Women’s Equality Day: 10 Women Fashion Designers Who Broke Into The Male Bastion

Last updated on August 2nd, 2023

Traditionally, the fashion industry had male dominance, but women designers have emerged as influential forces. Today, they are pivotal in shaping the industry and influencing people’s outfit preferences. On this Women’s Equality Day, recognize the noteworthy contributions of some of the world’s leading women fashion designers. Their unique and innovative custom clothing designs not only enhance the market reach of fashion brands but also reflect their enormous impact on the fashion industry.

Females are leaving an indelible mark in the male-dominated fashion industry. Sarah Mower, a renowned fashion journalist, once pointed out in an issue of Vogue, “A female culture runs far and wide across the landscape of 21^st-century fashion. It’s there at the top of the canopy, in major Parisian houses; it pervades the uprising of young, self-made independents and generations of established entrepreneurs: a multifaceted critical mass of women steadily working to change an industry for the better.”

Women’s Equality Day

Women’s Equality Day, 26th August, celebrates the voting rights given to American women through the 19^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Passed by Congress on 4^th June 1919 and ratified on 18^th August 1920, the amendment granted American women legal recognition as equal citizens. Before this law was made, women of color, particularly, were denied the right to vote. Later, other American women of native, Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian origins also got voting rights.

The day is also an opportunity to recognize women’s achievements in their fields of specialization. They all have contributed immensely to enriching our lives in many ways. Also, they shattered the men’s monopoly in many areas and proved their worth.

Fashion designing is one such field that women designers entered with a vengeance. They now dominate the world of fashion design. They are now the trendsetter and decide how people will dress themselves.

Today, women create a wide range of casual clothing, such as a trendy crop top design that women can wear for comfort and style.

On International Women’s Day, it would be appropriate to highlight the achievements and contributions of women designers in the previously male bastion.

10 Women Designers Worth Mentioning On Women’s Equality Day

Women have been actively involved in the fashion industry for many decades. They have proven their worth by contributing immensely to determining the fashion styles of their times. On Women’s Equality Day, here are the top ten female designers from our list for your inspiration:

01. Aurora James

Aurora James is known for her luxury footwear and accessories brand. This brand creates fashion products related to African culture and craftsmanship. She worked as a fashion designer in New York City and Los Angeles after studying fashion design at Ryerson University in Toronto. Then, she launched her fashion brand Brother Vellies in 2013.

She gets inspiration while traveling worldwide and expresses her experience using traditional elements from African culture. She is also known for her 15 Percent Pledge, which asks retailers to allot 15 percent of shelf space to black-owned businesses. Major retailers, including Macy’s and Sephora, started displaying black people’s works prominently. In 2015, James was featured in Forbes’ Under 30 list and was awarded the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund.

02. Vera Wang

Vera Wang is a well-known American woman fashion designer and a formidable name in the field. She is famous for her lovely wedding gowns. Most celebrities, including Mariah Carey, Khloe Kardashian, Victoria Beckham, and Alicia Keys, have worn her gowns. She is also known for her sports costumes which many athletes have endorsed.

In her long career, Vera Wang has worked with several global fashion brands, including Ralph Lauren and Vogue. She has received many awards for her contribution to the world of fashion design. In 2005, she was awarded the Womenswear Designer of the Year award at the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

03. Miuccia Prada

Miuccia Prada is an Italian fashion designer who has made a name by turning her name into a brand. Her brand, which goes by her name, is amongst the leading fashion brands. A key feature of her designs is that they are easy-to-wear fashion clothes and are rich in taste.

Her famous Miu Miu line of fashionable clothes is less expensive and instantly became a hit with people. She is not only Italy’s formidable force in fashion design but is equally respected worldwide for her contribution to the industry. The Council of Fashion Designers of America has recognized her works to enrich the global fashion world.

04. Stella Jean

Stella Jean is another fashion designer known worldwide for her works and contribution to the fashion industry. She brings a mixed heritage from her Haitian mother and Italian father to the fashion world. After studying at the European Institute of Design in Rome, Stella worked in the communication industry and launched her fashion level in 2011. Her socially conscious innovative designs gained her a reputation soon.

She is known chiefly for blending Western and African cultures. Her majority of works have a mix of traditional African textile prints and Italian tailoring. Chief features of her fashion design products are vibrant colors, intricate embroideries, and mixed prints. She uses eco-friendly materials to produce her collection of design works, partnering with African and Haitian artisans.

