Who run the world? Girls.
March 8 marks International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It’s a day to recognize the efforts and struggles of women everywhere — from the suffragettes who fought for our right to vote, to the female pioneers who shattered glass ceilings in every industry.
One great way to honour these women’s legacies is by supporting female-owned brands. From cosmetics to clothing and accessories, female entrepreneurs have been disrupting industries and creating innovative products for everyone to enjoy. Read on to discover some of the most inspiring female-owned brands that deserve your attention and support this IWD and beyond.
And while you’re at it, be sure to make use of our search engine tool, StyList, to keep track of your favourite female-owned brands and their product offerings. With StyList, you can search multiple stores at Upper Canada Mall and save any items you love to a singular wishlist for future shopping reference. Supporting female entrepreneurs never looked so good.
Local Love
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![Cream from LEVEL has been applied to the collarbone of a woman.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Local-LEVEL-1.jpg)
LEVEL
![A bowl of chilli from Ma's Best sits on a table.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Local-Mas-Best-1.jpg)
Ma's Best
![Round cookies from Humble Roots Orangic sit in a light blue mug on a table.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Local-Humble-Roots-Organic-1.jpg)
Humble Roots Organic
![A Skinceuticals product is showcased with a background of tropical leaves.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Local-LEVEL-2.jpg)
LEVEL
![Various soup ingredients are laid out in a flat lay to showcase Ma's Best soups.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Local-Mas-Best-2.jpg)
Ma's Best
![Two slices of carrot cake are displayed on a table alongside shaved carrots and a grater.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Local-Humble-Roots-Organic-2.jpg)
Humble Roots Organic
When supporting female-founded brands, it’s important to consider local makers. Not only does shopping locally foster a stronger sense of community, but it also supports economic growth within that community.
Some female-founded local vendors at Upper Canada include Humble Roots Organic, which offers raw, organic, vegan, delicious treats that are packed with wholesome ingredients, Ma’s Best, which offers a variety of premium-quality soups made with nutritious and delicious all-natural ingredients and LEVEL, a luxury clinical spa.
Beauty Bosses
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![Various skin shades of Fenty Beauty bronzer are displayed on a rust orange background.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Beauty-Bosses-Fenty-2.jpg)
Fenty Beauty at Sephora
![An Estee Lauder face cream is showcased on a white background alongside a white candle.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Beauty-Bosses-Estee-Lauder-1.jpg)
Estée Lauder at The Bay
![Mangos and Glossier lip products are laid within a light pink Glossier fruit bag.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Beauty-Bosses-Glossier-1.jpg)
Glossier at Sephora
![Various Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin products are flat laid on a light background.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Beauty-Bosses-Fenty-Beauty-1.jpg)
Fenty Beauty at Sephora
![A Glossier makeup bag sits on a bathroom counter top alongside other Glossier products and two cups of tea.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Beauty-Bosses-Glossier-2.jpg)
Glossier at Sephora
![Estee Lauder lipstick, cream, and perfume are positioned on a light pink background.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Beauty-Bosses-Estee-Lauder-2.jpg)
Estée Lauder at The Bay
![Various colours of Glossier lip gloss are set up in a line within a bathroom vanity cabinet.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Beauty-Bosses-Glossier-3.jpg)
Glossier at Sephora
The beauty industry has been transformed by the efforts of countless women who, through their creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, have revolutionized the way we approach beauty and self-care.
Canadian-born Elizabeth Arden, who opened her famous spa in New York in 1910, is credited with making makeup mainstream, while Estée Lauder revolutionized the way cosmetics were sold and perceived in the 1940s and 1950s with the introduction of new innovative products and marketing techniques.
More recently, Rihanna changed the beauty industry in 2017 by launching her Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Foundation in a whopping 40 shades (the most ever introduced in the industry at that time) and inspiring other brands to follow suit, while Glossier’s Emily Weiss disrupted the traditional beauty industry by creating a brand focused on minimalism, inclusivity and community engagement. She is also one of the first beauty entrepreneurs to recognize the power of social media in shaping the beauty industry.
