In celebration of International Women’s Day, we’re shining a light on what it means to be a female-founded business today.
As a brand proudly founded and run by women, supporting other women in business is something we care deeply about. We’re thrilled to announce that we have joined the empowering initiative Buy Women Built, a British consumer movement and network that highlights, celebrates, and promotes brands founded or co-founded by women.
To mark the occasion, we caught up with some of our favourite female founders to talk about their journeys, what challenges they have faced, juggling business and motherhood and the advice they’d share with others hoping to do the same.
Grab a cuppa, we hope you enjoy.
On the challenges you've faced..
"One of the biggest challenges has been staying confident in our choices while the industry often pushes for speed and lower costs. We’ve always chosen a more considered path... growing a business this way sometimes means saying no to opportunities that don’t align with our values, and trusting that protecting those values matters more in the long term."
Paulina Atkinson | FOUNDER ORGANIC ZOO
"Getting the product right is everything if your brand is to be successful. When I started BINIBAMBA we had multiple failed attempts & even getting a tannery to work with me was a battle. It took resilience... but it was the best thing I ever did."
Emma Grant | FOUNDER BINIBAMBA
"When we launched the brand, I had just found out I was pregnant with my second daughter, Marley. At the time I was still working full-time as Head of Design at a fashion brand, and in the evenings I worked on building and developing the business.
" That first year taught me a lot and helped the business grow. It was a challenging start, but also very rewarding."
Britt Schoorl | CO-FOUNDER WILDRIDE
"Juggling IVF and now pregnancy has its difficulties but it's all worth it, and I'm so excited to make lots of beautiful stripey things for my baby when she arrives!"
Louisa Tratalos | FOUNDER COLOURS OF ARLEY
"Over the last year our team has doubled in size and we’re mostly part‑time, remote and flexible, which is brilliant, but it means culture doesn’t just happen by accident anymore. My priority now is maintaining, nurturing and hiring for one ambitious, tight‑knit team... that looks like being intentional with communicating the vision, creating simple rhythms where people genuinely connect, and making sure flexibility never comes at the expense of feeling connected, supported and proud of what we’re building together.
Susie Stubbs | FOUNDER TOTTER + TUMBLE
On the juggle...
It’s most definitely a juggle… running BINIBAMBA is busy and 3 little boys at home is even busier, but I’m so grateful to love what I do and also have some flexibility. One of the main reasons I started BINI was because I wanted to be more present and around my kids. I try to work a four day week so I can be present, that's so important to me and something I’ve done since I started the business.
" Our team is also made up of parents that 'get it' which makes a huge difference. It's never perfect. We're all just trying to do our best & juggling our way through the day to day!"
Emma Grant | FOUNDER BINIBAMBA
I wish I could say I manage well. Practically, perhaps I do. But mentally? That's still a work in progress. How do I manage it? The honest answer is, I don't. I try my best. I follow my intuition. I know I could always do more - in every aspect of life - but maybe now all at the same time.
Laetita Ryndziewicz | BRAND DIRECTOR QUAX
"I’d love to say I manage the juggle perfectly, but I don’t. A growing business and an ambitious team need more than a neat 9 to 5, and there are seasons where it’s really hard. I try to be intentional about which ball I’m keeping in the air... and to forgive myself for not getting it right every time."
Susie Stubbs | FOUNDER TOTTER + TUMBLE
What advice would you give?
Don’t start with ‘brand’, start with a very specific problem, the type that keeps bothering you, and a product or service that solves it brilliantly. And if you’re a woman thinking, ‘Who am I to do this?’ then that’s usually your sign to start. Most of the brands I love exist because someone ignored that voice and began anyway.
Susie Stubbs | FOUNDER TOTTER + TUMBLE
"Getting the product right is everything if your brand is to be successful. Don’t compromise or cut corners on quality because in the long run this will serve you well.
Emma Grant | FOUNDER BINIBAMBA
"Look for people who are strong where you are not. The best teams are built on complementary strengths.
" In the beginning, when budgets are tight and resources are limited, be prepared to do almost everything yourself. Those early stages demand resilience, curiosity, and a willingness to learn fast."
Laetita Ryndziewicz | BRAND DIRECTOR QUAX
"Start with your values and let them guide every decision you make. Conscious business isn’t about perfection, but about consistency, care, and staying connected to why you started in the first place."
Paulina Atkinson | FOUNDER ORGANIC ZOO
"My advice would be to build something that comes from real passion and truly suits you. That kind of authenticity helps shape a strong brand."
Britt Schoorl | FOUNDER WILDRIDE
"Go for it, it's so much fun to have the freedom to think of something and make it happen straight away. Endless creativity! Make sure you can prioritise it over everything else for a while, it will need all your focus and energy!"
Louisa Tratalos | FOUNDER COLOURS OF ARLEY
Find our more about each brand by clicking the name below
BINIBAMBA | Totter + Tumble | Colours of Arley | Wildride | Organic Zoo | Quax
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