Nike and SKIMS have just dropped a bombshell in the world of fashion and fitness, introducing NikeSkims, a groundbreaking collaboration that promises to redefine the landscape of women’s activewear. This new brand, a fusion of Nike’s sporting legacy and SKIMS’ expertise in shaping and body-positive design, is set to launch its first collection in spring 2025, with global expansion slated for 2026.

Nike’s CEO Elliott Hill has been on a mission to rejuvenate the company’s brand image, and what better way to achieve that than by teaming up with one of the most influential figures in fashion? Kim Kardashian, the mastermind behind SKIMS, brings her unmatched social media power, fashion sensibility, and body-positive ethos to this ambitious venture. Nike’s latest move is part of its larger strategy to focus on women’s activewear, a category where it has historically lagged behind competitors like Lululemon and Alo Yoga.

NikeSkims isn’t just a fleeting collaboration; it’s a new, long-term brand designed to merge Nike’s sports science and performance-driven design with SKIMS’ obsession with the female form. The result? Activewear that’s as functional as it is flattering. With a promise to “sculpt and perform for everybody,” the brand intends to revolutionise the way women approach fitness clothing, offering apparel, footwear, and accessories that cater to a wide range of body types.

Kim Kardashian has been vocal about the brand’s ethos, stating that every detail has been “obsessed over” to ensure a perfect fit for all women. The collaboration draws from SKIMS’ celebrated inclusivity, offering an extensive size range and shades for every skin tone, something that has become a cornerstone of the SKIMS identity since its 2019 launch.

SKIMS, valued at a staggering $4 billion, has proven its ability to disrupt the shapewear industry, creating a cult following and capturing a wide consumer base. The brand has already made waves in the sports world, dressing Team USA for the Olympics and securing a partnership with the NBA, WNBA, and USA Basketball in 2024. Now, with Nike’s backing, SKIMS is set to transition from shapewear to high-performance sportswear in a more serious way.

This partnership not only strengthens SKIMS’ position in the sportswear market but also allows Nike to tap into the growing demand for stylish and comfortable activewear. Experts agree that while Nike gains from SKIMS’ brand equity and massive following, SKIMS, in turn, benefits from the credibility and innovation that Nike brings to the table.

The NikeSkims collaboration is not just about fashion; it’s about empowering women to feel strong, confident, and sexy while engaging in physical activity. As Heidi O’Neill, president of consumer, product and brand at Nike, put it, the partnership aims to “invite even more athletes into sport and movement.” This is Nike’s way of catering to the next generation of women who are redefining what it means to be both athletic and fashionable.

While full details of the collection remain under wraps, we can expect a seamless blend of SKIMS’ minimalist aesthetic and Nike’s technical prowess. One thing is for sure NikeSkims is set to be a game-changer. The collaboration is bound to make waves not only in the world of fashion but in the fitness industry as a whole, offering women a stylish and functional alternative to traditional activewear brands.

As we await the official launch of NikeSkims in 2025, one thing is certain: this collaboration will undoubtedly disrupt the market and offer a new vision for women’s fitness fashion. If Kim Kardashian and Nike have anything to say about it, the future of activewear is bright, inclusive, and incredibly stylish.

Words By Claire Gaura 

The post Kim Kardashian and SKIMS Game Changing Partnership with Nike: A New Era of Activewear appeared first on Voir Fashion.

This is where Femme It Forward step in. They are back for their fourth year of the Next Gem Femme mentorship programme, offering opportunities for nine months of one-to-one mentoring with their large list of over 150 industry mentors. Their expertise ranges from marketing, business development, talent management, to publicity – and have affiliations with an array of household names such as Apple Music, Netflix, Republic Records, and YouTube.

Only for US and Canadian based applicants, you must be over 18 years old and enrolled in school or employed in order to apply. Over the course of 8 months from August 2024 to March 2025, this programme offers professional coaching, industry insights, and networking opportunities with female industry leaders in their chosen field.

