{Image credit, from top left: One, Two, Three, Four, Five}
Today, in celebration of International Women’s Day, I am highlighting a few of my favorite women owned and founded brands.
Searching for women owned brands has become a recurring theme as I’ve become more selective with the clothing items I add to my wardrobe. The level of care and attention to detail sets women created brands apart from the rest.
Women understand the importance of fit, comfort, durability, and versatility that we seek when shopping for clothes. A well thought out dress design can make you feel glamorous and yet still be comfortable enough to wear while grocery shopping. As women, we know it’s all in the details. From design to manufacturing, the intentionality given by women owned brands is unmatched.
Here are just a few of my favorites.
Sarah Flint
I have been a long time admirer of Sarah Flint. I discovered the brand on Instagram and immediately fell in love with their timeless and elegantly designed shoes. Upon further research, I became even more smitten. The gorgeous designs, the impeccable attention to quality, comfort, and craftsmanship…if I were to only purchase shoes from one brand for the rest of my life, it would be from Sarah Flint! She partners with family owned factories and artisans in Italy for her handcrafted designs. These same factories produce heels for some of the most luxurious fashion houses around. However, because of her direct to consumer approach, Sarah is able to price her shoes without the traditional retail markup the larger luxury fashion houses apply. If you’re looking for the perfect everyday pump, flat, or sandal – or something festive for a special occasion – Sarah Flint has you covered. Her designs have been seen on Meghan Markle, Karlie Kross, and Cindy Crawford just to name a few!
Sail to Sable
Sail to Sable is another female-founded brand that was started by the fashionable Jennifer Stocker. After a career in the publishing world in Manhattan, Jennifer left her role to pursue her dream of creating sophisticated resort wear for women. She launched her first collection of tunic dresses in 2012 and her brand has only grown since then. It’s obvious that the entire team at Sail to Sable takes pride in helping women find classic styles with a focus on fun! Their collections are carefully curated in timeless silhouettes that can be worn at any age. I recently shared this gorgeous hand-painted tunic flare dress I purchased for spring. And this classic tunic dress in light blue is currently on my wishlist.
The Tiny Tassel
Mimi Striplin launched The Tiny Tassel with her signature, handmade colorful tassel earrings. From there, she opened her flagship store on Spring Street in Charleston, SC with huge success! The Tiny Tassel is a celebration of local artists around the Lowcountry. You can find vibrant designs and carefully curated selections of handmade earrings, bracelets, necklaces, party goods, and more. Mimi’s mother, a designer/seamstress for over 40 years, lends her talents in providing beautifully designed clothing, too! This white dress is the perfect staple for any spring wardrobe. The team at The Tiny Tassel believe “there’s a tassel for everyone” and I think that phrase perfectly embodies the feeling of their brand – creative, inclusive, and full of positivity!
The Tiny Tassel is not available to link via LTK but you can shop their website here and follow them on Instagram here!
Cara Cara
What happens when three friends with a combined experience of over 50 years in fashion and marketing join creative forces? They create a brand rooted in glamor and sophistication made entirely by women, for women. The story of Cara Cara is one of perseverance and determination. Julia, Sasha, and Katie launched their brand at the end of 2019 right before the world shut down in 2020. While this could have been devastating to the brand, they stood firm in their brand ethos of joy and happiness, moving forward to create clothing that radiates a cheerful playfulness. Cara Cara offers a variety of wearable silhouettes to celebrate any occasion. They design their prints in-house, or use vintage textiles inspired by interior design. All of their clothing pieces are ethically sourced, produced, and hand-sewn. I’m currently on the waiting list for this gorgeous but sold out Robin Dress, how beautiful is the print?! And this top and skirt would be perfect for an upcoming special occasion or vacation!
