Decorating & Design
Discover 15 Female-Run Design Brands
Updated on July 18, 2022
In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re rounding up some of the incredible female-run design brands featured in the pages of H&H. From shop owners to business mentors like Cortney Fletcher, these talented creators have all made meaningful contributions to the design and retail space.
Scroll down to discover these female-forward design brands!
Laurel Munro, Caitlin O’Reilly and Melissa Condotta of Field Made Goods
This 400-square-foot retail space in Picton, Ont. is the work of four talented female makers. Candle designer Laurel Munro (East City Candles), ceramicist Caitlin O’Reilly (Cylinder Studio), apothecary Melissa Condotta (Sunday’s Company) and woodworker Bethanie Kaye — combined their efforts to create a one-of-a-kind shop in Prince Edward County. The shop offers a pretty array of candles, ceramic plates and mugs, plant-based skincare and handmade wooden bowls and candlesticks. “This is something we’re really proud of,” says Laurel. “It’s a concept you don’t find very often, especially because everything we put on our shelves is made by us.”
Colette van den Thillart, designer and creator of The Bear Wallpaper
In our April 2021 issue, we featured three amazing design collaborations, including this unique wallpaper designed by Colette van den Thillart in partnership with L.A. art and design studio Work + Sea and Toronto’s Memo Showroom. Colette reimagined Canadian author Marian Engel’s groundbreaking 1976 novel Bear as a painterly wallpaper. “It’s such a conversation starter,” say Colette. “Work + Sea’s fearless and wild approach to making papers is very English. It really was kismet,” says Colette.
Brenda Li and Paula Li of Cadine
Located in the Southlands neighborhood of Vancouver, this unique lifestyle shop puts emphasis on natural materials and soulful goods for everyday use. The exclusive designs chosen by owners Brenda Li and Paula Li span the worlds of fashion, beauty and decorating. See our full review of the shop here.
Sally Pottharst and Jodie Fried of Armadillo & Co.
Co-founders Sally Pottharst and Jodie Fried are the visionaries behind this sustainable rug brand. All of the rugs are made with natural material and energy-efficient processes. “People have become more savvy about what they bring into their homes,” says Sally. “Sustainability is at the heart of our business, and we’re excited to keep pushing the design industry as a whole toward greater environmental accountability.”
Emma Greasley and Jessica Ridding of Purple Hill Lavender Farm
Tucked into a converted barn in Creemore, Ont., is a friendly shop that feels like a stowaway from Provence. True to its name, Purple Hill Lavender Farm is surrounded by picturesque landscape and offers candles, honey, soaps and more made with the lavender organically grown on the property and essential oil distilled on-site. This year, owners and sisters Emma (left) and Jessica also invited local entrepreneurs to collaborate on products such as lavender-print Swedish dishcloths by Ten & Co. and lavender-infused teas by Clearview Tea Company — two other women-run brands. Seasonal offerings include baby lavender plants for gardens and freshly harvested lavender bundles.
Muriel Soloman and Vanessa Eckstein of førs studio
The last two years have reminded us that little things matter — a quiet moment with a cup of tea, family meals, a vase of flowers brightening our work zone. førs studio has launched with a tabletop collection — dubbed poetic objects for essential living — that makes the most of these daily pleasures. The 51-piece line includes ceramic plates, bowls, cups that sit perfectly in the hand, teapots, a carafe that doubles as a vase, and snack-sized solid wood trays. Designed in Toronto by førs co-founders Muriel Solomon and Vanessa Eckstein, the collection cleverly nests together to look just as great on shelves as it does on tables, and is offered in shades of white, grey, rose and coral.
Leah Miller of Wolf & Moon
A lifestyle shop that was born out of owner Leah’s passion for the finding the perfect gift, this Toronto boutique located in Rosedale fulfills this mission. “Wolf & Moon is full of things that make me happy — and mostly pieces you can’t find anywhere else in Canada,” says Leah. See this story for more about the shop.
Shanan Campanaro of Eskayel
Ever since Brooklyn, N.Y., artist Shanan Campanaro founded her textile studio, Eskayel, in 2008, her watercolor-inspired designs have filled style-forward homes on wallpaper, pillows, tile and more. Last year, she teamed up with Toronto retailer Elte to turn more than 20 of her sought-after designs into plush wool and silk rugs in a range of custom sizes. Hand-knotted, dyed-and-cut in Jaipur, the rugs are subtle, moody and perfect.
Suzanne Kasler, designer and creator of the Haut Marais Collection for Hickory Chair
If you’ve always dreamed of an apartment in Paris, decorating with veteran designer Suzanne Kasler’s new Haut Marais collection for Hickory Chair might be the next best thing. Inspired by the historical Haut Marais neighbourhood in the city’s 3rd arrondissement, the collection distils its namesake area’s celebrated mix of antiques, art and trendy shopping into livable-for-life dining chairs, tables, cabinets and comfy upholstered sofas rich in je ne sais quoi.
Lisa Wrixon of The Stylewell
This retail space is one of several independent businesses predominantly owned by women in Vancouver’s mountainside neighbourhood of Edgemont Village. A self-proclaimed “hunter- gatherer,” Lisa brings in globally sourced textiles and ceramics, as well as pieces from local makers such as Steelwood Design, Dougherty Glassworks and Sophia Clay Art. More information on the shop is here.
Dana Schwartz of Via Maris
New York–based Canadian entrepreneur Dana Schwartz launched Via Maris, a line of modernist Judaica, in September 2020. In no time, it became the insider’s source for sleek versions of mezuzahs, menorahs and Shabbat candleholders. The Trace and Block chanukiahs come in fashionable shades and can be fitted with matching candles for a cool, monochromatic look.
Shayne Fox of Shayne Fox Hardware
Shayne’s cast-bronze hardware is designed and made in Toronto. A production designer in the film industry, Shayne credits downtime between shows for the launch of her namesake hardware studio. “Four years ago, I had this urge to build something that was mine,” she says. “I had also just renovated my kitchen and wanted hardware with an old world feeling. I had a hard time finding anything I liked. Crafting it and making it by hand made sense to me.” Shayne sketches the shapes of her pieces, which include pulls, knobs, hooks and furniture legs, makes molds, then has the pieces cast at a local foundry. She finishes each piece by hand, lacquering, waxing, plating or blackening them, depending on the finish. “The coolest part of the process is that it’s age-old — even archaic,” she says.
Andrea Rodman of Hem Interiors
Nike Onile of The Apt by 800 Sq Ft, and Studio Ode
We had the opportunity to chat with designer Nike Onile in our December 2021 issue, and get the scoop on her design preferences and predictions. The designer made her mark with The Apt by 800 Sq Ft, a shoppable apartment concept in Toronto. She now leads Studio Ode. Read our full Q&A with her here!
Christina Bryant Herbert and Stephanie Peng of St. Frank
This female-forward brand based in New York features new and vintage furniture, accessories, textiles and wallpapers, all of which are ethically sourced from around the world. St. Frank looks for partnerships with organizations that support artisan groups, like Nest or Artisan Resource, who work closely with makers to understand their social and environmental impact. The brand’s vintage pieces are selected with longevity in mind. “Buying vintage and resale is one of the best things you can do to minimize your environmental footprint,” says Stephanie. “We work with textile vendors in Turkey and Guatemala to curate our vintage selection, which allows us to offer one-of-a-kind or limited-edition pieces that can be passed down over generations.”