12 Incredible Women-Owned Indie Brands You Need to Know
Hey groovy people! Johanna here, the face behind Weirdstock. As we dive into Women's History Month, I'm feeling incredibly inspired and grateful for the amazing community of female entrepreneurs I've found since I started my brand, through Instagram, various markets and events, and even our customers.
It's truly a celebration of sisterhood, shared values, and the power of women lifting each other up.
For those new to Weirdstock, I'm a solopreneur, and Weirdstock is a female-founded brand with ethical production and sustainability at its core. We create colourful and groovy bedding that enlivens your space with conscious design. If you're into vibrant designs and conscious living, you're in the right place!
Being a founder isn't always easy, but it's incredibly rewarding. One of the best things has been connecting with other women who are also building their dreams. We share a common language of ethics, sustainability, design, and slow production.
Why Support Female-Founded Businesses?
This month, I want to shine a light on why supporting women in business here in the UK is so important...
Leveling the Playing Field: Women-owned businesses in the UK still face significant barriers, including access to funding and investment. Supporting them helps to create a more equitable business landscape.
Economic Impact: Women's entrepreneurship is a vital part of the UK economy. According to reports, closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship could add billions to the UK economy.
Innovation and Diversity: Women bring diverse perspectives and innovative ideas to the UK marketplace. Supporting them fosters a more vibrant and representative business environment.
UK Statistics: Recent research indicates that women in the UK are less likely to start businesses than men, despite showing equal levels of entrepreneurial ambition. Supporting women-led ventures helps address this imbalance.
Now, let's get to the good stuff! Here are 12 incredible women-owned UK indie brands that I absolutely adore, and I know you will too:
Evergood
Founded by the amazingly talented artist, designer and muralist Abi Grummitt (née Everett), Evergood is a brand with the aim of bringing colourful joy to your space.
Abi and I have worked together before on multiple projects, including the Indie Bazaar Christmas market that we organised in Stoke Newington back in December. She also occasionally supports Weirdstock with various packaging and design projects. But actually, we've just started working on something BIG together - coming later this year! So watch this space.
Abi's design work can be found at Studio Everett.
Catch Rhys
Founded by its namesake, the wonderful Catch, Catch Rhys makes super quality classic gold jewellery at an honest price-point, that can be worn, lived in, and with no plating in sight. I personally have the Mega Hoops and they are so light, comfy and go with everything. I wear them every day!
The Contents Bag
Founded by the incredible Nancy, The Contents Bag is where timeless style meets practical design. Nancy creates sustainably made, oversized waxed cotton tote bags crafted with care in the UK. Designed for stylish women on the go, their totes are more than just bags – they’re your everyday essentials, thoughtfully designed to carry everything you need, simply and beautifully.
cush.
Cush is the brainchild of maximalist textile designer Emma Barry. They make beautiful high-end cushions and art prints that are designed, printed and made up north in small batches, with as little waste as possible. These products are super luxe and the attention to detail is out of this world. Get on it!
Charlie Ann Buxton
Influenced by 1960s art, Charlie makes the most stunning silk and cotton scarves. Her work takes on a surreal, dreamlike, vintage style through an exploration of Merseyside’s forgotten seaside towns and unique fashion identity and culture.
Myself and Charlie are actually working on an exciting project together which I'll be able to share more about soon 👀 Watch this space!
Duvet Hog
Founded by fellow Buy Women Built member and our regular collaborator, Phillippa, Duvet Hog makes our FAVE duvets and pillows - the perfect partner for your Weirdstock bedding.
Their vegan-down comes from recycled PET plastic water bottles and they produce in an eco-factory, which uses 100% renewable energy and produces zero waste.
LORDS Fragrance House
If you've been around here for a while you might have already seen me champion my wonderfully talented friend Sasha and her amazing business.
LORDS makes stunning candles, home scents and now bodycare, inspired by memories of places around the world. All hand-made in Oxfordshire using sustainable ingredients and eco-friendly (and super cute!!!) packaging.
Tinker & Tallulah
Founded by fellow Buy Women Built member, the lovely Rach, alongside her husband Liam. T&T make absolutely STUNNING lampshades and pendants.
Their designs are hand-made and have a big focus on craft and sustainability.
Rach very kindly loaned me two beautiful shades for our Nan's House photoshoot, pictured below.
Ada Binks
Zoe is the woman behind Ada Binks' gorgeous, retro accessories and homewares, handmade in England. We're obsessed with the Daphne scarf toggle that pair perfectly with our range of skinny scarves. They recently launched an amazing range of lamps, reminiscent of the lucite string lamps of the 60s and 70s.
The Chain Designs
Founded by Lucy in 2020, The Chain is born from love of vintage style, music and fashion. It's a small, family-run fashion brand with a lovingly hand-crafted 'Made in England' range. I'm sure you'll agree Lucy's designs are iconic!
Studio Bowe
The brainchild of designer and stylist Bertie Bowen, these unique and beautiful jewellery pieces are hand-made from expertly sourced antique beads. Bertie's pieces are stunning, classic, and the perfect mix between vintage and modern style. I own one of her cherry necklaces and I LOVE it.
Bertie also hosts amazing jewellery workshops around London, so keep your eye out for that.
Earth From Earth
Formulated and hand-crafted by herbal expert Kehinde, Earth From Earth makes plant-powered skincare that truly works.
Harnessing the power of nature, Kehinde's products are completely natural, vegan, organic and rooted in efficacy and herbal tradition. I'm obsessed with the spirulina cleanser!
