On Saturday 8th May we joined forces with Monsoon to donate 10% of all UK online sales to the British Asian Trust’s ‘Oxygen for India’ Emergency Appeal. 

Together we raised over £30,000 for Oxygen for India Emergency Appeal. We wanted to thank all those who made a purchase, helping make this possible and share with you an update from the British Asian Trust below. 

warning: this video shares some images that you may find upsetting  

It was incredibly important for our brands to support the British Asian Trust in raising money to purchase emergency oxygen to support the immense national demand during the COVID crisis. Over the past four decades, our brands have built a unique bond with communities in India, it is where our brands were born. Today, it continues to be where many of our products are crafted by our artisanal partners.  

Read more about the British Asian Trust’s mission here.

We’re doing all we can to offer support to India, who are in the midst of a humanitarian crisis.

Monsoon UK and Accessorize UK will be donating 10% of all online sales on Saturday 8th May to British Asian Trust’s emergency appeal, Oxygen for India, who are raising money to purchase emergency oxygen to support immense national demand.

Over the past four decades our brands have built a unique bond with communities in India, it is where our brands were born. Today, it continues to be where many of our products are crafted by our artisanal partners.  

For more information on the British Asian Trust or to make a personal donation and show your support to India, click here.   

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Naomi Walkland is a Marketing Director at Bumble, the popular women-first dating and networking app. She currently leads the strategy across Europe, Middle East and Africa, managing teams and strategies to grow Bumble’s community and empower more women to make the first move.

What does IWD mean to you?

At Bumble, we truly believe that every day is International Women’s Day and that we need to work to empower women not only once a year but in everything they do. Bumble encourages  women to take control of their dating lives by helping them to make the first move, set the tone for conversations and ultimately create more meaningful connections.

Features such as our photo verification for profiles, a ban on unsolicited lewd images and most recently a ban on body shaming ensures that we create a safe, empowering environment for women to date. This comes from a place of wanting to challenge the status quo and the traditions that tell us what relationships are supposed to look like and how women are meant to behave. I really resonate with that idea and women choosing what success looks like for them in life, in work and in love.

Tell us what it’s like being a woman within the tech industry? And what challenges have you faced? 

I studied Social Anthropology and don’t have a ‘typical’ marketing or tech background. I didn’t actually set out working in tech, but found very quickly that the clients that I liked the most were tech profiles so I started seeking them out. I love the pace of working in tech brands, it’s innovative and you have to identify and adapt quickly to behaviours that you’re seeing amongst your community.

This pace is definitely not for everyone but there is also amazing opportunity in how quickly brands like Bumble can adapt. Even think about the last year, and how drastically lockdown restrictions changed the way that people are dating and how people were connecting with each other. We’ve spent a lot of time trying to understand and help our community navigate this new world of dating. This includes learning how to use our in-app video, voice and audio note features to add to your virtual dating or introducing new features to help people easily communicate how they are comfortable meeting: virtual only, socially-distanced, or socially-distanced with masks. It’s exactly these kinds of quick responses that make roles in tech exciting and really rewarding.

Why is it important to celebrate other women’s achievements? 

I think it’s important to celebrate and mark everything – not just the successes and achievements but also the challenges and the failures. My mother taught me the importance of celebrating other women from a very young age, and it’s something I feel very passionately about, but it’s equally valuable to recognise the small wins.

We’re continuously conducting research into behaviours and feelings to gain a deeper understanding of our community, so we can find meaningful and effective ways to help them. After discovering that more than 3 in 4 Black people in the UK do not see themselves represented in mainstream stories and images of dating, we created a campaign called #MyLoveIsBlackLove to better represent the breadth of black love across the UK. We shared different stories of what Black love means to British actors, musicians, artists, comedians, journalists and people who use Bumble, because we have a role to play in how our community, particularly millennials, think about love and relationships.

