34 Small Female-Founded Fashion Brands To Get To Know
Want to support more female entrepreneurs? Make it easy with these small female-founded fashion brands.
If you're looking for a way to support women, how about becoming a patron of small, female-founded businesses?
It's always a good time to start supporting female entrepreneurs, but after a tough couple of years, which has seen small businesses hit particularly hard by Brexit, the Coronavirus pandemic, a cost of living crisis and a recession to boot, it is more important now than ever. And, frankly, when they're producing clothes, accessories and jewellery this fabulous, it hardly feels like much of a chore in the first place.
But to make things a whole lot easier for you, we've compiled a list of some slightly lesser-known female-founded fashion brands that you should get to know ahead of the new year.
From the loungewear-cum-partywear brand that elevated many a fashion editor's lockdown wardrobe, the female designer making jewellery from waste materials and the ultra-feminine, floaty dress brand founded by two best friends, to some of the hottest, lingerie-inspired party dresses of the moment (which are already a celeb favourite) – these are the small, female-founded fashion brands you should be shopping right now, and which you will inevitably love forever. All with the added benefit of endless fashion kudos for knowing of their existence before anyone else...
Supporting female entrepreneurs never looked so good.
Supriya Lele
'It’s so important to me that my clothing makes women feel strong, confident and powerful,' Supriya Lele told ELLE UK.
'Throughout my collections, the combination of fragility, femininity and strength that I work to project is something that can be reinterpreted by the wearer, layered over or under pieces from their own wardrobes, or worn alone.
'I currently work with an all-female team and, whilst this wasn’t a completely conscious decision, it’s very telling that it’s these individuals that have connected most with the work and the process. We can all collectively approach the collections from a female perspective, which I think makes for a more nuanced, genuine end-result. '
ME+EM
ME+EM is one of those brands which you just know was founded by a woman – no one else could dream up such a perfect capsule of women's wardrobe essentials, which look and feel good every single time. And indeed, that was Clare Hornby's aim when she started the brand in back in 2007: to create easy, effortless and chic clothes which the modern woman could reach for time and time again. Fast-forward a few years and ME+EM is a fashion editor go-to thanks to its impeccably crafted separates and hands-down the best trousers in the biz.
MaisonCléo
Run by a french mother-daughter duo, Instagram famous MaisonCléo uses reclaimed fabrics for their relaxed and vintage-inspired designs.
Producing extremely limited runs, their e-shop provides all the information from fabric costs to time spent making, for completely transparent pricing.
Nensi Dojaka
Known and loved for her lingerie-inspired, intricate designs, Nensi Dojaka has been one of the biggest breakout stars in fashion of recent years. Since graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2020, the Albanian-born, London-based designer has picked up a number of accolades including the coveted LVMH Prize For Young Designers and BFC Foundation Award this year alone – and has dressed the likes of Zendaya, Emily Ratajkowski and Bella Hadid.
Paloma Wool
This Spanish label, founded by Paloma Lanna and Tana Latorre, is famed for it's sustainable credentials (it creates in small batches and produces locally) and kooky basics.
Sleeper
If you're wondering where everyone got all their adorable lockdown loungewear-cum-partywear you can bet it's from Sleeper, founded by two former fashion editors Kate Zubarieva and Asya Varetsa.
Retold
Founded by former Topshop senior staffer, Clare Lewis, Retold Vintage specialises in polished wardrobe staples that pack a punch. Keep your eyes peeled for the quickly sold out drops and designer pieces.
Rave Review
Designers Josephine Bergqvist and Livia Schück upcycle reclaimed fabrics for their edgy and unexpected clothing line.
Alexandra Hakim
British-Lebanese jeweller Alexandra Hakim designs and meticulously crafts all her own jewellery by hand, the majority of which is made using found materials and objects which would otherwise go to waste – giving them a new lease of life in the form of striking wearable art. Think ear cuffs and necklaces made from discarded fruit seeds, and a whole collection which incorporates detritus from fishermen's nets cast in silver.
Marine Serre
Beloved by Beyoncé and the Jenners alike, Marine Serre's (a French designer who won the 2017 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers) moon print wonders are often upcycled and always futuristic.
Emma Brewin
The eponymous line of faux fur hats are all made in Kent by Emma Brewin.
Cawley Studio
Founded in 2017 by Hannah Cawley, with each piece handmade in London, this ready-to-wear brand puts care and attention into everyday pieces, like the patchwork outerwear, and wow-factor in their silk, ruched dresses.
La Veste
Founded by Blanca Miró and Maria de la Orden, La Veste's gingham, ric rac and exaggerated collars are Instagram catnip and influencer favourites. Having worked with the likes of Gucci and Carel, the once small operation has bloomed into an impressive operation.
Rat & Boa
Founded by lifelong friends Valentina Muntoni and Stephanie Cara Bennett, Rat & Boa is all about clothes 'designed by women, for women'. The brand's floaty, super-feminine dresses feature bold prints and are inspired by the founders' favourite holidays and destinations discovered together.
Kai Collective
Ever since Freddie Harrel donned Kai Collective's Bea dress at the ELLE Weekender in 2019, we could not get enough. Since then, Kai Collective's cult brand has seen multiple viral pieces, including the Gaia dress Emani coat storming the internet, and it's all thanks to Creative Director, Fisayo Longe's keen eye and savvy social media presence.
Kai Collective
Ever since Freddie Harrel donned Kai Collective's Bea dress at the ELLE Weekender in 2019, we could not get enough.
Since then, Kai Collective's Gaia dress has stormed the internet, its sheer, figure-hugging and bold print quick to garner likes. Blogger Fisayo Longe is the creative director of the brand and boy do these cult dresses tick our box.
Kai Collective has since blossomed into a cult brand
Bernadette
Bernadette, founded by another mother-daughter duo, Bernadette and Charlotte de Geyter, specialises in luxury pieces in simple shapes, but full of drama. Leaning far into all things super girly, expect oversized bows, corsets and floral prints for days.
Olivia Rose The Label
Olivia Havelock is the founder, designer and sole seamstress for Olivia Rose The Label, the made-to-order brand that makes your dream bridal and wedding-guest dresses. Look to her Manon style to fulfil your milkmaid fantasies, or, opt for her new Eden gown if you're feeling more sleek.
Olivia Rose The Label
Olivia Havelock is the founder, designer and sole seamstress for Olivia Rose The Label, the made-to-order brand that makes your dream, shirred, puff sleeved, wedding guest dresses.
Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
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