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Mark your calendars ladies! Who’s ready to celebrate the social, cultural, economic, and political achievements of women around the world with International Women’s Day?! If you’re reading this then you’re my people. You too know that there’s nothing better than coming together with other women and championing one another.
With more women as entrepreneurs, in the boardroom, in the writer’s room, and simply doing amazing shiz, we’ve made incredible strides…but there’s still so much further to go. Although every day is a party for the accomplishments of women, International Women’s Day is a very special day to acknowledge all that we have done and are doing. This day is so powerful that it’s an official holiday in more than 20 countries. These include Uganda, Vietnam, Georgia, and more. Berlin joined in on this last year and made it an official public holiday.
The travel industry is right on board and there are plenty of trips, organizations, and travel activities centered around women connecting and enjoying travel together. I for one, am a big fan of celebrating International Women’s Day with travel. Sign up for one of the many female-fueled trips with organizations like Black Girls Travel Too or Wild Terrains. Or you can take the most epic solo trip you could imagine. Heck, you could even gather your favorite gal pals and arrange the very best staycation known to man.
My favorite thing to do is put action behind my support and one of the best ways to do this is to support one women-owned business after another. New York City is a great place to do this. The big apple is home to over 350,000 women-owned businesses. Last year the city launched a full-on campaign to promote these businesses and the women behind them across the city. This includes everything from restaurants to yoga studios. If you’re visiting New York City and are looking to dive into some of these places, here’s my pick of 10 bomb women-owned businesses to support in the city.
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The Sill
The Sill’s founder Eliza Banks has been providing New Yorkers with cool, easy to care for plants for over seven years now. We all know that plants have so many benefits. They can boost your mood, clean the air, and add life to dull spaces. But as someone who lived in New York for several years, the subway and 6-floor walkup life is all too real. Buying plants can seem like it’s adding more stress to your life rather than reducing it.
So when women-owned business The Sill came along to deliver houseplants right to your door, it caught on fast. It’s now one of the city’s go-to places for houseplants big and small, but in the beginning, Banks was fighting daily to keep the business running. Clearly she succeeded.
If you’re paranoid that you don’t have a green thumb and may get locked up for being a plant killer—we have all been there, but there’s good news! The Sill also focuses on educating their new plant mamas and papas on how to care for their new green beauties. Don’t live in New York? No worries, it’s also great for travelers. You can order online and they ship within the US. If you’re international and are visiting the city, stop by one of their brick and mortars and pick up a cute plant pin.
BLK MKT Vintage
Imagine being able to shop black stories. At women-owned business BLK MKT Vintage, you can do just that. Brooklyn natives, Jannah Handy and Kiyanna Stewart have created one of the greatest explosions of black excellence and history right on Marcus Garvey Blvd in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. BLK MKT takes you on a journey. It effortlessly knits together a solid and beautiful narrative of black heritage and black American life. This isn’t a place to just “pop in” and have a look—it’s a whole experience. And a beautiful one at that.
Jannah and Kiyanna are not new to this. They’ve been collecting for years and used to sell at Artists & Fleas and Brooklyn Flea, and have also been vendors at Afropunk and The Harlem World Holiday Market. They’ve done an impeccable job curating and preserving these collectibles and artifacts. Everything from vinyl records and magazines to clothing and books, plus incredible items pre-1880 items. They also pick up items from not only around the country but the world. Their aim has always been to fill the gap of what they didn’t see at vintage stores. Plus they want to empower the community with the items they find. Their store is a much-needed safe space that pays reverence to black heritage and it should be respected. Save this for the next time you visit New York and don’t forget to check out their online store.
CW Pencil Enterprise
Does anyone even use pencils anymore? Turns out, a lot of people do. Caroline Weaver of CW Pencil Enterprise loves pencils so much that she’s got a tattoo of one on her arm. She’s managed to take her love to a cozy little store on Orchard Street on the Lower East Side. This women-owned business is fun and youthful and fair warning here: It will spark nostalgia. Plus, there’s even a sticker room.
She encourages everyone who stops by to take their time and write things out. She’s got pencils of all kinds from all over the world. Those made of beechwood, scented pencils, eraser-less pencils, and even sustainable pencils like the one from Croatia made of coffee grinds, tea leaves, and flower petals. Any kind you could think of, she’s probably got it. The store has gained a popular reputation amongst creatives and those who have an appreciation for doing things with their hands, even in our tech-driven world. Check out her online store or stop by to get a souvenir for a friend.
Books Are Magic
When life hands you lemons, you gotta make lemonade right? That leads us to women-owned business numero cuatro. When novelist Emma Straub and her husband got wind that their local bookstore in Cobble Hill (Book Court) was closing, they wanted to do something about it. That something was opening up a bookstore of their own (Books are Magic) to continue the legacy of Book Court. Emma herself worked at that local bookstore as a bookseller for four years. She knew the neighborhood would be crushed she’s even stated that a neighborhood without a bookstore is a body without a heart. I understand those sentiments as I have similar feelings for the public library.
When organizing the space and getting things up and running, the couple got the community involved. They created a founding membership program, similar to what new sports teams do, where authors and illustrators have created fun prints for the store. This community support continues and there are tons of cool in-store events and activities.
They have talks and reading from the likes of Akwaeke Emezi. She’s the talented writer of Fresh Water and PET. Books Are Magic even have a book club that discusses different books by female authors in the New York Review Books catalog. The name is appropriate for the space because it is bright and airy. It’s so comfortable and home-y that you’ll wanna show up in your pj’s so you can chill with the books for a while. Stop in to feel the magic of books in person.
The Wrap Life
Who knew that practicing self-care would lead to a massive business that connects with women all over the world. Nnenna Stella, the founder and creator of The Wrap Life, has a story that so many women, including myself, can relate to. She grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas but moved to LA and then later to New York. While waitressing in her 30s, she reached a point where she was exhausted and insecure. She wanted more for her life but didn’t know where to start. So she challenged herself to journal for 30 days. Each day she had to write what she was grateful for and what she felt she did well.
After 30 days she realized that not only did she just want to be creative but that she also had a ton of skills. Amazing right? The story continues. So one day, she wrapped her hair with a Target scarf but was itching to find an authentic African print headwrap that she could buy online. She searched and searched and searched. Nothing. After months of googling, she decided she was going to make them herself and sell them online. And women-owned business The Wrap Life was born. These gorgeous headwraps are more than just beautiful protective covering for your hair, it’s also creative and cultural expression. The brand has also helped thousands of women feel represented online.
Dough
Mexican pastry chef Fanny Gerson has this supernatural, unbelievable ability to give you in the most satisfying food comas known to man. She’s the one behind the city’s treasured donut shop Dough Doughnuts. When I lived in New York, there was a Dough located a few avenues over from where I worked. Every morning I had to avidly avoid that enticing women-owned business because if not, I would walk in empty-handed and leave with a bag full of scrumptious donuts and crushed health dreams.
Their doughnuts are the size of your palm and are fluffy, light, and just downright delicious. Flavors like hibiscus and dulce de leche are inspired by Fanny’s Latin American roots. Opening up a shop in New York City is challenging and even her own father suggested opening in a different city as New York’s market can be highly competitive and cutthroat. But like most of us, she’s stubborn and a woman of grit and did it anyway. But I betcha anything, New Yorkers and visitors around the are certainly glad she did.
Butter and Scotch
Allison Kave and Keavy Landreth were bakers doing their own separate things. Allision was selling pies and Keavy was selling cupcakes. When one day that there’s strength in numbers and they should combine forces and that’s when women-owned business Butter and Scotch was born.
The minute you step inside, you’ll be hit with retro vibes, bright neon signs, and crystal clear, unapologetic feminism. They serve cake and cocktails and even make custom birthday cakes with funny, yet powerful slogans.
As they’re located in Crown Heights, the sensitive issue of gentrification is bound to come up. They have stated that they don’t want to contribute to the destruction of a community or the displacement of people and they do hire employees from the neighborhood and bake cakes for the children in the community. There’s no perfect solution and I’m sure it’s nuanced, but I do believe that their efforts are genuine.
Malin Landaeus
New York City is every thrifter’s dream come true. From consignment chains that buy and sell to high-end vintage shops, the city can provide for any type of second-hand shopper. But there’s one place that tends to stand out from the crowd: Malin Landaeus. This women-owned business is a treasure trove of hand-selected, high-end pieces that are gush-worthy enough to make Carrie Bradshaw swoon.
The minute your hand touches the first piece of her impeccable vintage collection, you will become instantly aware that she’s got a unique eye. Malin had a blossoming career in fashion in her home of Sweden before she moved to New York to study at FIT. After graduating she worked for a few children’s clothing companies before she began selling at outdoor flea markets.
It wasn’t long before people started seeking her out and she was able to open up her own space on N6 street in Williamsburg. It isn’t the cheapest shop, but nothing is arbitrary and every single item is carefully chosen, plus they’ve got the best shoe selection I’ve ever seen. The shop even sells some beautiful hand-dyed pieces that she’s made herself. Malin’s daughter also works at the store and last year on Women’s Day, she opened it up for anyone who wanted to hang, drink tea, and make signs for the march.
BGLH Marketplace
Someone really needs to make Leila Noelliste’s story into a movie because it’s riveting and reads like a work of fiction…except it’s very real. She calls her women-owned business BGLH Marketplace an “ice cream shop for the body” and her all-natural whipped mango, shea, and cocoa butters sell to millions every year. But let’s rewind a bit. The story really begins back in the early 2000s when Leila was a journalist for The Chicago Defender. Yes, The Chicago Defender.
During that time did a big chop and cut her hair. She didn’t really know how to handle it so she created a blog entitled Black Girl with Long Hair. She wanted to connect other black women in the natural hair community and document her journey. Little did she know that little blog would blow up to reach 5 million page views and grow into a tight, supportive community of black women.
She was laid off from her job and after a short stint at another paper, she deduced to take the leap and go full-time on the blog. Through her community, she noticed that her readers didn’t have consistent access to raw shea, cocoa, and mango butters. So she found a provider and started selling them on her website and later decided to whip them. Her inventory shot up and the rest is history. She opened her first brick and mortar in 2016 simply out of necessity. Her butters only have four ingredients and she whips all of them by hand—I can attest, I’ve seen it. They come in a variety of scents and you can even shop online and on Esty.
The Butcher’s Daughter
Heather Tierney opened one of New York’s favorite women-owned businesses The Butcher’s Daughter back in 2012 when cool plant-based restaurants weren’t really a thing. A designer by trade, the beautiful interior of every location is as impressive as the food and the Williamsburg location even has a co-working space. Heather got her start out of college working at Time Out Magazine in the editorial section. She would do reviews of restaurants nobody else wanted to do. She slowly worked her way up and became the head writer.
Through her job at Time Out, she saw what worked well and what didn’t. One day she took a risk and bought the space on cozy Doyers Street in Chinatown. She borrowed money from her sister and took advances on her credit card and opened the underground cocktail bar Apotheke. To her surprise, it was a success from the beginning which led her to open up Pulqueria next door (Which I love!) and eventually The Butcher’s Daughter. They’re known for their healthy breakfasts and fresh-pressed juices. Click here to check out their locations in York and Los Angeles.
Which one of these women-owned businesses are you excited to support? Let me know in the comments below.
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