PARTNERING WITH INCREDIBLE WOMEN FOR 160 YEARS
Independent Womens Day | John Lewis
For International Women’s Day, we asked female creators to share their work with us for the chance to be stocked in our stores. Thank you to all who entered - we were so inspired by every entrant and we're delighted to announce our new partners.
Celebrating our winners
Inspired by founder Hope’s love for the outdoors, this carefully curated homeware brand features flowers and foliage, bringing the beauty of nature into any home.

Fun and interactive tabletop games for the whole family. The brand has strong environmental credentials, with all games being plastic free and made in the UK.

This independent brand founded in 2014 creates the softest, sustainably-made handcrafted sheepskin moccasin slippers for women, men and children.

These three inspiring female creators will be stocked in select John Lewis stores for a limited time only - so keep an eye out for these brilliant brands.  

Here, we recognise the brilliant female creators of the past, present and future who are part of the fabric of John Lewis.

Michelle Feeney

Michelle Feeney founded British fragrance brand Floral Street after being inspired by the creative rulebreakers of the 1980s, and the rich cultural diversity of London and the UK. Her message to other women is to be kind to yourself – we are constantly recognising what’s not good about ourselves, but forget to embrace what is so beautiful and good.

Save 15% on Floral Street until 10 March 2024.

Nicola Elliot
Nicola Elliott

Nicola Elliott is the founder of British wellbeing brand Neom. After spending time in her kitchen developing therapueitc blends, she launched Neom in 2005 and has continued to grow the company ever since. 

She remains at the forefront of the brand and is leading Neom’s mission of supercharging the wellbeing of the world.

Receive a free Perfect Night’s Sleep Travel Scented Candle when you spend £45 on Neom. Offer ends 13 March 2024.

Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury MBE is president, chairman, chief creative officer and founder of the makeup and skincare brand Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Ltd. The beauty titan champions confidence with her “dare to dream it, dare to believe it, dare to do it” mantra.

We are proud to have been a stockist of Charlotte’s beauty products for more than nine years, and to continue to support her and many other female creators. 

Receive a free Collagen Superfusion Facial Oil when you spend £120 on Charlotte Tilbury. Offer ends 10 March 2024.

Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury is the founder, chairperson and chief creative officer of the makeup and skincare brand Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Ltd.

She believes that if you feel and look your most confident self, you can achieve anything. It is this belief that has influenced her brand’s purpose.

We are proud to have been a stockist of Charlotte’s beauty products for more than nine years, and to continue to support her and many other female creators. 

Receive a free Collagen Superfusion Facial Oil when you spend £120 on Charlotte Tilbury. Offer ends 10 March 2024.

Amy Ford

Amy Ford and a team of fellow SPF enthusiasts launched Hello Sunday in 2021 with one mission: to make SPF easy to incorporate into your daily routine, all year round. Amy’s from Oxford and has worked in the beauty industry across the UK, Spain and Australia, both in large multinationals and start-ups.

Save 15% on Hello Sunday tanning and suncare until 10 March 2024.

Noelle
Oriele Frank

Oriele Frank is the co-founder of British skincare brand Elemis. She is integral to the brand’s development of skin, body and wellbeing products.

Her key pieces of advice to other females in business this International Women’s Day would be to embrace change, keep learning, evolving and invest time in people and networking. 

Save 15% on Elemis skincare until 11 March 2024.

Dipali Goenka
Dipali Goenka

Dipali Goenka is the CEO and Managing Director of Welspun Living.

Dipali’s journey began as a devoted mother at home, striving to inspire her 10 and seven-year-old daughters. Fuelled by her own mother’s resilience and her family’s unwavering support, Dipali ventured into the corporate world with Welspun. In an industry largely dominated by men, she aimed to shift focus to women.

This led to the launch of Dipali’s own brand, SPACES, in 2003, the most widely distributed and recognised home textile brand in India. Women now constitute more than 30% of the Welspun workforce and through initiatives like the Women of Welspun programme, there’s a culture of equal opportunity and gender inclusivity.

