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16 feminist gifts that give back to empower women and children around the world
16 feminist gifts that give back to empower women and children around the world
Malarie GokeyNov 28, 2018, 02:16 IST
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WildfangWildfangWildfang is a clothing company that is run by women and donates a portion of every sale to charities and organizations that help women and children.
All too often, products that say they're feminist are actually just mass produced goods that don't represent the principles and values that feminists hold dear.
We've done the research to find feminist gifts that give back to women and children around the world, so you can feel good about the gifts you give. Some of the brands we've included donate a portion of the proceeds for every item purchased from their stores, while others have special collections of products that give back.
No matter which gifts you choose from our guide, the feminist in your life will probably love the story behind them just as much as the gifts themselves.
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In honor of Giving Tuesday, J.Crew has partnered with Girls Inc., HRC, and charity: water to create special collections of products that give back. From November 27-29, J.Crew will donate 100% of each item's retail price to the corresponding charity.
You can choose from 18 different styles, including sweatshirts, tote bags, T-shirts, and accessories for each charity. We love the Girls Inc. Sweatshirt, which says "girls" in several different languages.
Girls Inc. is a nonprofit that was founded in 1864 to empower girls and young women from age 6 to 18. The charity provides "safe spaces, mentorship and programming to help them build lasting skills to succeed and create systemic change."
HRC and charity: water are also wonderful organizations to support. HRC works to ensure equal rights for LGBTQ people and charity: water provides fresh drinking water to those who don't have access to it.
Globe In sells Fair Trade, handmade products that are produced in ethical working conditions by workers who are compensated fairly for their labor. Many of the workers are women who would otherwise have no employment or means of supporting themselves or their families. Each product description says where it was made and who made it. You can also read about the positive impact Globe In's special gift boxes have had on local communities.
Feminist clothing that fights back with every purchase
Wildfang was founded by a woman and continues to be run by women. The brand's offerings include cool basics, suiting, gender neutral apparel, as well as feminist clothing and accessories. We really love the Wild Feminist line, which includes T-shirts, beanies, button-up shirts, sweatshirts, and accessories. Wildfang makes a donation to select charities with every single purchase.
"We walk the walk, giving back $400,000 and counting this year," Wildfang's website says, "In 2017, we helped raise over $75,000 for charities including Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, Joyful Heart, and the Tegan and Sara Foundation ... Additionally, a percentage of all full price goods across our entire site go directly to a rotating monthly charity." You can see all the charities Wildfang has supported here.
Lipstick from Sephora that donates $10 per purchase
The Sephora Stands Fearless lipstick is more than a great lipstick — it's also a gift that gives back. The makeup company donates $10 of every lipstick purchase to its programs to empower women.
"Our programs address the needs of entrepreneurs, communities in transition, Sephora employees, and our planet," the Sephora Stands webpage says, "And together, our company and employees share a commitment to increase our positive social and environmental impact."
A pair of period underwear from a company that donates menstrual products
Thinx makes underwear that acts like a pad during a woman's period to absorb menstrual blood. The underwear can replace tampons and pads altogether or supplement them, depending on the woman's flow. In addition to being a great gift for eco-conscious women who want to move away from traditional menstruation products, Thinx is also a great company to support. The brand donates menstrual products to women in need, including the homeless and underprivileged communities. Thinx also leads education initiatives to help inform young girls about identity, human rights, and reproductive health.
Alex and Ani make unique jewelry that's cute and simple. The brand has a special collection of jewelry that donates 20% of the purchase price to select charities. Alex and Ani partner with more than 50 non-profits and have donated more than $50 million. Many of the organizations help women and children around the world, so you know that no matter which piece you choose, your gift will have done some good in the world.
Amazing leggings that are made of recycled plastic in ethical conditions
Girlfriend Collective leggings are made from a flattering compression material that never pills and looks great. These leggings will quickly become her favorite pair — we know they're our favorites! Best of all, every pair is made from 25 recycled water bottles to help combat plastic waste, and the company prioritizes ethical and sustainable production. Good production practices are particularly important in the world of fashion because women are often the ones working in the factories for low wages. Girlfriend Collective is dedicated to keeping its factories safe and fair for all workers.