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The programme’s access to a large list of industry experts – such as music, media, entertainment, or technology – allows applicants to engage with professionals with real hands-on experience and advice. The programme will support over one hundred applicants, including those from historically black universities and colleges, and will help provide mentees with the skills they will need for long-term development in the industries they choose. 

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Femme It Forward’s founder and CEO, Heather Lowery, is no stranger to the lack of opportunities that exists within the media and music industry. Her education at Spelman College and employment at various record labels has left her with insight into obstacles that women of colour face when attempting to break into the entertainment industry. In an interview with Forbes in July 2023, she stated that “I initially created Femme It Forward as a series […] It was a series to give more women opportunities to perform on stage […]. I realised I wasn’t doing enough for women in live music. It irked my soul until I did something about it. Five months later I launched Femme It Forward with ten performance line-ups and three panels – all women!”   

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Lowery makes it clear that the Next Gem Femme programme is a direct response to the increased need for black women in professional and entrepreneurial capacities, with 52% of women without mentors expressing a need for additional help with associating with other professionals.

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Therefore, this programme aims to bolster women of colour and afford them with the opportunities she feels they are lacking. She says that the goal of Next Gem Femme is to “Give the next generation of leaders access and opportunities to help combat opportunity gaps and structural barriers that exist for young women of colour.”

Applications for this programme close at 9:00 PM on Friday 7^th June 2024. 

_{Written By Bethan Gwynne}

The post Next Gem Femme And Heather Lowery: The Mentor Program That Is ‘Curated By Women, For Women’ appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Harley Weir

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The first incredible talent we want to mention is Harley Weir. Harley Weir is a self-taught fine art graduate that has been involved with huge campaigns with Balenciaga, Celine and Stella Mcartney. Her work is youthful and intimate and subverts conventional perceptions of the feminine gaze. Weir has an eye for the human form; many of her pieces highlight certain bodily parts or characteristics. She’s had work featured in POP, AnOther Magazine, British Vogue, CR Fashion Book, Dazed and Confused, i-D and Arena Homme+ and continues to take the fashion world by storm.

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Brianna Capozzi

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Another incredible woman setting the tone for others in the industry is Brianna Capozzi. She is an incredibly talented a photographer based in New York and over the recent years she has become known for her unashamed risqué shots and high-profile subjects. She’s worked with Olivia Rodrigo, Selena Gomez, and actress and fashion queen Chloë Sevigny, which resulted in one of her most risqué shots to date, with the photograph controversially depicting a lobster crawling on a naked Sevigny’s crotch.

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Julia Hetta

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Another talent we are particularly obsessed with is Julia Hetta. Julia Hetta is a Swedish Photographer who graduated from Amsterdam’s Gerrit Rietveldt Academy in 2004. Since then, she’s worked with some of the most renowned named and publications within the fashion industry, To name a few, J. Lindenberg, Another Magazine, Dazed and Elle. She explores dark and gory, as well as sensual and romantic themes in her work.

Petra Collins

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Petra Collins has become one of the biggest names in fashion photography over the last 10 years, shooting with some of the biggest names in Cinema and Fashion –  Alexa Demie, Bella Hadid and Kim Kardashian. Her photos have a feminine, dreamlike feel and largely cater to the female gaze. 

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Cass Bird

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The final incredible talent we want to celebrate is Cass Bird. Born in 1974, she’s an artist, photographer, and director from New York and has been published in Elle, Nylon, Rolling Stone, GQ, Paper and New York Magazine. She’s also done work with Levi’s, Urban outfitters, Wrangler and Keds.

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_{Written By Lauren Dickson}

The post International Women’s Month: Female Fashion Photographers Taking The Industry By Storm appeared first on Voir Fashion.

How did your journey begin with Khanum’s?

Khanum’s started as a side hustle. I had lost my job through redundancy and was left unemployed for 18 months. After interviewing for jobs non stop everyday and being rejected everyday,  I finally found a full-time role. When I eventually landed this role, I told myself that I needed an additional stream of income with hopes of additional financial security. The only option for me was to start a ‘side hustle’. 