One initiative close to Dipali’s heart is Welspun Super Sports Women, a programme that identifies potential female athletes and para-athletes and nurtures their talent, providing a supportive environment for holistic sporting development, resulting in more than 150 medals nationally and internationally across more than 10 sports.

Dipali Goenka
Dipali Goenka

Dipali Goenka is the CEO and Managing Director of Welspun Living.

Dipali’s journey began as a devoted mother at home, striving to inspire her 10 and seven-year-old daughters. Fuelled by her own mother’s resilience and her family’s unwavering support, Dipali ventured into the corporate world with Welspun. In an industry largely dominated by men, she aimed to shift focus to women.

This led to the launch of Dipali’s own brand, SPACES, in 2003, the most widely distributed and recognised home textile brand in India. Women now constitute more than 30% of the Welspun workforce and through initiatives like the Women of Welspun programme, there’s a culture of equal opportunity and gender inclusivity.

One initiative close to Dipali’s heart is Welspun Super Sports Women, a programme that identifies potential female athletes and para-athletes and nurtures their talent, providing a supportive environment for holistic sporting development, resulting in more than 150 medals nationally and internationally across more than 10 sports.

Kathleen Mitchell

Kathleen Mitchell is the Commercial Director at John Lewis, responsible for overseeing the commercial strategy across our Home, Fashion, Beauty and Technology products and services. She leads her team in curating stylish, quality products with a renewed emphasis on design, all sourced following the Partnership’s ethical and sustainability commitments.

Emma Bridgewater
Emma Bridgewater

Emma Bridgewater’s career began in 1984, when china shops selling matching dinner services were still the norm. It was in one such shop that she was inspired to start her brand. Armed with one contact, Emma set off for Stoke-on-Trent to make her hand-painted china shop dream a reality.

Emma’s retail mentor in the early years – Fiona Milne at the General Trading Company – encouraged her to book a trade stand and subsequently to approach the highly esteemed china buyer at John Lewis, Liz Mahon. Liz loved what Emma was creating but wasn’t sure the John Lewis customer was ready for the mismatched look. However, after the first order quickly sold out, the relationship prospered. 

Yvonne Telford

Yvonne Telford is the founder of vibrant and empowering fashion brand Kemi Telford. She designs clothes that help women feel confident and fabulous. 

Her mother ran a thriving business in Nigeria when Yvonne was growing up and this inspired her to create a brand of her own, pursuing her childhood dream of designing and selling stunning clothes to women.

Kemi Telford
Yvonne Telford

Yvonne Telford is the founder of vibrant and empowering fashion brand Kemi Telford. She designs clothes that help women feel confident and fabulous. 

Her mother ran a thriving business in Nigeria when Yvonne was growing up and this inspired her to create a brand of her own, pursuing her childhood dream of designing and selling stunning clothes to women.

Nicola McGuirk

Nicola McGuirk has been the guiding force behind the Där Lighting Group for 25 years and was the first woman to sit on the Lighting Association Industry Committee Board, where she served for more than a decade. Throughout her career Nicola has championed a business culture built on respect, equality, sustainability and independence.

Laura Ashley
Laura Ashley

Laura Ashley made her name creating timeless and elegant designs that bring together romance and traditional English aesthetics. 

She created her first print in her small flat in Pimlico, London, and slowly built up her brand to become highly regarded in the world of fashion and home decor. Laura did all of this while raising her family. 

Her legacy inspires women to embrace their creativity and follow their passions fearlessly. 

Sarah Lewis

Sarah Lewis, nee Hunter (known as Beatrice), studied at Somerville College, Oxford, where she was part of the women’s suffrage movement.  After college she worked as a teacher before joining the Civil Service. During the First World War she worked for the Women’s Emergency Corps and was the Secretary of the Scottish Women’s Hospitals for Foreign Service, founded in 1914 by the Scottish gynaecologist and suffragist Dr Elsie Inglis. The SWH ran hospitals in France and Serbia and supported refugees. In April 1916 Beatrice was awarded The Order of the Misericorde by His Highness the Crown Prince of Serbia, in recognition of her services. 