The campaign isn’t going to change the world, but growing up in London, I saw so little of myself reflected in images of love and relationships that I consumed. So these are small wins, and if this inspires just one young Black girl to feel empowered to make the first move then it is a step in the right direction.

What advice would you give to your younger self, having the knowledge you have now?

One of my favourite quotes is from Eleanor Roosevelt, “Remember, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”. It’s important to know that no one can knock you down without you permitting them to do so.

I’d also tell myself to read EVERYTHING. News, fiction and non-fiction books, think pieces, leaflets, whatever, absorb it all and provide yourself with the knowledge to create your own opinions and values.

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Read more of our Role Model Series 

Jenny Halpern Prince, CEO & Founder PR Agency, Halpern

Chelsie Collins & Kristelle Levy, Founders of Blondie’s Kitchen

Susie Ma is the Founder and CEO of Tropic Skincare, a multi award-winning, scientifically-backed, plant-based and cruelty-free beauty brand. Celebrated as one of the UK’s most successful female entrepreneurs, she was named EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year and is recognised as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree.

Named as the UK’s fastest-growing beauty brand for five years running by The Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100, Tropic Skincare’s success is an evident accolade for Susie’s own drive and determination.

What does IWD mean to you?

IWD (or Women’s History Month) to me is all about empowerment. The fight for equality is far from over and we have a long way to go to make the world a fair place for females, especially in communities and countries far less privileged than our own.

This month serves as a reminder that we must be bold and we must stand up for what we believe in, even in the face of adversity. It’s a lot easier to accept things the way they are than it is to question the status quo and make a stand, but there can be no change without challenge. This occasion reminds us that we have the power to instigate that change, as women have for years before us and hopefully will continue to do long after we’ve achieved a more equal society – there will always be somebody’s corner to fight.

Tell us what it’s like being a woman within the beauty industry? And what challenges have you faced?

The beauty industry itself is actually better than most when it comes to gender equality and it celebrates women on the whole, but what I found most frustrating when starting out was particularly relevant to my position as a businesswoman and entrepreneur, as suppliers and associates often didn’t take me seriously. I actually had a supplier mess me around and attempt to price me out – right at the start of our Tropic journey–  because he said that he didn’t see the business going anywhere.

Why is it important to celebrate other women’s achievements?

The only way to move forward as women is to move forward together, and there are still so many communities which exist today that still don’t allow women the same rights and opportunities as men. Taking time to celebrate women simply uplifts the entire gender and empowers everybody, no matter their background – it allows the whole world to turn around and take a look at what women can do when they are given the space to reach their full potential. Every time we celebrate another woman’s accomplishments, we reinforce the message that women and girls can do anything they put their mind to if they are given the same resources and chance in life as their brothers and fathers.

What advice would you give to your younger self, having the knowledge you have now?

Believe in yourself and don’t let anybody else determine your self-worth. Invest time and energy into things that interest you and you’ll find it a lot harder to fail at what you do.

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Read more of our Role Model Series 

Jenny Halpern Prince, CEO & Founder PR Agency, Halpern

Zara Simon, Jewellery Designer 

Chelsie Collins & Kristelle Levy, Founders of Blondie’s Kitchen

The summer accessory trends last year were all about above the keyboard dressing – a term I’d be pretty happy never to hear again. This summer, we’re seeing a nod to nostalgia, a passion for feel-good finds and an obsession with bold colour (don’t worry, animal print is still around too)

Summer accessory trends

homage to holidays

We’re dreaming of far away beaches and nautical getaways – and we don’t think we’re alone. Whether we can or can’t get away this summer, your accessories can offer a nod to your fave summer vacations, think anchor motifs, shell earrings and beach market charm bracelets.

in a ruffle

We’re going to be real frill-seekers this season (sorry, not sorry). Think dresses and swimsuits adorned with ruffles that are chic not childish. 

bright pink

We’re all about joyful dressing and what better than head to toe dressing in pink – think Villanelle’s pink tulle masterpiece and every SS21 runway. Pair your pinks with fresh white or a bold tan accent to break it up and add a modern touch.

feel good colours

After a year of living in neutral sweats and activewear (we know we aren’t the only ones!) we’re grabbing anything colourful to brighten up our wardrobes. If you’re a little afraid of colour, dip your toe in with colour pop jewellery or bright shoes or a bag. On the other hand, if you’re all about more embrace colour blocking to avoid looking like a rubiks cube.

