The Brands and Retailers to Support This International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month
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Fueled by an ongoing mission to empower women around the world, International Women’s Day is coming on Monday, March 8. This year’s #ChoosetoChallenge campaign encourages people to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality, as well as choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements.
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March also happens to be Women’s History Month, which has been celebrated in U.S since 1987. The month aims to highlight the often over-looked contributions women have made to American history, culture and society.
In recognition and support of this year’s initiatives, and in celebration of the entire month, the footwear community and several fashion retailers have launched their own initiatives to amplify the cause.
Here, some of the brands participating in the movement.
Nine West
Nine West is paying homage to Women’s History Month with its spring ’21 campaign, which “honors the bold and fearless women of today who dare to dream and tackle their goals, big and small, one step at a time,” the brand said in a press release. The campaign will highlight a variety of female pioneers from diverse backgrounds, including Haitian model and former track star Aube Jolicoeur. Nine west spring ’21 collection, which includes an array of colorful sandals, mules and printed sneakers, will be available to shop on NineWest.com starting March 10.
The Office of Angela Scott
Luxury women’s work shoe brand The Office of Angela Scott will be partnering with American Association of University Women (AAUW) — a non-profit organization that advances the equity of women and girls through funding, education and research — to create the For Women Who Mean Business Career Development Grant. The grant will include a $10,000 donation from The Office of Angela Scott. What’s more, the brand will be donating 100% of proceeds from purchases made on its website on International Women’s Day to AAUW.
ebay
Throughout March, eBay is hosting its new Female Sneakerhead program, a month-long initiative dedicated to celebrating female sneaker collectors and enthusiasts who often remain underrepresented in the sneaker market. To kick off the program, eBay has partnered with Playa Society founder Esther Wallace on a line of limited-edition t-shirts, hoodies and socks designed to spark a cultural conversation about women and sneakers. Through this collaboration, eBay will also launch a Female Sneaker Shop that will showcase a rotating collection of inventory — including hard-to-find sneaker grails — curated by Wallace and well-known sneaker influencers. These styles will be available for purchase on eBay.com starting March 8. What’s more, eBay will feature the community’s top sellers throughout the month, and in partnership with major sneaker collectors Chicks with Kicks, will drop over 2,200 pairs of collectible sneakers in late March sold exclusively on eBay.com.
Vera Bradley
Vera Bradley is launching its third capsule collection with New Hope Girls, a non-profit organization based in the Dominic Republic that offers rescue, refuge and resources for vulnerable communities of girls. The collection, which will launch at Vera Bradley stores and on Verabradley.com on March 8, features a hobo bag and zip pouch handcrafted by New Hope Girls’ artisans in two island-inspired patterns. The Hobo bag retails for $55, while the Zip Pouch in Rain Forest Canopy retails for $15 and the Zip Pouch in Rain Forest Patchwork retails for $20. Vera Bradley will donate 75% of proceeds from sales of the line to the organization.
To buy: Hobo bag, $55; Verabradley.com.
Ugg
Ugg has tapped lawyer, author and entrepreneur Meena Harris (also known as Vice President Kamala Harris’ niece) as well as five other leading female figures to star in the latest installment of Ugg’s #POWEREDBYHER campaign, designed to empower women in the workplace. Harris appears alongside 20-year-old activist Deja Foxx; wellness leader Latham Thomas; award-winning journalist, author and executive producer Liz Plank; and Thando Dlomo, who was one of the first girls to attend the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) in South Africa and has since received a master’s degree from USC. In the campaign, the women model Ugg’s Fluff Yeah Slide in Apple — an Ugg exclusive made in partnership with BSR’s HERproject. Until March 14, UGG will donate $25 for every pair of the Fluff Yeah in Apple purchased on Ugg.com — with a minimum guaranteed donation of $50,000 — to HERproject in support of its efforts to educate and empower low-income women working in global supply chains.
To buy: Ugg Fluff Yeah Slide in Apple, $100; Ugg.com.
Jennifer Chamandi
All March long, British luxury footwear brand Jennifer Chamandi is donating 10% of sales to upReach, a social mobility charity that supports students from less-advantaged backgrounds to access and sustain professional jobs. On March 8, the brand’s founder, Jennifer, will also be hosting a virtual Q&A with students supported by the organization to lend career advice.
