International Women's Day is a moment to reflect, celebrate & uplift the women who inspire us. For me, that includes the incredible women who have built something of their own, who have had the courage to follow their dreams & create businesses all while navigating the beautiful yet demanding role of motherhood.
Starting a business is never easy. It's a lot to step out on your own, to invest in your vision & to build something from the ground up. Then doing it while raising children brings a whole new layer of complexity. It means working late nights & early mornings, finding time between school runs & nap schedules & constantly trying & (for me anyway) a lot of the time failing to balance the demands of work & family. It means pouring love, sacrifice, and resilience into both your business and your children, which can be unbelievably hard.
I want to take a moment to highlight and celebrate some of the women who inspire me to keep going on my own entrepreneurial journey; women who have shown incredible determination in following their dreams while also being devoted mothers.
They remind me that passion and purpose don't have to be sacrificed for motherhood; rather, they can fuel it.
Here are just a few of the incredible mother owned small businesses I admire from near & afar who I'd love to be gifted from this Mother's Day ♥️
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1/11 SALT CIRCLE LONDON
Launching in time for Mother's Day, my wonderful sister in law Natalia's new business Salt Circle London is Floral Subscription service centred around wellbeing & Astrology. You will be able to purchase one off or subscription based bouquets of flowers selected for their personalised meanings.
2/11 MOUNT SAPO
I was gifted a bottle of the All Over Body Oil one birthday & instantly fell in love with the scent. I love that the deep breathe that encourages instantly brings you back to centre & the ritual of taking the time to apply the oil creates a moment of mindful self care.
3/11 MARGO IN MARGATE
I'm sure a lot of you reading will have already come across Margo's joyful artworks, I already own a couple of pieces myself but have had my eye on her hand painted vintage plates for a little while now. The vibrant colour palettes & notes of positivity instantly lift your mood.
4/11 EUCALYPTUS, MARGATE
If you're local to Margate or planning a visit soon I would definitely recommend checking out Eucalyptus for your treatments, I've got the bespoke facial at the top oif my personal wish list.
5/11 ALBIE & PEARL
With a background in fashion design, owner of Albie & Pearl, Marie has the most wonderful eye for detail & colour. She always has an amazing selection of vintage homeware, art & lighting online & in her Broadstairs store alongside a lovely curation of gifting items.
6/11 LILY BUCHANAN
I was lucky enough to meant Lily through having our babies born close together. Lily creates beautiful illustrations & artworks transporting you to a surreal dream world.
7/11 MAMA TO MAMA
Mama to Mama is the first and only baby bank service in Thanet, Kent. Providing essential pre-loved items to vulnerable pregnant women, caregivers & children under 5. You are able to shop donation based rewards on their crowdfunder (for example, a donation of £75 will get you a "Give Love & Hugs" A5 Margo in Margate Print & a Cowshed Product Set worth £130) - the perfect Mother's Day gift.
8/11 MINNE~MAE STUDIO
Minne-Mae is a Margate based ceramic & interior objects designer & maker. Every piece is hand made & hand painted, taking inspiration from the British seaside, London history, Italian kitsch & Greek Mythology. I just love the oversized, Giant Clam Serving Dish.
9/11 LKT LONDON
With a background in fashion, owner Laura curates a vibrant and colourful selection of homeware items, hand-woven by the Berber women in the Atlas Mountains. The LKT ethos is to engage with the artists, provide insights into their inspirations & traditional ways of working & to make these individual pieces more accessible for everyone to enjoy.
10/11 NOVA CLARKES THE WORKSHOP
When I first started my business I was also working for Nova at her workshop in Broadstairs, she's the mother to three girls & runs her bespoke & alterations shop alongside her own slow made clothing brand, NOJO. All pieces are pattern cut & made in house in small batches, so you know you're getting a super unique piece when you shop with her. 
11/11 URI STUDIO
I started following Uri Studio after my two closest & oldest friends recommended it to me. I was so inspired by the dedication to creating a truly sustainable & desirable product & continue to follow in admiration as the brand has evolved; creating some really beautifully hand crafted, released in small batches, bags.
These women prove that it is possible to build something meaningful, to chase dreams, & to create a lasting impact, all while raising the next generation.
To all the women out there forging their own paths, know that your work matters. Your journey, though sometimes difficult, is powerful & inspiring. Whether you're a mother or not, whether your business is big or small, your courage to create is something to be celebrated today & every day.
Who are the women who inspire you? Let's take a moment to recognise & uplift them, let us know in the comments.
Happy International Women's Day.
With love,
Louise. x