In 1922 she joined Peter Jones as a Boot Buyer, and within a year she had married Spedan. Beatrice became Director and then Deputy Chairman, a role she held until 1951. She was instrumental in developing staff management and training within the Partnership and was a strong supporter of women in business.

Beatrice had three children – John, Jill and Edward – with Spedan. She combined her professional and personal life while participating in a number of voluntary roles until she died in 1953.

Sarah Lewis
Sarah Lewis

Sarah Lewis, nee Hunter (known as Beatrice), studied at Somerville College, Oxford, where she was part of the women’s suffrage movement.  After college she worked as a teacher before joining the Civil Service. During the First World War she worked for the Women’s Emergency Corps and was the Secretary of the Scottish Women’s Hospitals for Foreign Service, founded in 1914 by the Scottish gynaecologist and suffragist Dr Elsie Inglis. The SWH ran hospitals in France and Serbia and supported refugees. In April 1916 Beatrice was awarded The Order of the Misericorde by His Highness the Crown Prince of Serbia, in recognition of her services. 

In 1922 she joined Peter Jones as a Boot Buyer, and within a year she had married Spedan. Beatrice became Director and then Deputy Chairman, a role she held until 1951. She was instrumental in developing staff management and training within the Partnership and was a strong supporter of women in business.

Beatrice had three children – John, Jill and Edward – with Spedan. She combined her professional and personal life while participating in a number of voluntary roles until she died in 1953.

Fiona Douglas

Fiona Douglas created Bluebellgray from her kitchen table with the aim of bringing joy and wellbeing to the people who connect with her work. A textile designer and artist, she hand-paints all the original designs and prints that adorn Bluebellgray homewares. Fiona believes in women in supporting each other and is a huge supporter of International Women’s Day.

Debora Blyth
Deborah Blyth

Deborah Blyth is the owner of her own handmade jewellery brand. She began designing in 2004 while living in Italy, and now each piece of jewellery is created from start to finish within a small area of north London, using recycled silver and gold and a process called lost wax casting.

Deborah believes that International Women’s Day is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on women – to celebrate our achievements, to recognise how far we have come in terms of social and cultural change, and to push for equality.

Queralt Ferrer

Queralt Ferrer started as a Menswear Assistant Designer at Massimo Dutti Menswear after university before launching Massimo Dutti Womenswear and leading the brand for more than 17 years.

After moving to London with her husband and three children, Queralt started as Head of Design for a British multinational retailer and was promoted to Design Director for womenswear and lingerie after two years. Then, three years later, she moved to Amsterdam to consult for European brands such as Gerard Darell and Salsa Jeans while also launching her own kidswear brand, Five of Us.

In February 2022 Queralt joined John Lewis as the first Fashion Director and has since led her team to build a new look and feel for John Lewis fashion in womenswear, menswear and kidswear.

Queralt Ferrer
Queralt Ferrer

Queralt Ferrer started as a Menswear Assistant Designer at Massimo Dutti Menswear after university before launching Massimo Dutti Womenswear and leading the brand for more than 17 years.

After moving to London with her husband and three children, Queralt started as Head of Design for a British multinational retailer and was promoted to Design Director for womenswear and lingerie after two years. Then, three years later, she moved to Amsterdam to consult for European brands such as Gerard Darell and Salsa Jeans while also launching her own kidswear brand, Five of Us.

In February 2022 Queralt joined John Lewis as the first Fashion Director and has since led her team to build a new look and feel for John Lewis fashion in womenswear, menswear and kidswear.

Claire Watkin

Claire Watkin of The Fine Bedding Company has been working with John Lewis for 20 years, although it was her father, Paul Black, who started the relationship back in 1977. Today, more than 70% of employees at The Fine Bedding Company are women and almost 80% of managers are women. Claire credits relationships built on strong mutual respect for allowing the company to move faster – with agility – to meet challenges together.

Charlotta Elgh
Charlotta Elgh

Born in Sweden, Charlotta Elgh started her career in advertising in Stockholm before retraining in interior architecture, going on to work as a product developer at Ikea for 14 years. She was part of the global management group for Ikea textiles for seven years. In 2022 she became the first Design Director for home at John Lewis & Partners, overseeing the design vision.