Colour us happy

wild wild love

Good news is that animal print is certainly not going into hibernation. It’s all about tiger print this season – and leopard, it’s the coolest of cool cats. Make it a chic look paired with a black swimsuit (no beach needed) and cat-eye sunglasses…

We’re Feline fine

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Shop all summer pieces

Explore our gorgeous gold vermeil collection

Chelsie Collins and Kristelle Levy are the founders of Blondies Kitchen, the UK’s first and only milk and cookies bar. These professionally trained chefs and best friends were inspired by American-style cookies on a trip to New York. The duo joined forces back in 2016, on a mission to bring the taste of America back to London, and have since built up an army of UK and international superfans.

Kristelle has always worked in restaurants and was head chef at a restaurant in Primrose Hill for over two years. Chelsie was a cookery writer for BBC Good Food, starting as a cookery assistant, testing all the recipes for the magazine and producing hundreds of recipes for the site.

What does IWD mean to you?

To us, IWD means celebrating all the phenomenal women out there. Whether you own your own business, you’re a female entrepreneur, employee, or simply just a GO-GETTER – every woman deserves to be celebrated on international Women’s Day and every other day in between.

Tell us what it’s like being a woman within the food industry? What challenges have you faced?

It’s perceived by many that women in business are less confident to go into powerful roles and would rather look for something less senior. Even in certain fields, like ours, it is certainly male dominated. However, with confidence and as you grow as a person within your industry, those barriers go. It all starts with your mind and the sooner you realise you are worth it and you are valid, the better. You have to prove it to yourself before you prove it to someone else.

We’ve faced many challenges along this journey. With dreams of expanding our business, we initially applied for a stall in Topshop, but they rejected us. We were incredibly upset and I remember saying: “Obviously, it’s not a good idea. If Topshop doesn’t like it, then nobody will”. One thing we’ve learnt through this process is to always keep learning everyday and be sure to take on all feedback and constructive criticism.

However, we didn’t let that discourage us and on our first day at our Old Street pop-up, we sold 500 cookies by lunchtime and couldn’t keep up with demand. We would work 7am to 7pm and although it was incredibly exhausting, it was the most fulfilling experience of our lives. Fast forward to September 2017 and we launched our flagship concession in Selfridges. What seemed like a challenge wasn’t a rejection but in fact a redirection for something greater.

Not everyone will believe in your vision at first but as we always say to each other, you can’t buy the experience we’ve had, and it’s true. The learnings have been endless, and we learn something new every day. Obstacles come in all shapes and sizes, but we always find a solution.

Why is it important to celebrate other women’s achievements?

As a female founded business it is extremely important that we celebrate and also champion other women’s achievements – for us there is no stronger unity than when women stand together to support each other. For IWD 2021, we teamed up The Princes Trust to support the Change A Girls Life Campaign, with 25% of sales from our cookie roles going towards supporting young women in the UK. The Princes Trust recently reported that more than 78% of those who lost their jobs at the start of the pandemic were women and two-thirds were between the ages of 18 and 34.  With those statistics in mind, it has never felt more necessary to celebrate other women’s achievements because there is power in unity and support.

Earlier this month we sat down with two friends who also run a successful business to celebrate international women’s day and spoke through some of the challenges we have all faced as female business owners. It was gratifying to sit down and reflect together on where we had all come from. It’s always good to celebrate one another because supporting another woman’s success and acknowledging her achievements will never dampen your own.

What advice would you give to your younger self, having the knowledge you have now?

