Womxn For Womxn
IN CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMXN'S DAY
We have asked some of the womxn we most admire to share the resources and inspiration that have moved them forward in their lives professionally, personally and spiritually. Throughout womxn’s month it’s our intention to gather these sources and share them onwards hoping to create a space for womxn to uplift each other.
Discover the features below
Vanissa Antonious
A seasoned industry insider with an impressive 20-year track record in the luxury fashion sector. Her unique background, growing up in Australia with Egyptian heritage, instilled in her an appreciation for tradition, timeless quality, and beauty within an immigrant culture defined by determination and unwavering resolve.
With a strong educational foundation in art history and eight years of experience as a fashion editor at Harper’s Bazaar across Australia and the UK, Vanissa honed her understanding of luxury markets. This insider knowledge served as the cornerstone for her distinct design philosophy, which revolves around a blend of quality, versatility, practicality, and timeless, elegant craftsmanship.
Vanissa’s philosophy resonates profoundly with an international, conscious customer base and she is one of the few entrepreneurs in fashion that possesses the rare quality of having both a high sensitivity for design and understanding what customers want as well as a very pragmatic operational DNA of running a business effectively.
NEOUS has been a BFC Fashion Trust Recipient three consecutive years running and has received two VOGUE Fund nominations.
“Amelia Earhart who was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic had unwavering drive to push herself further and further to the edge of exploration, whether that was to reach the highest altitude, or to fly the furthest distance, she continuously broke gender stereotypes at a time where it was unheard of. It is a reminder to me that we can always beat the odds and how fortunate I am to be able to try."
*Image via kids.nationalgeographic.com
"After watching the biopic on Diana Nyad and learning about her Cuba to Florida crossing I was infatuated. Her unbelievable amount of tenacity and resilience, and how she can push herself through pain and ignore the naysayers until she finally completed the full distance shows a strength that I wish to possess."
*Image via theartof.com
"Zaha Hadid’s creative flare has forever been a source of inspiration for me in design. She paved her own way through a predominantly white and male dominated industry and has firmly cemented her position in design history. Her consistency to create contemporary and lasting designs is something that I strive to encompass within my own creative thinking.”
*image via zaha-hadid.com
CLÉMENCE POLÈS
A creative director, photographer and curator based in Paris. She’s also the founder and editor of passerby magazine, initially created as a platform for noticing and celebrating the women who pass us by - broadening the scope of the people featured in typical media; passerby has become a venue for diverse perspectives, a driver of creative exchange, and a community.
Read on to learn more about the works and womxn who have moved her forward.
Croyons à l’aube de la saison froide by Forough Farrokhzâd
Farrokhzâd was a very controversial poet during her lifetime. Not only for the progressive themes in her poetry but also for her demands as a woman. When she was just twenty years old, she learned painting, divorced, published her first poetry collection, and left to study cinema in England. She’s an iconoclastic personality of Iranian culture, a figure of the free and independent artist within a patriarchal society.
This is the last collection of her poems and it includes one of my beloved pieces titled "I Pity the Garden." In the poem the decay of the abandoned garden symbolizes various forms of alienation, particularly a sense of isolation from social life and its prospects. Traditional institutions like marriage or religion are portrayed as oppressive and menacing. Despite feelings of fear, loneliness, and the awareness of mortality, the urge for desire persists, and sensory perception sparks creative impulses within. Light and darkness, rather than being in conflict, complement each other, shaping the boundaries of perception.
گوگوش،من آمده ام
Googoosh was deeply ingrained in my childhood; my mom would recount how she listened to her music on repeat, whether in moments of love or heartbreak. Everything Googoosh did, my mom emulated during her teens. When she cut her hair short, girls all over Tehran followed suit. Googoosh even influenced my mom's wardrobe, which I've now inherited. Throughout her career, Googoosh challenged traditional gender roles and societal expectations, and I see that with my mom. My mother’s defiance and willingness to challenge the status quo have undoubtedly influenced me as well.
