash of color on your lids, will allow you to seriously pare down your beauty routine. An added bonus? In honor of International Women's Day, the company is donating 15 percent of all compact sales for the month to Project Glimmer — an organization that hosts gift drives to benefit teenage girls.
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Tata Harper
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Tata Harper There’s a good reason why celebrities such as Jessica Alba, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tracee Ellis Ross, Julianne Moore, Brooke Shields, Anne Hathaway, and more count themselves as fans of Tata Harper’s namesake brand: If she doesn’t feel that a product is perfect, you'll never see it hit the shelves. Instead, she gifts us with the type of luxurious, organic-based skincare and makeup that our skin goes wild for, like the brand’s Revitalizing Body Oil ($115, and one of our favorite body oils) or its Purifying Mask ($72), a crucial part of our daily skincare routine.
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Wander Beauty
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Wander Beauty Designed with busy modern women in mind by busy, modern founders Lindsay Ellingson and Divya Gugnani, Wander Beauty’s line of cruelty-free makeup and skincare essentials will have you reaching for its goods on-the-go: Ellingson and Gugnani's shared concept of “beauty beyond the bathroom” sees them creating products that will help you maximize your time as you bring them from the office to the airport to girls’ night out. Even ladies of leisure will love their “do-it-all” approach for globally-sourced, mess-free beauty.
Kopari
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Kopari When you want your beauty routine to feel like a mini-vacation (who doesn’t!?) you’ll want to scoop up Kopari’s signature line of coconut-infused goodies. Founder Kiana Cabell uses 100 percent pure organic coconut oil — and the nourishing, softening fatty acids that go along with it — as the base for all of her products. To truly pamper your skin from head to toe, try her Bodycare Dream Team ($60), which includes the company’s award-winning Coconut Crush scrub ($39) and Coconut Body Milk ($30), for an intensely hydrating and gently exfoliating duo that will leave your skin smelling heavenly and feeling silky smooth.
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Tatcha
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Tatcha This luxury brand was dreamed up by Victoria Tsai, who once struggled with acute dermatitis and sought products that would help heal her skin. When she couldn't find them? She created them. Nowadays, her brand works with scientists both in the United States and in Japan to manufacture formulas that will smooth and soften without irritating sensitive skin — no easy feat, to be sure. In addition to Tatcha's new revolutionary Serum Stick ($48), which we're already loving, Meghan Markle told Allure in 2014 that she really loves the company's Rice Enzyme Powder ($65) for its subtle exfoliating powers. Hey, if that’s the secret behind her signature royal glow, we're definitely sold!
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Benefit Cosmetics
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Benefit Cosmetics Maggie and Annie Ford Danielson are now at the helm of this beloved beauty brand, which was passed down by the womens' mom and aunt, co-founders Jean and Jane Ford. The family's whimsical packaging and cheeky product names have been catching the eye of shoppers since 1976. Longtime fans especially love the precisely, my brow pencil ($24), which helps to create natural-looking hair, while Woman's World's Senior Commerce Editor, Nicole Briese, said she would be lost without the Roller Liquid Eyeliner ($22), which she swears delivers a perfect cat-eye that even Adele would compliment.
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