A super comfortable bra from a company that donates lightly used bras to women
ThirdLove makes our favorite bras. Not only do they fit perfectly for extreme comfort, they're also made of high-end materials. We recommend you get the feminist in your life a gift card so she can choose what she wants. The company sells a wide variety of bras and there's a Fit Finder quiz to ensure that she gets the perfect fit.
In addition to making the best bras, ThirdLove does tons of good work. The brand is partnered with The Unmentionables and I Support the Girls to donate bras to women in need. So far in 2018, the brand has donated 75,000 bras.
Causebox is a great gift that keeps on giving throughout the year. Each box contains a curated collection of six to eight items that are made by artisans and Fair Trade workers. Causebox offers good variety, too. Boxes come with clothing, accessories, artwork, beauty products, and housewares for women. The company includes a breakdown of each product, where it was made, and how it has helped the local community, so you get the full story. In addition to supporting artisans, Causebox also partners with a number of charities to donate part of its profits every year.
Shirts and sweatshirts that donate $5 per purchase to the ACLU, Equality Now, and HRC
Everlane is a wonderful company to support as a feminist because all of its goods are made in ethical factories with Fair Trade practices. You can feel good about any purchase you make at Everlane, but if you really want to impress the feminist in your life, check out the 100% Human Collection. These T-Shirts and sweatshirts are made ethically and $5 of the sale will be donated to the ACLU, Equality Now, or the Human Rights Campaign.
A pair of tights from a woman-run company that gives back to women
Spanx tights are some of the best tights we've ever worn, and the brand itself is a force for good, too. Ever since Spanx was founded by Sara Blakely, the company has donated money to a wide range of charities with a special focus on empowering women. Spanx is involved with teaching girls to code, helping women found businesses of their own, providing micro loans to impoverished women and children, and investing in education for women and girls the world over. You can read all about the different initatives Spanx donates to on its Elevating Women page here.
A classy bag from a company that gives back to kids in need
State makes incredible bags that are well made, stylish, and organized. Most importantly for our purposes, State has a strong sense of social justice. Every time someone buys a State bag, the company hand-delivers a backpack that's filled with supplies to a local child in need. The brand's co-founders created the Country Roads Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps New York City kids. State also leads informational and motivational talks about social justice issues to inform the next generation about the injustice many Americans in marginalized communities face every day.
The Made In Kenya Collection is a great example of ASOS' fun, trendy, affordable approach to fashion. ASOS has been working with SOKO Kenya, a sustainable clothing workshop that promotes fair labor practices in Kenya, since 2010. The designs come from drawings made by primary school kids in Kenya that have been adapted by ASOS designers, 2ManySiblings, Beats 1 radio presenter Julie Adenuga, and model Leomie Anderson. You can choose from a variety of clothing and accessories in fun, bright prints that your giftee will love.
A set of feminist buttons from a brand that gives back to women with every purchase
We mentioned Wildfang at the start of this gift guide, but the brand is just so good it bears repeating. This pack of feminist buttons is made in America, aims to empower women, and a percentage of the purchase will go to one of the charities Wildfang supports. What's not to love?
A pair of feminist earrings from a woman-owned Etsy shop
Part of being a feminist is supporting other women, and what better way to do so than to support a woman artist with a small business? Etsy is a great place to shop for handmade gifts and nearly all the money goes to the artist who made the item, so you know you're doing a good deed with this gift. We love Misty Aurora's sterling silver feminist earrings, and many Etsy reviewers do, too.
When it comes to feminist literature, there is a ton of it out there. Here, we're recommending two of our favorite books by incredible feminist commentators whose writing we admire and read frequently. If you buy the books through Amazon Smile and select the charity you want to give to, 0.5% of your purchase will go to that charity. Just click on our links and choose your charity.
