March 1st marks the beginning of Women’s History Month, which recognizes the achievements of women around the world. We believe in celebrating women every day, but each March we take a moment to recognize achievements of women around the world.
To celebrate International Women’s Day, we spoke with three female founders to find out what this holiday means to them. Let’s take a look at the unique history of this holiday and learn how we can honor the women who have come before us.
International Women’s Day’s (IWD) official founding is the culmination of various women’s rights events that reached a fever pitch in the mid-1900s. Several events in the earlier part of the 20th century triggered IWD’s international recognition. In fact, several women’s days were recognized in isolated countries but not as a global event for decades before IWD’s official coining.in 1946 IWD was given an official flower and began to gain more visibility across the world.
Worldwide acceptance of the holiday continued to grow through the years. It took until 1975 for the United Nations to recognize it and until the mid-1980s for President Carter to declare a National Women’s History Month that we still honor today.
First, we spoke with Aishwarya Iyer, the founder and CEO of Brightland, an extra virgin olive oil and vinegar company known for sourcing from small, organic farms in the US.
When asked about why she started Brightland, Aishwarya stated “I started Brightland so more people could try incredible olive oil from California and to celebrate the amazing agriculture work that these small family-run farms are doing. Our olive oils are incredibly fresh and taste like pure goodness.”
We gave each founder the opportunity to choose a bouquet from our International Women’s Day Collection. Aishwarya chose The Inspiration, a vibrant dried arrangement in shades of violet. ‘I chose the glorious Inspiration bouquet because it radiated optimism, energy and brightness - all characteristics that some of the most inspiring women in my life have.”
Next, we sat down with Sophie Kahn, the co-founder of sustainable jewelry brand, Aurate.
“The premise is simple. Make jewelry that is worthy of those who wear it. In other words, we design fine jewelry that is not only beautiful on the outside, but also of the highest quality, fairly priced, and ethically sourced. We believe in empowering our consumer through the jewelry she wears and what it stands for.”
Sophie hand-picked The Tastemaker, which features roses and delphinium in stunning shades of ivory and purple. “I chose The Tastemaker. First, because I love the way it looks. I love a bouquet that looks more raw, wild, and natural (just like I like our gold to be natural). Plus, I like the name in the sense that, at Aurate, we also try to taste-make. Not only in the sense of aesthetics, but also in our belief-system of giving back and sustainability.”
When asked what advice she has for women looking to start their own company, she states “Just DO IT. Don't get bogged down by self-doubt. I hear a lot of people talking about it but never really going for it. My philosophy is to just go and do it. You will truly learn along the way.”
Lastly, we spoke with Ariane Goldman, the founder of luxe maternity and skincare brand, HATCH.
“When I got pregnant with my first daughter, Charlie, I couldn't find stylish, comfortable maternity clothing that made me feel confident and cool. Everything was designed to hide the bump and I wanted to celebrate my growing body with wardrobe essentials that I could feel like myself in. So I created HATCH with the goal of offering women amazing pieces that grow with them throughout their journey, that they could still wear long afterwards.”
Ariane selected The Innovator, a stunning arrangement bursting with blooms in various shades of purple. “I chose The Innovator because it's really pretty and feminine but a bit unexpected and cool....kind of how I see HATCH.”
Ariane also shared her advice for aspiring female founders, “Ask ALL of the questions. Find people smarter than you, who know more than you, who can help guide you along the way. Find a community of founders who are down to share the knowledge and pass it on. They will be your North Star.”
On International Women’s Day, it’s customary to give women flowers. The traditional flower is the mimosa because it grows plentifully this time of year in Italy, where IWD was officially founded. However, you may give whatever flowers you want to honor women on IWD. They can come in many colors other than yellow, as long as they show your support!
This year, we’re focusing on all things purple for our IWD stems. This is because purple is the color of royalty, success, and admiration. When you give a woman one of our purple bouquets created in collaboration with FLOWER Beauty, you honor her brilliance and dignity.
You can also celebrate by checking out some of the amazing brands we've partnered with this month. Save 10% on fresh, sustainably-sourced gifts from Brightland when you use code URBANSTEMS10. For 15% off stylish maternity wear, use code URBANSTEMS15 at HATCH.
If you want to celebrate IWD in style or simply want to spruce up your home or office, this is a great time to schedule flower delivery. Our variety of dried bouquets, fresh flowers, and plant gifts ensures you can find the perfect gift for every woman on your list. Also, if you plan on ordering flowers regularly, you can save by setting up a flower subscription service.
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