Fashion focus: female-founded fashion brands

As the final piece in my column during Women’s History Month, with my previous articles discussing gender inequality in the industry and notable women in fashion, I want to direct our attention towards some small female-founded fashion brands that we should support. These range from apparel to accessories, so everything you could need can be found in these small businesses.

They [Recreation Jewels] recently did a ‘University Tour’ to Exeter, Bristol, and St Andrews, and I hope Warwick can be put on the list for their next venture

Stinky Jewelz
Stinky Jewelz is a one-woman show, starting as a hobby for Madeline Modesti and growing into a brand worn by Rico Nasty, Doja Cat, and Post Malone. As the name implies, the brand is centred purely on jewellery, specifically necklaces, although they also make earrings and key chains. It is a smaller brand that operates with every item made to order; there isn’t a mass production of products, which enshrines the brand as a more sustainable choice. Similarly, the jewellery is all made by Modesti, ensuring the labour is unexploited. The brand is known as the ‘original creator of the ball chain bubble heart necklace’, which fortifies the brand as an innovative trendsetter. The products are stunning as one-of-a-kind pieces and Modesti offers low-cost repairs if the products break. This further opposes over-consumption and the growth of fashion waste. As of writing, you could grab some ‘Glass Pendant Cord Necklaces’ for $25, or a ‘Baby Bow Necklace’ for $48.

Berriez
Founded in 2018 by Emma, Berriez is ‘built around inclusivity, accessibility and fun’. Initially, it was a means of distributing plus-size vintage clothing to fill the void left by retailers. Still, it has been able to expand and has now collaborated with independent designers with plus-size people in mind: ‘curated for curves’. In every sense, the brand is fashion-forward. It promotes the reuse of clothing through promoting vintage and reworking vintage for a contemporary consumer, and it uplifts other small female designers, such as Femlord. Fyoocher & Danielle Bernard. The products range in price, with some of the vintage products being advertised at around $25 for some tops to around $60 for jackets. The collaborations pieces are generally priced from this point, with $60 shirts being the cheapest option and bags being the most expensive at $220.

She [Evie Joynes] strives for quality as the brand grows and prides herself on creating elevated basics

Recreation Jewels
Returning to jewellery, look no further than Recreation Jewels if you seek colour and maximalism. Ranee was established in 2023 by Ranee Karamkharm and offers hypoallergenic, waterproof accessories to complete your outfit. Most of their products are priced under £30, and in their most recent collection (Valentines Collection), the most expensive item was £49.99. Their designs are youthful and pretty, with astrological and oceanic references embedded throughout their pieces. They recently did a ‘University Tour’ to Exeter, Bristol, and St Andrews, and I hope Warwick can be put on the list for their next venture.

Evie Joynes
By Faye, Evie Joynes was started during the pandemic and, in 2024, became her full-time dedication. She strives for quality as the brand grows and prides herself on creating elevated basics. Hailing from Manchester, the brand ships worldwide and has received positive reviews internationally, with the ‘Meredith Mini Dress’ being praised for its versatility. At the same time, the ‘Brigitte Mine Dress’ was reported to have allowed the wearer to receive a lot of lovely compliments. While operating as a ‘made-to-order’ business, Evie Joynes is working to provide ‘ready-to-ship’ pieces while maintaining ‘slow fashion’ as her mantra.

Honourable Mentions
Hot Kiss Cases – Grunge, ‘hoochie’ protective iPhone cases as sported by Tara Yummy
Sweet Baby Rays – Printed graphic tees featuring 2000’s icons and explicit phrases
Galya Faye Gems – Quirky Jewellery with porcelain doll face pendants