International Women’s Day is about many things. It’s about supporting one another, celebrating the beauty of being women, and breaking barriers. Women can be designers, stylists, photographers, lawyers, doctors, sisters, wives, girlfriends, mothers, and just about anything out there. Women kick ass in and out of the workplace. This Women’s day, we caught up with some of our favorite women designers that we admire. What inspires them? What’s the best thing about being a woman and how can we continue to empower each other?
Who is the Reike Nen woman?
The woman who always stays elegant in her everyday life.
What female figures would you say have inspired you the most?
All of the females who embody both qualities; sharp and elegant.
How is it to be a woman entrepreneur? Have you faced any hardships based on your gender?
I started the brand at the age of twenty-seven. The male factory artisans and some of the experienced buyers did not respect my opinion because I was young and female. They tried to “teach” me or gave me their advice that I did not ask for. Whenever that happened, I tried my best to deliver my opinion respectfully in a firm manner.
What female figures would you say have inspired you the most?
All of the females who have both qualities; sharp and elegant.
What’s your favorite thing about being a woman?
I appreciate beautiful things around the world which makes me emotional. Sometimes, female business owners are forced to be more rational to fight the stereotype. Yet, I don’t force myself to be more rational. I rather embrace my emotion because it helps me to find all things beautiful in the world better.
How can women help to empower each other more?
By being real. If we treat each other with a true heart rather than being ‘fake’, we all can be friends.
How will you celebrate International Women’s Day this year?
This Spring, I’ll be giving birth to my first daughter. I would like to spend the day peacefully by thinking about how grateful it is to have a soon-to-be-born baby girl.
Who is the Manu Atelier woman?
We can describe the Manu Atelier woman as independent, an innovator, and respectful to the world that they live in. She defines the product with her unique attitude. She respects the past but is always a part of the future.
How is it to be a woman entrepreneur? Have either of you faced any hardships based on your gender?
We were raised as strong women in our family. We were lucky enough to not feel the inequality of genders at home neither from our mother or father. Besides, we have really grown up in between many strong female figures inside our family who made us sure that we can do or be anything we want.
Of course in business life we have faced challenges because we were very young and female. People think you are playing around but if you work really hard we believe no matter which gender you are a part of, you can get through the challenges. You gotta stand up for what you believe which in this case for us is the definite equality between genders.
What female figures would you say have inspired you the most?
Women that are Independent, always self-improving, reconciled with themselves, and respecting themselves. Our mom is the number one female figure who inspired us the most.
What’s your favorite thing about being a woman?
We can benefit from our brains and our hearts at the same time. This is the best part.
How can women help to empower each other more?
We shouldn’t treat each other inequally before anyone else. And we should support the education of younger generation females in areas where they are more inequally treated than the other parts of the world. We should support them to get into the top positions in every part of business life or help them reach whatever their dream is.
How will you celebrate International Women’s Day this year?
This year, as the Manu Atelier company, we are supporting successful Turkish female Medical students to continue their education abroad and experience different operations in their own fields.
Who is the Zeynep Arçay woman?
The Zeynep Arçay woman is sophisticated, edgy and passionate. She’s the driver of her own destiny.
How is it to be a woman entrepreneur? Have either of you faced any hardships based on your gender?
I served as a top executive in the technology industry for many years. When I lost my mother very suddenly I realized that there might not be tomorrow and I felt this was exactly the right time for me to pursue my lifelong dream of creating my own fashion brand. I took the strength to make this huge change in my life from a woman, my mother. I have always felt her support even though she is not with me anymore. I can confidently say from day one women have been at the center of my brand in every aspect and always will be.
What female figures would you say have inspired you the most?
All of the strong women taking initiative in their life, regardless of the daily difficulties they face.
What’s your favorite thing about being a woman?
Feeling everything much deeper and with all of my senses.
How can women help to empower each other more?
