8 businesses that are supporting women this International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day has existed for over a century, bringing together governments, charities, organisations and companies to celebrate the success of women across the world, and to look at where more can be done to further the fight for equality.
This year, in the wake of sexual harassment scandals and pay gap ignominies, more retailers than ever are rallying behind female-focused charities and causes for the advancement of women.
The high-street giant is donating profits from its Label Lab slogan t-shirt to Womankind, a charity which seeks to protect and promote women’s rights worldwide.
As a global women’s rights organisation, the UK-based charity works in solidarity and equal partnership with other groups and movements to transform the lives of women. They are currently focusing on countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
To celebrate International Women’s Day, and to mark 100 years since women first got the vote in the UK, Penguin are partnering with Waterstones to launch a pop-up bookshop featuring only female writers.
Based on Rivington Street in Shoreditch, East London, the store will be in place from March 5 to March 9.
Shoppers will also have the chance to purchase books to be donated to Solace Women’s Aid, a charity providing practical and emotional support to over 11,000 survivors of domestic violence in London each year.
International Women's Day
3. Net-A-Porter
This year, Net-A-Porter has teamed up with six brands to release six different t-shirts in aid of Women For Women International. One hundred per cent of the profits from the collection will be donated to the charity, for which Bella Freud, Chloé, Ganni, Off White, Rosie Assoulin and Stella McCartney were challenged to create designs based on their personal interpretations of female empowerment and bravery.
This Leighton Buzzard-based chocolatier is releasing its first ever charity chocolate bar in aid of Girls Out Loud, a social enterprise empowering teenage girls in the UK to have self confidence, self belief, emotional resilience and a positive self image.
GIRL POWER is a salted caramel flavour dark chocolate bar, with a body confidence-inspired wrapper.
Diageo, the world’s largest producer of spirits, is turning Johnnie Walker into Jane Walker for a special-edition offering of the Whiskey’s Black Label blend.
Nearly half of the brand’s 12 expert blenders are women and $1 from each bottle sold will go to organisations championing women’s causes, with a total donation of up to $250,000. One organisation Johnnie Walker will be supporting is Monumental Women, a nonprofit dedicated to creating a monument honouring America’s women suffragists in New York City’s Central Park, where there are 23 statues of historical figures - all of which are men.
The Colchester lifestyle shop has just re-opened after a facelift, and to mark International Women’s Day, it will be donating 10 per cent of its takings for the day to the Orchid Project.
The Orchid Project’s mission is to foster and accelerate abandonment of female genital cutting (FGC) around the world.
The treasure trove of hip homeware, cool clothes and vintage accessories sits on Colchester's pretty Sir Issac's Walk.
In-store brands include Chlobo jewellery, Parkminster candles and Elizabeth Scarlett accessories.
Four female brands are coming together for a six-day pop-up on Stoke Newington Road, London.
From the 8th - 13th March the brands will be launching new collections, female focused workshops, feminist film screenings, life-drawing with Alexa Coe and lots of ￡5 negronis.
Attendees will find handcrafted jewellery by Karina Banks London, vintage homeware from Eesome shop, linen easy-wear by Bug Clothing and handmade ceramics by Kana London.
The collective will be offering 10 per cent off their own products throughout the whole pop-up.
International Women’s Day | United Nations themes
Astley Clarke have teamed up with British model and feminist activist Adwoa Aboah to create a pendant for Aboah’s Gurls Talk charity.
It features the red enamel Gurls Talk lips logo, decorated with a white sapphire tooth stud, and the charity name in its 18 carat yellow gold vermeil chain. All of the proceeds go to the charity, which provides an inclusive platform for young women to openly address their experiences and issues in a safe environment.