"Man Amadeam" translates to "I have arrived" in English. This song embodies themes of self-empowerment, resilience, and independence as Googoosh confidently declares her readiness to confront any obstacle and assert her presence in the world. It's a declaration of strength and determination, portraying her ability to overcome challenges with unwavering resolve.
Shirin, 100 Portraits by Gelareh Kiazand
Gelareh Kiazand's intimate portraits of the actresses in Abbas Kiarostami's "Shirin" played a pivotal role in my love for photography.
The film "Shirin" stands out as one of my cherished favorites, as Kiarostami beautifully captures over 100 renowned Iranian actresses watching a staged enactment of "Khosrow and Shirin” a 12th-century Persian love narrative. The narrative progression remains concealed from the audience for the entire film, with the story solely conveyed through the expressive faces of the women as they observe the theatrical performance.
Najmieh Batmanglij’s Food of Life
Moving to NYC left me feeling disconnected, longing for rice dishes like Loobia Pollo or Taachin that my mom would leave in the fridge for me as she was off to work. Despite my lack of culinary skills, Najmieh’s recipes have helped me bridge that gap. Her cookbooks aren't just about recipes; they showcase the beauty of Iranian culture. I discovered incredible poetry through her cookbooks. I was lucky enough to have met her, and she’s such a generous and inspiring figure. She’s become somewhat of a mentor as I navigate my own book.
Tesa Jurjasevic
Originally from Central Europe, Tes a creative consultant, content creator and Vogue Adria editor; with impeccable style and an eye for minimal and elevated silhouettes. Meet Tesa & learn more about the works and womxn who have inspired and moved her forward.
"I might come off as a big cliché, but when I think about the women who have inspired me, my mind instantly goes to women in fashion. Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to work in fashion, so I've always looked up to the women who have left a big mark in the industry."
-TJ
"I adored Audrey Hepburn, as a teenager ~ for her style (Breakfast at Tiffany's was, of course, my favorite movie). I now have a whole new appreciation for her, especially for her selflessness and dedication. She leveraged her fame and platform as a tireless advocate for children's rights and a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador."
-TJ
"Coco Chanel doesn't really need a special explanation, as she's THE woman in the fashion industry; her legacy is still so present and impactful."
-TJ
"I've always admired Diane Von Furstenberg; and I can't recommend her book more highly 'The Woman I Wanted to Be' ~ a great way to learn from her fantastic life.
And what do all these three women have in common? Their unbelievable strength and power, how they were able to make their mark in a male-dominated industry, and how they've become true icons."
-TJ
Sophie Lou Jacobsen
A New York City-based artist and designer, most known for her collection of delightful home objects cast in glass. Here she shares great works by womxn who have impacted her life.
One of my greatest sources of inspiration, early on in the development of myprofessional voice, was the work and life of Nathalie Du Pasquier. One of the few female founding members of the Memphis group in the 80s, she operated on the same plane and level as her male colleagues, and has since moved through her life and work gracefully within various artistic and creative disciplines, mediums, and endeavors. Her work is neither feminine nor masculine, it's distinctly personal and her perspective is original and thoughtful, clearly coming from a place that resides intrinsically inside her that she allowed herself, through some form of confidence and force, to explore. To me this has always represented a certain strength that I have admired, that is not one that speaks about feminism or the power of women, but is proof that we are all just equal.
*image via lachance.paris
A project entitled, “Because–The Blind” by Sophie Calle (1986)
"I met people who were born blind. Who had never seen. I asked them what their image of beauty was."—Sophie Calle
In a compilation of 23 conversations and over 80 images, the project juxtaposes photographs of the subject, with their description of something they find beautiful, and the objects (or scenes) themselves. It is one of the most moving things I have seen, and brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. The idea of the beauty of the material world existing without sight, reading these stories and comparing their vision with what we (those with sight) can see, is something that once again speaks to me about the aura of the built world and what it evokes beyond pure form and function.
