CELEBRATING EMPOWERING WOMEN
International Women's Day is a powerful reminder of the achievements and contributions of women across the globe. This year, Luxe Leopard takes great pride in honouring the spirit of this special day by spotlighting a curated selection of extraordinary female-founded brands on our website. These inspiring entrepreneurs have not only made a mark in the business world but have also become trailblazers in the fashion industry, embodying the essence of empowerment and resilience.
KERRY O'BRIEN | COMMANDO
Kerry O'Brien, the visionary CEO, Founder, and Designer of Commando, brings a unique perspective to fashion with a background in financial PR. Approaching design with a non-traditional mindset, Kerry prioritizes comfort, challenging conventional notions of underwear and emphasizing functionality in every Commando piece. Kerry's commitment to quality, longevity, and real body fittings resonates with a celebrity clientele who trust Commando as the foundation for their fashion moments. With an eye on trends and a passion for empowering women, Kerry O'Brien aims for every Commando wearer to feel beautiful, confident, and ready to conquer the world.
LARA MEAD | VARLEY
Lara Mead, the co-founder and creative mind behind Varley, introduces a dynamic activewear and lifestyle brand designed for the modern woman. Influenced by California and London aesthetics, Varley's collections embody a perfect fusion of technical prowess and understated elegance. Lara, along with her husband Ben, initiated Varley in 2015, envisioning a brand that seamlessly marries fashion and function. Lara's inspiration stems from observing how women move and live, leading her to create comfortable, supportive pieces that serve as versatile, investment-worthy additions to existing wardrobes. With offices in London and Los Angeles, Varley captures the essence of polished athleisure, infusing European sophistication with LA's laid-back cool factor, underlining Lara Mead's commitment to empowering women through stylish and functional activewear.
DONNA KARAN | DKNY
Donna Karan, renowned as "The Queen of Seventh Avenue," pioneered an iconic design sensibility that transformed into a global lifestyle brand. Starting her career as Anne Klein's assistant designer, she rose to prominence and became head designer after Klein's passing in 1974. In 1984, Karan founded her eponymous brand, introducing the revolutionary Essentials line, credited for popularising the concept of a capsule wardrobe. The brand expanded into a full lifestyle range, including apparel, accessories, beauty products, and more. In 1989, Karan launched the successful diffusion line DKNY, diversifying into men's collections as well.
Cecilie Jørgensen | SUMMERY
Danish designer Cecilie Jørgensen, the creative force behind Summery Copenhagen, traces the brand's origin to a fashion student's dilemma, transforming her mother's scarves into a tunic that garnered instant acclaim. In a short space of time, Jørgensen has propelled Summery Copenhagen into an international sensation, embraced by street style influencers and available at premium retailers around the world. Jørgensen's embroidered designs, inspired by keffiyeh scarves, exude classic coolness and geometric prints.
ATHINA PARNASA | DEVOTION TWINS
Devotion Twins, a Greek family business led by designer Athina and husband Dimitris, is dedicated to crafting beautiful, sustainably made resort and summer clothing along with accessories. Athina's signature style, marked by femininity, playfulness, and natural confidence, has been a consistent source of inspiration since the brand's inception. Her designs focus on enhancing women's beauty, instilling confidence, and celebrating femininity. With each collection, a blend of perfectionism and creativity evolves the brand's style in exceptionally imaginative ways. Athina's deep connection to her native Greece echoes through every design, incorporating typical patterns dyed in the Athens atelier and lace inserts, preserving the country's rich textile tradition.
ARIANNE PUIG | BORN LIVING
Born Living Yoga originated in the family garage, driven by Arianne Puig's recognition of a need for high-quality yoga apparel. Having practiced yoga for two decades, Arianne found it challenging to find suitable clothing in Spain and was inspired by the athleisure style prevalent in Miami and London, albeit at steep prices. Combining her textile expertise with an experienced team, they aimed to create a distinctive brand offering functional, comfortable, and on-trend garments. Arianne attributes the brand's appeal to a combination of factors, emphasizing the importance of comfort, aesthetics, colour, and the quality-to-price ratio in the decision-making process for customers. Born Living Yoga's evolution and success underscore the dedication of a passionate team committed to delivering exceptional products to a growing community of enthusiasts.
MARLOES HOEDEMAN | LOVE STORIES
Born out of a desire for fun, comfortable lingerie designed by women for women, Love Stories, a Dutch brand founded by Marloes Hoedeman in Amsterdam in 2013, has grown into an international sensation. With a team of 30, 15 global boutiques, and expansions into swimwear, loungewear, and kidswear, Love Stories reflects a laid-back living philosophy. Marloes, a former interiors stylist, initially identified a gap in the lingerie market and sought to inject excitement and comfort into the shopping experience. Over five years, Love Stories has evolved from its garage beginnings into a global brand embraced by a dedicated tribe. Marloes, now presiding over her creative empire, remains inspired by eclectic combinations, daring design choices, and a commitment to the perfect mismatch. The brand, characterised by its soft bra revolution, encourages women to appreciate their bodies as they are.
HELEN & LARA | SAINTED SISTERS
Sainted Sisters, a brainchild of Helen Anderson and Lara Brockhurst from AB Enterprises, stands out for its meticulous attention to detail and fabric selection. With years of global exploration for exquisite camisoles and chemises that seamlessly blend fashion and lingerie, the collection reflects their expertise. Helen and Lara, conceptualists with profound knowledge of lingerie, create luxurious and versatile designs that can be worn as intimate layers or standalone pieces. Their collaborative approach with the technical team ensures timely delivery of beautifully crafted concepts, always keeping the end consumer in mind. Sainted Sisters offers a curated collection of wardrobe essentials, combining fine fabrics, laces, and trims, embodying wearable elegance.
SARAH GURT | FREEDOM MOSES
Freedom Moses, the Israeli footwear brand founded by French designer Sarah Gurt, seamlessly blends coolness and comfort in its timeless and ethically crafted sandals. Drawing inspiration from Tel Aviv street style, Gurt infuses her extensive experience from working with renowned brands like Oscar de la Renta and Thierry Mugler into creating a playful range of sliders. Crafted from sustainable materials, these recyclable, vegan-friendly, and machine-washable sandals feature durable and ultra-cushioned PCU plastic injected with air. The extensive collection includes tie-dye, metallic, snake, and leopard print designs, ensuring a vibrant and bold selection.