The idea to start a niche evening wear, particularly jackets, stemmed from seeing a gap in the market for affordable, luxury statement pieces. There were several established high end designer brands offering what I wanted to create but the price points were never attainable for women like myself. My personal preference and ‘financial lane’ at the time admired luxury fashion with some high street styling. I loved the luxury customer experience from the quality of clothing to the sophisticated packaging detail and wanted to create a brand which offered this. I thought, what can I do to cater to an aspirational customer like myself, and create something quite luxurious yet affordable at the same time? That’s how Khanum’s started.

£ 460

Khanum’s Kamia Black Blazer

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£ 630

Khanum’s Kamila Black Blazer

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£ 440

Khanum’s Kys Crop Blazer

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You’re an entrepreneur and saw a gap in the market! So, you didn’t have a design background at all?

No, I didn’t. I studied Law at University. It’s quite a broad subject and I feel like it’s equipped me with a lot of analytical and research skills. I specialised in Intellectual Property Law which has proven extremely beneficial to Khanum’s with the design law aspect, protecting my designs etc, so I don’t regret it at all.

With you not having a design background, which is not unheard of, how did you actually get into fashion design? What does that process look like?

Well, I feel like I’ve always been a natural creative.  My parents are Bangladeshi immigrants who came to London in the late 70s and worked in the garment-making industry. They would produce bulk orders at home for a London-based manufacturer which was just round the corner from where we lived in Brick Lane. So, I was fully exposed to garment production at home. I witnessed my mum cutting patterns and fabric on our kitchen dinner table, then stitch all those fabrics into clothing in our machine room. My dad would do the same after he’d come back from working in restaurants. My older sister was artistic too, she’d always be sketching designs. Just from observation I’d see what they’d be doing and I’d sneak off to do it myself. Creativity and design has always been with me. It’s just not something that I chose to pursue because of certain circumstantial challenges.

Wow! When did you feel like it went from a side hustle to the full-time business that it is now? 

I never saw Khanum’s as a business that would become something as amazing as it is now.  I never envisioned that at all. I thought, it’s just a side hustle, a bit of money coming in, and I’ll put it towards savings. I’ll continue my 9-5 job, because that’s the main security. However, within the first few months there was an incredible surge of brand credibility and validation through revenue and brand awareness from social media and influencers that wanted to collaborate with us. 

The first collaboration that we did was with an influencer named Charlotte Emily Sanders, who was incredibly nice. She was happy to borrow a jacket, take a mirror selfie, and from that we had so many influencers requesting to collaborate with us. It was like a domino effect. It was so natural and organic and that’s what really helped increase revenue and generate sales beyond expectation. 

In the first seven months of running the business, as a side hustle from my bedroom, I managed to solely generate six figures. I then thought, maybe I should quit my job? I had a lot of customers, and I couldn’t continue my job as well as running my business outside of that. I was picking and packing orders, responding to customer service emails and DMs, marketing and putting Instagram/email posts together before work, during lunch breaks and after work. It just got to a point where it was a lot to keep up with the demand. I sat on the idea of quitting the day job, because I was scared. The fear of losing financial security lingered from my past experience of being unemployed for 18 months. 

In my mind, I was scarred by the fact that it was hard to finally get a job and here I am now thinking about quitting? What if my business fails? What if I quit my job and I don’t get as many sales as I do right now? It was a really difficult decision. It was only 18 months after I started Khanum’s where I semi took the leap of faith. I had a conversation with my manager and I asked her if I could work part time, and that my business wouldn’t conflict with that job.  She asked if she could have a look at my business, so she looked at my website and social media. Plot twist! She knew my brand, but didn’t know it was mine. It was quite crazy. She was the one to tell me to quit my job and focus on the business. It was the push I needed.

It sounds like it was scary for you, but it’s really paid off, hasn’t it? Were there any other creative influences that you had when you were growing up?

In terms of role models in business and entrepreneurship, when I was unemployed, I read the book ‘Girl Boss’ by Sophia Amoruso. Then, the Netflix adaptation came out, and I watched that five times. If you’ve watched that, or if you’ve read the book, you can see her journey when she’s struggling with her day job, wanting to make a quick buck which then unintentionally exploded. That planted a seed in my mind and thought maybe that’s what I could do as well? 