*image via Artsper Magazine
Merit Oppenheim’s Objet (Déjeuner en Fourrure).A non descript tea service covered in fur, this artwork“achieved a Surrealist goal by liberating the saucer, spoon, and teacup from their original functions as consumer objects. Viewers experienced various emotions as they observed Object, the objects within which were rendered dysfunctional. ”As a designer that focuses on the emotional aspect of functional objects,I find this idea of rendering an object dysfunctional in order to single out only the emotional a fascinating concept. Oppenheim was one of the few surrealist women to transcend the role of muse, and was one of the few female artists of her generation to be internationally recognized while she was alive.
*image via vogue.com
Asanni Armon
A rapper, performer, and activist. Asanni is the founder and director of For The Gworls, a non-profit collective that focuses on raising funds for Black transgender people needing emergency relief for rent, gender-affirming surgeries, prescriptions, travel assistance, and more through parties and community fundraiser events.
Read on to discover the womxn who have propelled her forward in life.
"Demi Vee is an up-and-coming, immensely-gifted vocalist. She's a member of SIREN, and she’s a talent to be reckoned with. Her dedication to her craft — to strengthening her vocal ability; to creating art that is true to who she is; to developing a sound unique to her while being open to evolving — is something that inspires me to do the same. She’s genuine — she’s a truth-teller, but she’s also kind. She’s an incredible songwriter and her ear for music is rare, to me. She’s a gem."
"Tracy "Africa” Norman: She’s one of the first Black, published trans models (she was the Black woman on the face of the Clairol box). She’s pioneering. She’s striking. She's the epitome of grace to me. In some ways, she’s a North Star: in reading and listening to interviews about her life, no one should have to have gone through the things she’s gone through as the first Black published transgender model, and she’s changed things for the many Black trans women and femmes after her trying to carve a lane for themselves publicly.
"Connie Fleming - an iconic Black trans model. She was an original Mugler muse, she’s still gracing their runways, and is a muse for many other brands, too. She flows gracefully and seemingly effortlessly down the runway. She is (still) the it girl."
-AA
Brittany Bathgate
A creative director and creator of art-led fashion and interior content. With impeccable taste, she’s a constant source of inspiration for her minimal, functional and elevated style choices.
Read on to discover the womxn who have inspired her and propelled her forward in life.
"I'm often inspired by women who uniquely redefine, trail blaze and conquer male-dominated industries.
It's no surprise I'm wearing one of Simone-Bodmer Turner's pieces, considering how much female sculptors influence me aesthetically- Barbara Hepworth being one.
Another significant inspiration to me is Patti Smith; however, as I navigate my 30s and the changing nature of what it is to be a content creator, I feel inspired mostly by my female friends and peers within this industry.
I had the privilege and pleasure of connecting with Neelam Ahooja just last week, and her beautiful soul left me feeling so inspired." -BB
Hannah Faith Lord
A Los Angeles-based photographer & creative. Hannah’s worked with brands ranging from Fear of God to Wyeth, both in front of and behind the camera. We’ve long admired Hannah’s approach to life; adventurous and open; yet balanced, thoughtful and kind.
Read on to discover the womxn who have propelled her forward in life.
*images via gagosian.com
"One of my best friends, Cassie Sinclair has been a huge supporter and partner in my career growth. She has been a big part of my success and has been there for me in so many ways."
"As I’ve gotten older, I’ve felt more and more inspired by my mother. She raised 10 kids on a farm and homeschooled us alone while my dad worked. She always encouraged me to pursue whatever I wanted and not to follow the social norm. She never forced me to attend college or get a “real job” unless I wanted to. She was so supportive of whatever I was interested in and did her best to give me as many opportunities as she could. I feel very blessed to have had that kind of cheerleader in my corner.”
"One of the first women that inspired me was Sally Mann. It was her work that made me want to be a film photographer. I loved the rawness of her perspective and how she captured emotions in every shot." - HFL