Because we love you, we’ve just made it super easy for you to positively impact the economy of women this holiday season, while earning yourself the coveted title of “Best Gift Giver Ever”! Behold… a curated rundown of some of our favorite small and mighty, women-founded brands that offer all sorts of goodies from the inspiring and empowering, unique and cool, to the delicious and decadent, meaningful and fun. We’ve got you – and everyone on your list – covered from toe-to-head (literally).
Happy shopping… and supporting… and giving.
(em)POWER™ Laces
(em)POWER™ Laces are the first product collection from us – Women You Should Know (WYSK) – your fave, go-to digital hub of women’s and girls’ empowerment founded by Jen Jones and Cynthia Hornig in 2011. They are shoelaces, yes, but also a herald of empowerment. Designed to define and inspire, each lace features a power-packed word – BADASS, FEMINIST, WARRIOR, and FEARLESS – punctuated by our trademark woman symbol, “where strength meets heart”. They are made in the USA exclusively for us by a woman-owned company, and your purchase directly supports the work WYSK does to help women and girls empower themselves. $9.99 per pair.
Julie Mollo! Clutches 
Designer Julie Mollo is best-known as the creator of pop star Katy Perry’s iconic fruit-inspired ensembles. She’s the go-to stylist for rockstars and party girls looking to make a brazen statement. Her super fun, flirty, retro & rock n roll namesake accessories company has its early roots in stage-wear and now specializes in the cutest clutches inspired by the very literal shapes that covered her starlet’s frocks. Prices start at $22.
RoseSuds Bath Bombs & Soaps
RoseSuds, a line of Bath Bomb Roses and ‘Pick-a-Petal’ Soaps, are the creation of Veronica Slater, a First Class Flight Attendant turned entrepreneur, who hails from Sydney, Australia and now lives in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Her gorgeous, fully bloomed rosebuds (that look just like a real flower) have petals that turn into luxurious soap suds. Really? Really! And each is fragranced with the finest oils. Prices start at $18.
Claudia Pearson Home
Claudia Pearson is an illustrator, and children’s book author, originally from London and now living in Brooklyn. She has spent a lifetime illustrating, and 20 years illustrating commercially. Her work has been published internationally in magazines such as The New Yorker, The New York Times, Elle and Travel & Leisure. We adore Claudia’s collection of products for the home – tea towels, totes and accessories, aprons, prints, greeting cards and books – that feature her awesome illustrations inspired by food, cities, architecture, blooms, and… cats! Prices vary.
Swig + Swallow Cocktail Mixers
Swig + Swallow by April Wachtel makes making great cocktails easy with a line of fresh mixers sold half-full for drinks on the go. So all you need to do is add spirits to the mixer bottle to complete the drink, no measurement required. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, April was a brand ambassador for Bacardi, a cocktail instructor at five schools in New York and Philadelphia, and has been a consultant with Diageo & Inspira Marketing for the past three years. Prices vary.
Harlem Candle Co.
Founded in September 2014, the Harlem Candle Co. is a luxury home fragrance brand specializing in scented candles that was born in the home of travel and lifestyle expert Teri Johnson. Inspired by the fragrances she’s experienced in the 66 countries she visited, Teri wanted to create a sensory experience that could take people on a journey of creativity, joy and love. Each candle is infused with fragrance notes that create a perfect harmony of top, middle and base notes that sing, dance and celebrate the old and new Harlem Renaissance. Prices start at $45.
Shattered Glass Tees
Aiming to empower women and girls, one t-shirt, bag and pillow at a time, Arielle Lapiano founded Shattered Glass Tees for her two young daughters and to give back to non-profit organizations that support girls who need it most. The company gives 100% of its profits back to Girls Inc., LiveGirl and Girl Up. Prices vary.
Trade Street Jam Co.
Trade Street Jam Co. by Ashley Rouse curates low sugar, vegan jams for cocktails and more. The brand was born in North Carolina, but is based in Brooklyn, NY. Although they’ve adopted BK’s iconic hipster, cool-kid vibe, they’ll never lose focus of their back woods, farm to table, southern hospitality mentality. Their “not your average” jam is best described as “a mash up of culinary inspiration”. Yum! Prices start at $12.
