As National Day approaches, it’s a perfect opportunity to celebrate the female entrepreneurs in our communities.
Female-owned local businesses have been thriving, breaking barriers, and leaving a significant impact on both the economy and society. These women-led ventures exemplify creativity, resilience, and dedication, making them worth supporting not only on this special occasion but throughout the year.
Here, some extraordinary women-led local businesses that deserve our support.
In 2019, Singaporean designer Dawn Bey embarked on a creative journey that beautifully intertwined her love for pattern-making and fashion, giving birth to Minor Miracles – a print and textile studio with a mission to infuse joy into both wardrobes and homes.
Her designs encompass clean, voluminous silhouettes adorned with exclusive prints and vibrant hues, reflecting her cultural roots and determination to challenge conventional norms, especially in the realm of colour and print usage in Singaporean fashion.
With a vision to inspire more people to embrace the beauty of colour, the brand’s portfolio extends to kidswear and lifestyle products, including the now indispensable face masks. Guided by Dawn’s artistic vision, the entire creative process, from design conceptualisation to pattern-making and sampling, takes place in-house, meticulously crafted by her and her dedicated team.
Love, Bonito’s standing as one of Singapore’s most prominent homegrown fashion labels is no secret; its global reach now extends to 20 countries worldwide, including markets in Southeast Asia, East Asia, Australia, and the US.
Back in 2006, Rachel Lim, alongside entrepreneurs Viola Tan and Velda Tan, realised that international brands weren’t catering well to the fashion needs of Asian women. They set out on a passion-driven venture, launching Bonito Chico, a blog shop selling pre-loved clothes.
From its humble beginnings as a blog shop, the company has transformed into a fashion empire, offering its exclusive range of products thoughtfully crafted for Asian female body types. This transformation positioned Love, Bonito as a pioneer in Singapore’s e-commerce landscape, boasting one of the country’s earliest online fashion brand presences.
A visionary in the e-commerce fashion industry, Velda’s journey as a fashion entrepreneur began when she co-founded Love, Bonito as a blogshop together with Viola and Rachel. She took a sabbatical from Love, Bonito in 2013 to explore other interests, and later founded her own designer brand, Collate the Label. Aiming to empower and celebrate powerful women, Collate The Label showcased contemporary silhouettes at higher price points.
In 2016, she launched her second clothing label, Our Second Nature, catering to those seeking comfort and style in everyday wear. With its unique digital-first approach, captivating storytelling, and abstract prints, Our Second Nature swiftly gained popularity.
While Collate The Label’s journey as a brand came to a close in 2018, Velda has kept its online platforms alive, driven by sentimental attachment and the hope of a future revival. Throughout her ventures, Velda’s exceptional ability to identify trends and connect with customers has solidified her reputation as a visionary in the fashion industry.
When Eugenia Ye-Yeo first introduced Nodspark, a Singaporean beauty brand specialising in nail wraps, she tapped into a market desire – women who wanted to achieve a polished look quickly and conveniently, due to the fast-paced lifestyle in Singapore. Her aim was to offer a luxurious self-care solution for women juggling busy schedules. The concept was refreshingly simple – nail nail wraps offering intricate designs without the hassle of waiting for nails to dry
Eugenia’s vision for NodsparkWith, Nodspark has indeed become a go-to self-care choice that can be enjoyed in the comfort of one’s home.
In its early days, Nodspark encountered challenges as the concept of nail wraps was relatively new to the market. Despite initial uncertainties, Eugenia persevered, witnessing noteworthy sales after six to eight months. Today, Nodspark stands as a highly successful brand, boasting a devoted fan base and numerous collaborations with prestigious names like Disney, Bvlgari, and Obey. The brand’s evolution has also seen the introduction of additional beauty products, including magnetic lashes.
Driven by her love for illustration, Aerilynn Tan made a brave shift from a career in architecture to establish Papercranes Design, where she brings her hand-drawn creations to life through notebooks and lifestyle accessories.
What began as a side project soon gained momentum as she dabbled in watercolour, calligraphy, and phone case inserts, which she gifted to friends. The brand has grown from its humble paper product origins, now featuring nature-inspired themes gracing an array of items, from notebooks and journals to tote bags and mousepads.
In celebration of Singapore’s rich cultural heritage, Papercranes Design is launching a new limited edition micro-collection for National Day. The Peranakan Petals collection, which pays homage to iconic Peranakan tiles with a modern twist, includes reusable shopping bags, enamel cups, and coasters, all adorned with exquisite floral tile motifs in vibrant colours.
In Singapore, stylish and budget-friendly plus-size clothing are often a hard find – most local brands offer sizes only up to UK 14. To address this disparity, co-founders Rani Dhaschainey and Ratna Devi Manokaran, started The Curve Cult, a distinctive fashion boutique catering exclusively to plus-size ladies.
The inspiration behind The Curve Cult stemmed from Rani’s thoughtful approach of holding open houses, inviting people to try on plus-size garments before committing to online purchases. As this engaging concept gained popularity, the duo ventured into pop-up stores, offering an unparalleled shopping experience and fostering a sense of community among customers. Empowered by these interactions, they established a brick-and-mortar store at Far East Plaza, dedicated to creating a safe haven for women to connect, shop, and converse freely.
Beyond their entrepreneurial endeavours, Rani and Ratna are influential body activists, champions of self-love, and advocates for embracing one’s body unconditionally.
Organic cotton textile brand Sojao is spearheaded by Priscilla and Janice Tan. Together, they have transformed Sojao from a modest online venture into a thriving business that consistently surpasses revenue projections, breaking even in its first year. The brand’s success extends beyond the virtual realm as it now proudly occupies a charming shophouse in Joo Chiat, welcoming customers since November 2021.
The driving force behind Sojao’s uniqueness lies in its dedication to organic cotton bedsheets crafted entirely from 100 percent organic cotton. After two years and eight voyages to India, they were Singapore’s first local bedding brand to have earned the prestigious Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification. Besides bedding, the brand also offers bath products, loungewear and home decor.
Vanessa Paranjothy, a Singapore-based social entrepreneur, is on a mission to eradicate period shaming and period poverty through her co-founded initiative, Freedom Cups. With her sisters Joanne and Rebecca, she drives this social enterprise, offering reusable, medical-grade silicone menstrual cups designed to last up to a decade. Embodying the essence of giving back, Freedom Cups follows a buy-one-give-one business model, ensuring that for every menstrual cup sold, another is provided to a less privileged girl or woman.
Since its inception in 2015, Freedom Cups has extended its impact to nine countries across Asia and Africa. The organisation has undertaken approximately 30 projects in countries such as Uganda, Nepal, India, and the Philippines. Alongside distributing menstrual cups to those in need, Freedom Cups also takes the initiative to educate communities about periods, proper period care, and women’s health in general.