Stella Jeans has worked with the Ethical Fashion Initiative of the International Trade Center to support ethical artisans. Her works have been showcased in various international fashion shows, including Paris Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week.

05. Amaka Osakwe

Amaka Osakwe is another famous black female fashion designer who made a name for themselves in the fashion industry. Being Nigerian-born, she celebrates African heritage and culture in her fashion design works. She is recognized as a young new voice in fashion for her innovative custom clothing designs. Her works were showcased in leading fashion shows, including Paris Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week. 

In 2010, she launched her brand Maki Oh which is known mainly for bold prints, intricate embroideries, and vibrant colors. These have references to Nigerian symbols and motifs. Celebrities such as Solange Knowles, Lupita Nyong’o, and Beyoncé have endorsed her fashion design works.

06. Anaïs Mak

Anais Mak has an excellent reputation as a fashion designer. She is known for her innovative use of bold colors, experimental silhouettes, and different combinations of materials. Mak launched her eponymous label in 2016. Her works have benefited many renowned fashion brands, including Alexander McQueen and Lanvin.

She is also a great enthusiast for exploring unconventional materials. Some of her iconic fashion works use PVC, latex, and other unconventional fabrics. She is also recognized for her unconventional draping techniques and asymmetrical cuts. Prominent celebrities such as Solange Knowles and Rihanna have endorsed her works.

07. Stella McCartney

Stella McCartney is another innovative leading fashion designer who has worked with notable brands, including Adidas and Disney. Starting her career as a fashion designer in 1995, she instantly made a name for herself. Soon, the fashion world recognized her as a leading designer. She collaborated with all the major fashion brands.

In 2000, Stella McCartney received the Vogue Designer of the Year Award. She also received the Glamour Award for Best Designer of the Year for 2004 and the Special Recognition Award for Innovation for 2017.

08. Celine Kwan

Celine Kwan is a renowned fashion designer who creates unique fashion works by combining conventional and modern techniques and elements. She launched her fashion label in 2014 after finishing her studies at the Parsons School of Design in New York City.

Her works involve the Singaporean heritage, such as batik prints and Peranakan embroidery techniques. The use of unconventional materials such as PVC and plastic in the custom clothing line’s chief feature. Her unique works featured Singapore Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, and other prominent fashion events.

09. Masaba Gupta

Masaba Gupta is amongst the leading fashion designers from India. She is a Mumbai-based designer who studied design at SNDT Women’s University. Starting her label in 2009, the designer soon made her mark in the fashion world and won the Vogue India Fashion Fund Award 2012. She is also a well-known social media personality and promotes mental health awareness.

Gupta has immensely contributed to Indian fashion. She was named one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in 2012 for contributing to the fashion industry. She has also been featured in many fashion events, including Amazon India Fashion Week and Lakme Fashion Week.

10. Rachel Antonoff

Rachel Antonoff is an iconic female designer from New York City. She founded her brand in 2008 and produced a line of comfortable clothing. The majority of dresses are easy to wear for comfort. The brand draws inspiration from the 1950s to 1970s when picking prints and silhouettes. She also uses political messages and themes in her fashion designs.

Antonoff entered the limelight when she designed a t-shirt with a uterus drawing. Many actresses wore this t-shirt with this drawing. Her fashion clothes were worn and endorsed by celebrities such as Zooney Deschanel, Diane Guerrero, and Lena Dunham.

So, these are amongst the prominent fashion designers renowned worldwide for their immense contribution to the fashion industry. They were responsible for people choosing their trendy clothes to look stylish and different.

Now that you got the inspiration from these celebrated designers, you might be planning to start your fashion label. You might already be creating many pieces of clothing, such as a trendy hoodie design, custom t-shirt, etc. Launching your smaller company might offer you some trendy clothing and accessories.

You can open your online fashion store at PrintShop by Designhill. This site lets your customers choose your artwork to get printed on t-shirts and other apparel. You can earn a decent profit by establishing a t-shirt printing online business and strategically setting competitive prices for your custom clothes. The site will print your artwork on various products, including tees, shirts, etc., and deliver them to your customer’s doorsteps.

Wrapping Up

The fashion industry had male designers as a dominating force traditionally. But women designers have gradually made their presence felt. They now determine the shape of the fashion business and what clothing choices people will make. On Women’s Equality Day, the remarkable contributions of these 10 female fashion designers are worth mentioning.

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