Vince Camuto
Beginning on International Women’s Day and continuing throughout the month of March, Vince Camuto will be spotlighting the founders of four female-owned brands in its weekly emails and social media channels. Each feature will include “Words to Live By” from the founders and integrate product from Vince Camuto and each brand for readers to shop. The first spotlight will be on Sarah Krauss, founder of popular reusable water bottle and accessory brand S’Well; followed by Nyakio of green beauty brand Nyakio Beauty; Meha Agrawal of monthly planner and journal subscription service Silk + Sonder; and Shel Pink of vegan beauty company Sparitual.
Fabletics
Fabletics is partnering with Girl Up, a United Nations Foundation initiative dedicated to advancing girls’ leadership and gender equality around the world. As part of the collaborative effort, Fabletics will be giving away a limited-edition tee made with Girl Up with any purchase made online or in stores between March 6 and March 8. During the same time period, Fabletics will host an Instagram challenge, in which followers are encouraged to post about a proud achievement in their lives using the hashtag #EmpoweredChallenge. Fabletics will donate $5 (up to $25,000) to Girl Up for every post using the hashtag. And throughout the day on March 8, the brand will be hosting activations and workouts streamed live on its Instagram page, and conclude with a conversation about female empowerment between Fabletics co-founder Kate Hudson and Girl Up executives.
Dearfoams
Dearfoams is hosting a female-focused Instagram giveaway and encouraging its followers to share messages of encouragement with the women in their lives throughout the month. Participants can enter to win a new pair of shoes for themselves and a friend in addition to receiving a $500 cash prize from the brand by following the Dearfoams Instagram page and tagging their friends in the comments.
Old Navy
To celebrate International Women’s Day, Old Navy has partnered with NYC-based artist Jade Purple Brown on the latest addition to its Project WE — a collection of graphic tees designed by diverse artists. The new International Women’s Day Tee 2021 features a brightly colored motif of three women designed to celebrate women’s empowerment and racial diversity. The tee is available in children and adult sizes and retails for $6 and $15, respectively. In honor of the collection, Old Navy will also donating $1 million to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to support youth arts programs in communities across the country.
To buy: Project WE International Women’s Day 2021 Tee for Adults, $15; Oldnavy.com.
Crocs
As part of Crocs’ global giving platform, Crocs Cares, the brand has partnered with the United Nations Foundation in support of its global #EqualEverywhere campaign. The duo is encouraging people to sign the Equal Everywhere pledge, in which participants agree to take a stand for girls and women at home, school, work or the voting booths, as well as share their participation on social media tagging Crocs and using the hashtag #EqualEverywhere.
Since launching in 2020, the Equal Everywhere campaign has reached 14 million people globally and has become the UN Foundation’s flagship gender equality campaign.
Banana Republic
Starting March 8 through the end of the month, Banana Republic will donate $20 from every sale of its Notorious Necklace to the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) — a global research institute with a mission to advance gender equity. Created in 2012, the bib necklace famously worn by Ruth Bader Ginsberg was first re-issued by the brand in January 2019 (with 50% of proceeds benefitting the ACLU Women’s Rights Project) and then last October to honor Ginsberg’s legacy in the wake of her passing (with all proceeds from the necklace benefitting the ICRW). The style currently retails for $98 on Bananarepublic.com.
For every social comment tagging a “boundary-breaking” woman on the brand’s International Women’s Day social post, Banana Republic will also donate an additional $100 to the ICRW, up to $25,000.
To buy: Banana Republic Notorious Necklace, $98; Bananarepublic.com.
Nordstrom
This month, Nordstrom is spotlighting its ongoing partnerships with HERProject, CARE international and Fashion Makes Change — non-profits and dedicated movements that offer training and resources for women who work in the global fashion supply chain. By 2025, the retailer plans to contribute $250,000 in corporate grants to these organizations and produce 90% of all Nordstrom-made products in factories that are investing in women’s empowerment. This International Women’s Day, Nordstrom is once again making a grant to CARE International to support its efforts of women’s empowerment and in the fight against global poverty and social injustice.
The retailer, whose employee makeup is nearly 70% women, also announced in 2019 that it achieved 100% pay equity for employees of all genders and races across the company.
PrettyLittleThing
PrettyLittleThing will donate 100% of sales from its two new slogan tees — featuring sayings like “Empowered,” and “Girls Supporting Girls” — to Girls Inc. The t-shirts are priced at $20 and available in sizes XS to XXXL.
Rothy’s
In honor of International Women’s Day, Rothy’s is sharing uplifting stories and photos from its female customers and employees on its website, Instagram and newsletter blasts. The brand is encouraging followers to nominate important women in their lives to be featured.