Other female-founded beauty faves include Nancy Twine’s natural hair care line Briogeo, Selena Gomez’s makeup line Rare Beauty, Christine Chang and Sarah Lee’s skincare line Glow Recipe and Sheena Yaitanes’s natural cosmetics line Kosas.
Female-Founded Fashion
Image Gallery
![A dark haired woman is wearing a cream coloured tank top and denim from Laura.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Female-Founded-Fashion-Laura-1.jpg)
Laura
![A tan coloured coat from RW&Co. is laid on top of other clothing.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/rwco.jpg)
RW&Co.
![A woman's torso can be seen holding a neon green Rebecca Minkoff bag.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Female-Founded-Fashion-Rebecca-Minkoff-1.jpg)
Rebecca Minkoff at The Bay
![A dark haired woman poses in a light pink floral dress from Laura.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Female-Founded-Fashion-Laura-2.jpg)
Laura
![A woman bends at the knee while holding a blue checkered bag from Rebecca Minkoff. Her jacket matches the bag.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Female-Founded-Fashion-Rebecca-Minkoff-2.jpg)
Rebecca Minkoff at The Bay
Though fashion continues to be a male-dominated industry (a 2022 study by the Business of Fashion revealed that women design 40% of womenswear fashion brands and only make up about 14% of leadership positions in the industry), the impact women have had is immense.
Laura Wolstein, the founder of Laura Canada, defied convention by opening her clothing boutique in 1930, 10 years before women in Quebec had the right to vote. What once started as a modest Montreal boutique transformed into 140 stores across Canada and a business with over 2,000 employees.
Similarly, Sarah Reitman founded Reitmans in 1926 with her husband, Herman. Since its modest beginnings as one women’s clothing store on Boulevard St. Laurent in Montreal, it has since evolved into one of Canada’s largest women’s specialty retailers and operates Reitmans, Penningtons, and RW&Co.
Some current female fashion brand founders who are making waves include accessories designer Rebecca Minkoff, whose eponymous brand quickly gained a following for its edgy yet wearable designs and Montreal entrepreneur Sophie Boulanger who founded the eyewear brand Bon Look.
Ladies of Lifestyle
Image Gallery
![Three different books are laid out on a white duvet.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Ladies-of-Lifestyle-Indigo-2.jpg)
Coles
![Three different colours of S'Well water bottles are laid out alongside workout equipment.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Ladies-of-Lifestyle-Swell-1.jpg)
S'well at The Bay
![A woman holding an Our Place pan stands to the left of a retro inspired Our Place display.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Ladies-of-Lifestyle-Our-Place-1.jpg)
Our Place at Indigo
![Three different books are laid on a white duvet.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Ladies-of-Lifestyle-Indigo-1.jpg)
Coles
![Three different sizes of S'Well water bottles are arranged side by side. They are all the same black to silver ombre design.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Ladies-of-Lifestyle-Swell-2.jpg)
S'well at The Bay
![Various colours of Our Place pots and pans are displayed on a retro-inspired wall.](https://uppercanadamall.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Ladies-of-Lifestyle-Our-Place-2.jpg)
Our Place at Indigo
Women in the lifestyle space have also made big strides in introducing new perspectives and disrupting traditional norms. Heather Reisman, founder, chair and CEO of Indigo, has singlehandedly revamped lifestyle shopping by transforming a bookstore into a one-stop shop for everything lifestyle, including home décor, paper goods, games, fashion accessories and children’s toys. Then there’s Harvard Business School grad, Sarah Krauss, who founded eco-friendly water bottle line, S’well, one of the most important and successful brands in the realm of sustainability today. And we can’t forget about Shiza Shahid, the woman behind Our Place’s viral Always Pan that once garnered a 30,000-person waitlist!
With so many female-owned brands on the market, we hope you continue to support these founders and entrepreneurs year-round.