For me it’s very important to be there for each other in all aspects of life. Showing gratitude and love is key.
How will you celebrate International Women’s Day this year?
I believe this is a day to feel special. Almost all of the women I know have faced their own unique challenges, but still managed to carve out lasting legacies through their work and/or social life. This International Women’s day I plan to spend time together with the women in my life I admire – celebrating accomplishments and sharing small gifts & notes of encouragement.
Who is the Batsheva woman?
The Batsheva woman is a lot of different women– different ages, sizes, colors. She likes to have fun with clothing.
How is it to be a woman entrepreneur? Have you faced any hardships based on your gender?
It is very interesting being a woman starting her own business. Perhaps I am not taken as seriously as men, but it is always hard to tell. One thing that is quite hard is juggling time with my children with my work.
What female figures would you say have inspired you the most?
Obviously, my mother. She taught me everything and has the best taste.
What’s your favorite thing about being a woman?
We are allowed to have more fun with how we dress. We also tend to have deeper friendships than men.
How can women help to empower each other more?
Praise and congratulate each other and share information with each other.
How will you celebrate International Women’s Day this year?
Spend time with the women I love, and my little daughter Ruth.
Who is the RIXO woman?
Henrietta: The RIXO woman is about someone’s style and attitude rather than defined by specific age, size, geographical location, background or fashion knowledge. She could be a woman in her twenties, her mother or equally her grandmother – in some cases we have all three generations who are fans. We believe that a woman’s style is eternal, no matter her age!
Orlagh: We don’t design for one specific type of woman and we don’t follow fashion trends, we want RIXO pieces to be timeless and fit easily into our customers own lifestyles. Something that they can really love, want to re-wear and pass down to their daughters and even granddaughters, like future vintage!
How is it to be a woman entrepreneur? Have either of you faced any hardships based on your gender?
Orlagh: It’s an advantage – being a woman and running a female focused business we understand our customers completely, as we’re actually also customers of RIXO. We never put anything into our collections that we don’t truly love and would wear too.
Henrietta: When we launched RIXO, we had “men in suits” wanting to invest. They said we couldn’t do it on our own and that as two young women we weren’t old enough, experienced enough, connected enough and didn’t have enough money to succeed. Naturally we doubted ourselves, but not giving in and staying headstrong was the best thing we did. To this day we still control 100% of our business, remain agile and make decisions quickly. Our gut guides what we genuinely feel is right for RIXO. We’re really proud RIXO is still privately owned, completely self-funded and female led.
What female figures would you say have inspired you the most?
Henrietta: Our mums completely inspire everything we do. My mum was the person who introduced me to vintage and trained my eye for it, from an early age she’d take me with her to auctions, flea markets and vintage fairs. We share everything, even our RIXO pieces!
We’re also inspired a lot with our collection by female icons – not only how they dress, but also how they empower other women. My ultimate icon is Cher.
What’s your favourite thing about being a woman?
Henrietta: I think people assume that women are more emotional in business and that it could be a weakness. However, I feel that one of my favourite things about being a woman is that we have these innate emotions and a great gut feeling. Using your emotions, you can become a more compassionate leader and inspire your team that kindness is crucial and team cooperation is key.
How can women help to empower each other more?
Orlagh: Simply by being kinder to each other and not seeing another woman as competition. A woman’s success should be celebrated and shouldn’t make another woman feel inferior or green with envy.
How will you celebrate International Women’s Day this year?
Henrietta: We’ll be celebrating by launching our new #IconsOfRixo ambassador programme on International Women’s Day, which champions eight amazing women located all over the world, how they wear their RIXO and what they are doing within their communities, from London, NYC and Sydney to Johannesburg, Oslo and LA. We will also be having drinks with our team and celebrating the amazing women we have in our HQ!
A very special thank you to Reike Nen, Merve and Beste Manastir, Zeynep Özlem Alpay, Batsheva Hay, Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McCloskey.