White House Black Market
In collaboration with Ladies Who Launch, White House Black Market has debuted a limited-edition “Make Herstory” t-shirt designed to celebrate and create awareness around International Women’s Day. The brand will donate $10, up to $30,000, from the sale of every t-shirt to Ladies Who Launch to empower female business owners and operators of small businesses.
In addition, White House Black Market will collect monetary donations for Ladies Who Launch at its participating boutiques, outlets and website to provide women the resources and tools to launch their companies.
To buy: White House Black Market Make Herstory Printed Tee, $45; whitehouseblackmarket.com/store.
Keds
Keds has teamed up with Tiffany Ho, an apparel and accessories designer based in Hong Kong, to create an original “ladies print” for the brand’s signature Champion sneaker. Set atop an organic cotton upper, the pattern is designed to celebrate the diversity of women and encourage female pride. The Women’s Washable Champion Ladies sneaker currently retails for $55 on Keds.com.
In addition to the release, Keds has teamed up with AllBright, a global networking group, to host a panel of female entrepreneurs on March 6.
To buy: Women’s Washable Champion Ladies Feat. Organic Cotton, $55; Keds.com.
Freedom Moses
On March 8, vegan sandal brand Freedom Moses will donate 10% of every purchase on its site to Girls For a Change, a nonprofit organization aimed at empowering young women and girls of color to create and lead social change.
Avre
Female-founded sustainable footwear brand Avre will be donating 20% of all sales during the month of March to Equality Now, a non-governmental organization that advocates for the human rights of women and girls around the world.
Puma
Falling in line with Women’s History Month, Puma has tapped a range of high-profile female ambassadors to star its new “She Moves Us” campaign, designed to celebrate female success stories and inspire other women around the world. Led by pop star Dua Lipa, the campaign will feature talks, videos and interviews with its female ambassadors — which also include supermodel Winnie Harlow, actress and activist Cara Delevingne, WNBA athlete Skylar Diggins-Smith and more. As part of the campaign, Puma will additionally be spotlighting its partnership with Women Win, a global women’s fund which uses sport to advance gender equality. The campaign will run throughout 2021.
Ryka
On International Women’s Day, female-owned aerobics shoe brand Ryka will be offering customers 20% off sitewide and free shipping. Anyone who makes a purchase on the day will also receive a bounceback coupon, with that same offer valid through the end of March, to share with a friend.
CJW
On March 8, female-founded accessories brand CJW will donate all profits from sales of its hand-illustrated History She Wrote print — which appears on the label’s pajama sets and scarves — to Girl Rising, a global campaign for girls’ education and empowerment. The print celebrates trailblazing women throughout history including Michelle Obama, Rosa Parks, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and more. Pieces in the collection range from $150 to $350.
Gap
Gap will be donating $25,000 to Girls Inc., a non-profit dedicated to empowering girls through direct service and advocacy. On the heels of its International Day of The Girl campaign, Gap has released a limited-edition tee for International Women’s Day featuring the message “First But Not Last.” The organic cotton tee, which is currently available for $30 in women, teen and children sizes on Gap.com, is designed to “honor today’s female trailblazers and the ones to come,” according to the brand. To further support women’s empowerment, the company is also encouraging people to share their own stories via Instagram using #FirstButNotLast.
To buy: Gap International Women’s Day Graphic T-Shirt, $30; Gap.com.
Caraa
Luxury sport brand Caraa is donating 15% of all purchases on its site today to the National Women’s Law Center, which fights to demand equal pay for equal work.
Social Goods
Online marketplace for activist gear Social Goods is teaming up with non-profit Global Citizen and advocacy brand prinkshop on a “She is Equal” collection to highlight the fight for gender equality. The limited-edition unisex capsule includes t-shirts, a coffee mug and face mask printed with the sayings “She is Equal” or “Global Woman,” and will be added to the brand’s curated page of goods dedicated to honoring Women’s History Month. Social Goods will also be donating 30% of proceeds from sales of the collection to support Global Citizen’s ongoing work to ensure equal opportunities for girls and women.
YES AND
Also female-owned, sustainable fashion brand Yes And is collaborating with Women’s Earth Alliance on a limited-edition tie dye sweatshirt and t-shirt, featuring sayings like “When Women Thrive, the Earth Thrives.” For each of these pieces sold, YES AND will donate 22% of net sales to Women’s Earth Alliance, which catalyzes women-led, grassroots solutions to protect the environment and uplift communities. The sweatshirt will retail for $100, while the tee will retail for $50. Both styles will drop on joyinyesand.com on March 8.
Onzie
From March 6 to March 8, female-founded activewear brand Onzie is offering customers $20 off orders of $75 and over with code GIRLPWR20.
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