Indigo Pony Brass Statement Jewelry
Indigo Pony by Sheena McCullers is a Brooklyn-based studio that creates handmade jewelry designed for fearless and confident women. Their minimalist and structural pieces are made with locally sourced materials including mixed metals, semi-precious stones, and vintage findings. Prices vary.
Red Velvet Gourmet Baking Kits
Red Velvet NYC was founded by Agathe Assouline-Lichten and her sister Arielle. It simplifies gourmet dessert making by delivering gourmet baking kits and subscription boxes – with everything you need inside – right to your door! Prices vary.
Teller Hill Pet Accessories
 You Know - https://womenyoushouldknow.net/gifts-inspire-empower-celebrate/){kind=link}
Teller Hill is a labor of love founded by mother-daughter team, Jane Ertman and Tory Kane, in NY’s Hudson Valley. They’ve created a fun and fabulous brand where fur babies come to shop and play for collars, leashes, bandannas and bow ties. Prices vary.
Modestine Tea
Modestine Tea by Laura Cepeda, Certified Tea Sommelier, is a lifestyle tea brand embodying the support of mind, body, and soul. It currently offers seven high-quality, hand-blended loose-leaf teas made for women by women. Prices start at $9.
Soukenberi Aromatherapy
Soukenberi by Suk Chan is on a mission to help de-stress you and your space through personal aromatherapy. Yes, please! They strive to be eco-friendly, and all products are created with responsibility to renewable resources. Prices vary.
Rubylu Confections
Rubylu by Karyn Gerhard offers hand-crafted artisan caramels, fudge, and other confections made in the classic tradition and updated with modern flavors. Mmmmmm! Prices vary.
41 Winks
41 Winks by Olivia White is on a mission to create a space for women to recharge. The company crafts and curates sleep accessories because as they say, “Self-care and rest are not trendy – they’re necessary.” What’s more… 4.1% of profits from their plush ‘Girl Power’ Eye Mask is donated to the nonprofit, I AM THAT GIRL. Price $41.
Letterati Co. Handmade Cards
Letterati Co., founded by Jessica Lin and Jasmine Le, is a bespoke, NYC-based design studio focused on visual branding and expressive typography. They take greeting card design to a new level, creating unique pieces of art designed, cut, scored, folded, and packaged by hand. Each card is blank inside and comes with a recycled Kraft envelope and closure sticker. Price per card $4.95.
goldno.8
goldno.8 gives you the tools to create a bag that is as cool and individual as you are. Trick it out, clean it up — your bag will transform with your mood, outfit and tastes. Ariane Gold is the owner and designer of goldno.8. She founded the company to offer all women on-the-go a bag that’s light, durable, and cool with customizable functionality. Ariane has worked for some of the biggest names in the fashion industry for over 20 years including Ralph Lauren, TSE, Catherine Malandrino and Isaac Mizrahi. Prices start at $95.
THIS NIGHT Socks
Through THIS NIGHT, Kate T. Williamson, Designer and Owner, offers beautiful, high-quality socks, made in America. Much of her inspiration comes from Japanese textiles, which she studied while living in Kyoto, Japan, for a year (she’s also an artist and writer). The name THIS NIGHT comes from a tenth-century Japanese poem she particularly loves. Her company donates 50 cents per pair of socks sold to one local charity in her hometown of Reading, PA, and to another in the Conover, NC area, where her socks are knit. Price per pair $18.
WOOLN Knits Made By NYC Grandmas
WOOLN by Faustine Badrichani and Margaux Rousseau brings together talented New York grandmothers and people who want to know where their dream knits come from and who made them. All WOOLN offerings – hats, beanies, berets, snoods, headbands, blankets – are lovingly hand-knit by New York seniors, using luxurious yarn: pure 100% Baby Alpaca, an Alpaca/Merino blend, Cashmere, Mohair and Suri Alpaca. Prices vary.
lead photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash