It is International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It’s a day, for all of us, to continue to work towards equality and ensuring a safe and positive environment for all women, whether at home, at your workplace, online or in public spaces.
Today, I’ll highlight just a handful of the many female powered enterprises that I know of that we could all support for International Women’s Day and beyond.
Being that this is also the start of International Women In Aviation Week it’s fitting to highlight Iskwew Air, the first indigenous woman owned airline. Iskwew is a Cree word for woman, the airline says the name was chosen to celebrate the airline, and all women and allies, reclaiming womenhood, matriarchal leadership and language.
Providing air charter services around British Columbia, Iskwew Air and the Indigenous LIFT Collective are collaborating to raise funds to fly care packages to Indigenous communities in BC during these difficult times of the pandemic.
Local and handmade, You + Me Candles founder Patty uses a custom blend of eco-friendly, clean burning apricot and coconut in her candles, including lead-free wicks. All of the You + Me products are cruelty-free and vegan. Each candle is crafted by hand from start to finish in her Vancouver studio.
The You + Me philosophy and line-up has expanded to include Room Sprays, Soap and Diffuser Blends
Love that Bag etc
Recently opening an office on Seymour Street in Vancouver, Love that Bag etc is the largest Canadian reseller of designer fashions. The online boutique has a team dedicated to taking care of every step of the selling process from authentication to professional photography and marketing efforts.
“Everyone benefits by playing their part in the circular economy,” says President of Love that Bag etc, Caroline Reny. “Consignors give new life to their luxury goods by reselling them, and someone else gets to cherish and appreciate them. The best part is that we’re all helping the environment by extending the lifecycle of these fashions.”
Love That Bag etc also welcomes donations of good condition bags, that might not sell. They will fill them with personal care products and pass them on to local women’s shelters.
Second Generation Tea Master and Owner of Treasure Green Tea Company, Olivia, has adapted the decades old tea shop to fit with the ever-changing world of Vancouver’s Chinatown.
Buying direct and importing Chinese tea from prime suppliers in China, means Treasure Green can offer a wide selection of premium teas and blends curated under Olivia’s masterful eye, and palate. Combining centuries of tradition with modern twists into a quaint, welcoming and delicious tea shop, that’s a great spot to learn, browse and buy.
Treasure Green is located at 227 E Georgia Street.
If you weren’t familiar with Coquitlam-based AG Hair prior to the pandemic you may have seen the (nicely scented) hand sanitizers and AG Body Care line which they pivoted to making during the pandemic when we were all looking to sanitize and clean.
CEO and Co-Founder Lotte Davis also founded the charitable organization One Girl Can, which provides secondary, vocational, and university scholarships to eligible girls in Africa, supported by donations and partial proceeds from AG products