20 Women-Owned, Small Fashion Businesses to Support
If you're going to shop, check out these brands.
Fashion is one of the industries being hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis, first by the closure of factories in China and Italy, and now by the suspension of non-essential work in many cities across the globe. Brands including Burberry have seen a sales slump, H&M is debating layoffs, while Prada, too, is bracing for the negative impacts. And those are three of the biggest brands. The closing of physical stores for many small businesses—who might not have a big e-commerce presence on their own or through a wholesale retailer—can prove fatal. (If you run a small business, here are some loan resources that might help you.) It's difficult to feel positive after hearing all this, but one thing we know is that the fashion industry is resilient.
Corporations like LVMH (which owns Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Sephora, Fendi, among others) volunteered to use its factories to make hand sanitizer for hospitals and authorities in France, Christian Siriano is now producing masks for medical personnel, and Allbirds is donating free shoes to front-line healthcare workers. If you're sitting at home, practicing social distancing and self-isolation, wondering how to help, why not start by supporting small businesses? Many ethicists say doing so is just fine. (For even more ways to help, click here.) Ahead, we've rounded up 20 fashion brands—some of which are donating a portion of proceeds to charity—to shop from in this time of crisis and beyond.
Delaroq
Jennifer Lyu's "reduce and simplify" ethos is reflected in her handbag creations, which are all made from discarded excess materials from tanneries and factories. The high-quality handbags are unique: once the up-cycled material runs out, the same bag won't be made again. In solidarity, the brand will be donating 10 percent of its sales to Direct Relief and The United Nations Foundation.
The Line by K
The Line By K makes basics that aren't. It was founded in 2015 by influencer-turned-designer Karla Deras, offering clean and sleek clothing that could easily be dressed up or worn alone for that effortless fashion girl look.
Petite Studio
This four-year-old label caters to the 5-foot-4 and under crowd, hence the name Petite Studio. PS offers a mix of trendy tops, dresses, pants, and skirts with sizes ranging from XXS to large. The brand believes in slow fashion and works with only one factory for quality control and sources top-quality fabrics from around the world. PS is offering 20 percent off (and free international shipping) with the code MC20 until March 31.
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Retrouvai
Founded by Kirsty Stone, this fine jewelry brand is handmade in Los Angeles and offers stunning vintage-esque accessories. You'll find everything from vivid gemstone rings to a pink opal necklace. The brand is joining its jewelry peers in donating 25 percent of its website sales to No Kid Hungry.
Namesake
Finding the right leather jacket takes time and if you're on the hunt for a more personalized piece, you need to check out Namesake, founded by Rosa Halpern. In addition to its ready-made line of outerwear, customers have the chance to design their own jacket or pair of pants in line with their own sense of style.
Shop Pêche
The brand launched in 2017 with a direct-to-consumer website and one brick-and-mortar store in Williamsburg, offering the latest products sourced from South Korea. All of Shop Pêche's pieces, from the dresses to shoes, are under $200 with an emphasis on minimalism.
Awoke Vintage
This little vintage store started as a market stall in Perth, Australia, in 2006 before migrating to Brooklyn, New York, in 2012. You'll find the cutest selection of vintage clothes and accessories here. Awoke Vintage is currently offering 20 percent off its e-gift cards, which never expire, to customers. One hundred percent of all sales from AV will go towards paying its employees.
Richer Poorer
The fact that most of us are WFH means we're spending a majority, if not the entire day, in our comfiest sweats and random college-era hoodies and tees. Richer Poorer offers a fine selection of everyday basics you'll want to wear 24/7—even once we head back to the office.
Loup
If your fashion icons include the likes of Jane Birkin, Brigitte Bardot, and Audrey Hepburn, you'll want to invest in some pieces from Loup. The Parisian-inspired brand is made in New York City and offers a variety of ready-to-wear, size-inclusive pieces. Loup will donate 15 percent of all sales to Meals on Wheels America.
AMY O
AMY O, short for Accessories Make Your Outfit, was founded by Gina Nam. She set out to create a brand focused on perfecting the smallest details in its handmade products. You'll find timeless dainty jewelry that can be worn every day, whether you're pairing them with your stay-at-home hoodie and sweatpants or a lived-in vintage t-shirt.
Tanya Taylor
The next time you're feeling down by the current state of affairs, take a peek at this brand's vibrantly colorful Instagram. It'll lift your spirits. Make that feeling permanent by shopping from its equally as colorful womenswear collection, from dresses to pantsuits. Ten percent of Tanya Taylor's net sales will be donated to Kids in Need.
We Dream in Colour
Jade Gedeon founded We Dream in Colour in 2002 in NYC and offers vintage and antique-influenced rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and more. The brand’s studio is based in Boston's North Shore and operated by a team of women. Each and every piece from the label is assembled by hand in-house. We Dream in Colour is currently offering 30 percent off with the code with code GOODTHINGS.
The Helm
Lindsey Taylor Wood, Erin Shipley, and Emily Verellen Strom founded The Helm in October 2016 to provide financial and social support to female-founded companies with a female CEO. Customers can directly shop from these brands on The Helm's website's in addition to engaging with its editorialized content. The Helm is offering 20 percent of all purchases between now and April 20 with the code SAVE20.
Bagtazo
Designer and founder, Courtney Bagtazo, started her hat company in 2014 with an emphasis on manufacturing in the United States and working with small businesses, from paper printers and leather sellers to sewing houses and metal smiths. The hats, which can be custom made, are available in limited quantities, so hat lovers and connoisseurs add to your cart asap.
Viva Aviva
Sonia Boyajian
Whether you're seeking a statement piece like the necklace featured here or a made-to-order 18k gold ring, Sonia Boyajian has you covered. The designer's creations aren't driven by the trends, but by her own creative perspective, which varies from season to season. Boyajian also creates bowls and cups, so your home can also have that artistic touch.
Sami Miro Vintage
Sami Miro Vintage is an eco-conscious clothing line that sources garments from around the world, then reconstructs them, creating a unique find. From its denim patch pocket tee to a crushed velvet blazer, Sami Miro Vintage pieces are truly distinctive and special.
Donni
Donni produces a line of feel-good, cozy pieces from waffle knit pullovers to two-toned shirts. The brand was founded in 2009 by Alyssa Wasko, who initially started making scarves to cope with her father's death (the brand is named after him) and it quickly grew into a larger business. Donni works with local women-owned factories in Los Angeles and supports a different non-profit each season.
Softwear
Softwear makes sustainable, ultra-comfortable loungewear right in New York City. Founder Sabrina Zohar sources specialty fabric from a family-owned mill in California and uses non-toxic dyes to create her pieces—ones that never pill, shed, or shrink. Be right back, stocking up on some Softwear hoodies.
TLR
Creative Director Elienne Anoriscat launched TLR in 2018 as a way to repurpose CDs and give them a new life as jewelry—shimmery earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings. You can read about the amazing design process here.
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Marina Liao is the former fashion news editor at Marie Claire, where she covered celebrity style (from Meghan Markle to Katie Holmes), fashion trends, and shopping advice, plus conducted original interviews with industry insiders. She's now the Senior Commerce Editor at House Beautiful, where she owns coverage on deals and sales across home decor and accessories, in-depth product reviews on furniture and appliances, as well as news around new product launches since 2023. With help from leading designers and tastemakers, Marina spotlights quality products while tracking current design trends, a skill she’s mastered over six years in fashion media. Marina holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Stony Brook University, beginning her career in narrative-driven commerce coverage as an editorial assistant at PopSugar.