How Female Founded Brands Inspire Hayashi

As a female founded paper leather bag brand, you may have guessed we find inspiration in female founded brands. Starting a fashion brand is no small feat, especially when you’re a woman in a male-dominated industry. Kim and I constantly find inspiration from other women who’ve successfully made their mark.

Inspiration

A huge part of our inspiration comes from women who have been able to build something they believe in despite barriers created by society. BRICKS Magazine is an independent fashion and arts culture magazine with a huge following. Tori West built BRICKS and overcame the challenges of being a working-class women in the fashion industry. BRICKS was a huge part of the 2010s push to bring back printed magazines. One thing I love about many female-founded brands is their focus on community rather than competition. West created a place for minority groups to be heard and to show their work in a safe space full of encouraging people.

Start Up

We try to bring this same spirit into our startup. By partnering with other female founded brands and supporting local women artisans, we aim to create a supportive network where everyone can thrive.

Of course, many famous female-led brands stand out because they stay true to their values. Stella McCartney and Eileen Fisher are two big names that come to mind. They’ve built their brands around sustainability and ethical production, showing that fashion can be beautiful and responsible at the same time.

For our startup, this means being open about how we source and produce our products, choosing sustainable materials, and making sure our workers are treated fairly. It’s about creating fashion that our customers can feel proud of.

Growth

As we grow our brand, we’re inspired by the amazing women who’ve come before us. We’re committed to creating not just beautiful products but also making a positive impact on our community. We want to be more than just a fashion label. We aim to empower other women entrepreneurs, champion sustainable practices, and support local artisans.

We love to work closely with independent female founded lifestyle shops, such as Blossom and Roar and most recently Know & Love in Stoke Newington run by Karen Sims who has a background in interiors just like myself. We get to go to the nicest neighbourhoods in London like Victoria Park village to visit Jennifer in Sublime shop.

PS We also love Serena William’s WYN Beauty. She’s not just a trailblazer on the court!

Get in touch if you would like more information on Hayashi and our products.