Charlotta went to design school in Milan. After that, she fell in love with Mallorca and became a freelance interior architect in Spain. Most recently, before joining John Lewis, Charlotta started her own tennis and padel apparel e-commerce company. She currently lives in Sweden and London, and she has three children, including twin daughters.

Her motto is: love life and life will love you back.

Barbara Hepworth

Dame Jocelyn Barbara Hepworth DBE was born in Yorkshire and studied at Leeds School of Art and the Royal College of Art in the 1920s. Her work exemplifies Modernism and modern sculpture and she was one of the founding members of the art movement Unit One, a group of modern artists who lived in Hampstead in London. At the start of the Second World War Barbara and her partner, the painter Ben Nicholson, moved to St Ives, where Barbara continued sculpting and drawing.

In 1963, at the height of her popularity, Barbara created the Winged Figure for John Lewis. It was the first monumental sculpture Hepworth created in her Palais de Danse studio. The prototype is in The Hepworth Wakefield – it was cast by the Morris Singer Foundry as a unique aluminium sculpture with stainless steel rods.

One of her best known works, Winged Figure, is mounted on the southeast side of John Lewis Oxford Street, where it’s seen by an estimated 200 million people each year. 

Barbra Hepworth
Barbara Hepworth

Dame Jocelyn Barbara Hepworth DBE was born in Yorkshire and studied at Leeds School of Art and the Royal College of Art in the 1920s. Her work exemplifies Modernism and modern sculpture and she was one of the founding members of the art movement Unit One, a group of modern artists who lived in Hampstead in London. At the start of the Second World War Barbara and her partner, the painter Ben Nicholson, moved to St Ives, where Barbara continued sculpting and drawing. 

In 1963, at the height of her popularity, Barbara created the Winged Figure for John Lewis. It was the first monumental sculpture Hepworth created in her Palais de Danse studio. The prototype is in The Hepworth Wakefield – it was cast by the Morris Singer Foundry as a unique aluminium sculpture with stainless steel rods.

One oof her best known works, Winged Figure, is mounted on the southeast side of John Lewis Oxford Street, where it’s seen by an estimated 200 million people each year. 

Heidi Fielding and Michelle Evatt

Heidi Fielding and Michelle Evatt are the women behind playfully modern fashion brand Florere (in store only). They first met aged 19 while studying fashion at Brighton University and instantly became best friends. As they began careers in fashion they dreamt of creating a business together. In 2022 an opportunity emerged and the dream became a reality.

Eva Karayiannis

Eva Karayiannis launched Caramel 23 years ago with the intention of making childrenswear that looked very different to a lot of what was on offer at the time. She takes huge pleasure from the personal relationships she has developed by recently working with more talent on a smaller scale.

Lucienne Day
Lucienne Day

Sir Bernard Miller was keen to create a distinctive house style for the Partnership and, in 1962, recruited the services of Lucienne and Robin Day as design consultants. They initially reported on their findings and suggested Hans Schleger, a graphic designer, to create a new JLP symbol and packaging design.

In 1967 they produced the Partnership Design Manual, detailing the new house style for the JL division. They then created a new style for Waitrose including everything from own-brand labelling to shop interiors. Waitrose were presented with a Royal Society of Arts Design Management Award in 1971, demonstrating Lucienne and Robin’s impact.

The couple retired from their roles in 1987 but remained close to the business, with Lucienne creating wall hangings for branches including the Aspects of the Sun pieces for John Lewis Kingston, and Robin designing furniture.

Celebrate with us

To mark International Women’s Day 2024, John Lewis stores will host live events, experiences, offers and treats for customers shopping on 8 March, including DJ sets and performances from female talent.

Visit your local John Lewis on 8 March to join the celebrations.

We are supporting The Prince’s Trust annual International Women’s Day #ChangeAGirlsLife campaign by offering £25 off when you shop at Fashion Rental until 10 March 2024.

International Women's Day

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