If we could give advice to our younger selves, we would tell them that it’s okay to take baby steps before running. You need to build strength to walk, then crawl and then run. Every start-up has its struggles and hard work will always pay off as long as you remain committed to the vision.

The other thing we would tell our younger selves is to trust the process. Obstacles come in many shapes and sizes however, there is always something that can be learnt. Asking for help is key, we have continued to take on board all the feedback that we are given – learning never stops! And finally, to believe in what you are doing and one day you might be doing it full time!

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Read more of our Role Model Series 

Jenny Halpern Prince, CEO & Founder PR Agency, Halpern

Zara Simon, Jewellery Designer 

Zara Simon studied Jewellery Design at Central St Martins and since 2008, when she started Zara Simon Jewellery, she’s collaborated with Felder Felder and Turquoise mountain, designed a collection for the 2012 Rolling Stones tour and has had countless celebrity commissions for it-girls like Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Cara Delevigne, Poppy Delevigne, and Natasha McElhorne. She’s also the designer of our stunning collection, Z for Accessorize. 

What does IWD mean to you?
IWD is important to me as it highlights all the female jewellers in the industry more so on this day as we can celebrate their achievements as a whole. It also encourages us to appreciate how many more women there are in the industry these days.

How will you chose to challenge?
I will always be aware of everyone around me and close to me, in particular my children, who I will teach not to stereotype.

Tell us what it’s like being a woman within the PR industry? And what challenges you have faced?  
It is exciting to be a women in the jewellery industry as I get to wear my creations along with the women I design for.

Why is it important to celebrate other women’s achievements?  
I have been inspired by some amazing female jewellers since I started, including Elsa Schiaparelli, Elsa Perretti and Pippa Small, and more recently Jessica McCormack.

I faced challenges in my early career when I worked in Jaipur as it was a very male orientated industry, there were times I felt I was being disrespected as a women working on my own.

What advice would you give to your younger self, having the knowledge you have now?
I’d encourage myself to do a business course when I was starting out, as I found out the creative can be smaller part of having your own brand.

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Check out our Role Models’ series 

Jenny Halpern Prince is the CEO and founder of Halpern, a global PR and influencer agency, part of the WPP network and The&Partnership. Jenny founded Access Aspiration in 2012, an educational charity promoting social mobility via aspirational work placements and introductions. Access Aspiration is now part of the Mayor’s Fund for London, they work with 32 schools, securing over 5,000 placements with state and academy students. In 2014, The Lady Garden Foundation, a national women’s health charity, was co-founded by Jenny, who is Chair of the charity. The aim is to increase awareness and raise funds to fight the five gynaecological cancers, to date they have raised over £1.6m.

What does IWD mean to you?
IWD is a reminder of how we should be all year long. It is a moment to celebrate the progress we all are making as women worldwide and oh my, are we making huge strides in many areas. BUT the areas where we are struggling, we need to champion those to support us further and that includes, very importantly, men.

Tell us what it like being a woman within the PR industry? And what challenges you have faced?  
Being a woman in the PR industry is easy as our industry is dominated by women. I have cherished the allegiance of so many women over my career in PR. My partners at Halpern are women and make my business a joy to still be involved and increase our relevancy and differentiate ourselves from others.

We strive to have a well-balanced agency of individuals from all ethnicities and backgrounds so we must encourage the industry to proactively bring in more talent from those arenas.

I have faced many challenges but more in my personal life with gynae issues especially with trying to become a mother for a long journey of 11 years. In all areas of my life, I have a mantra JFDI, just ****ing do it. So many people talk but don’t action.

Why is it important to celebrate other women’s achievements?  
We must celebrate women’s achievements to encourage more women to speak up, start their own businesses, overcome anxiety, to be their best self they can be.

What advice would you give to your younger self, having the knowledge you have now?
I would give my younger self this advice; never give up. Be a gladiator and fight. Then encourage more to fight too and achieve their dreams.