I also read ‘How to Become an Overnight Success’ by Maria Hatzistefanis, the founder of Rodial Beauty. She detailed her entrepreneurship journey over 10 years which finally led to success. Those two were key inspirations for me in terms of starting up a business. 

In terms of key role models, without sounding cliché, I saw my mum as a great role model. I saw her raising seven kids at home, an amazing full-time mum, she was a housewife, but was also working to make ends meet. She was making clothes for all of these brands and was doing so whilst raising all of us. I just thought; she’s a woman that’s so efficient, so militant, and gets everything done. I admired that, and recognised her determination with zero excuses at all. If this woman can do all that? Why can’t I, as a woman working 9-5, with a side hustle, and also being a mother to only one child? So, in terms of resilience, efficiency and dedication, my key role model has always been my mum.

£ 1640

Khanum’s Khatt Kimono

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£ 216

Khanum’s Khefali Top

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£ 260

Khanum’s Kira Maxi Dress

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What advice would you give to aspiring creatives or people that want to go into the fashion business? 

Many say that the fashion industry is extremely saturated, but I feel like there’s a space for everyone. I think the key is to really research the market that you want to go into and find a niche. You have to stand out from the crowd and you need to have a unique selling point. Master your niche/USP, then the next key is finding methods of communicating why your brand is IT. You also need to consider your niche as finding a solution to a lot of people’s problems. For me, I thought, I’m young and I want to buy statement pieces. I love jackets, but the only other brands I saw that did those kinds of jackets are very high fashion, established brands, selling them for thousands of pounds which wasnt attainable for me. I wanted to create an affordable, luxury brand and provide the customer service and experience of a luxury brand. That way it’s honed in on both experiences, but you’re not paying the price. My advice would be to find a unique selling point and figure out the experience that you’re going to be providing for that customer.

You’ve had some exciting influencers and cool people wear your clothes. Who would you say has been your favourite person to work with so far?

Seeing Nicole Scherzinger wear a Khanum’s blazer. She was always a woman crush for me. So that was amazing.  

Is there anything exciting that you’re allowed to share with us that you’ve got coming up? 

We are launching our bridal collection next March, which is going to be incredible.. We’ve been working through the embellishment swatches and designs, we’re getting there! Khanum’s Bridal is not your traditional bridal gowns, it’s not going to be anything like that. It bridges the gap for the non-conventional bride and provides a 360 wardrobe for the brides entire wedding journey abnd experience and journey from engagement party to honeymoon fits.  That’s the niche I’ve discovered for bridal, and that’s what I want to push into. 

£ 220

Khanum’s Kiyah Maxi Dress Ivory

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£ 268

Khanum’s Kerl Mini Dress Ivory

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£ 630

Khanum’s Kamila Blazer Ivory

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Interview by Jyoti Matoo

^{Graphics Header Image By Mia Washbrook}

The post An Interview with Khanum’s Founder: Rokeya Khanum Chats Past, Future and Brand Success with Us appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Charitha Chandran

The Bridgerton star was awarded the Samsung Rising Star Award for utilising her voice to challenge racism and represent her South Asian community. We praise Chandra for what she has achieved and are excited for her future in the film industry as well as her continuation to challenge the status quo.

Charitha Chandran certainly kept up her ‘diamond of the season’ status as she dazzled in a long black Rokh dress. The corseted gown featured bejewelled panelling and a sparkling halter neck.

Amelia Dimoldenberg

Known for her unconventional comedy style on her YouTube series –Chicken Shop Dates– we are not shocked to announce that Amelia Dimoldenberg received GLAMOUR’s Creator of the Year Award 2022.

As she proudly accepted her well-earned award, Dimoldenberg slayed in a stunning black Miu Miu suit. We think the androgynous, boxy silhouette partnered with the mini bandeau style top captured the comedian’s style perfectly.

Nicola Coughlan

We are lucky to not just have one, but two Bridgerton stars in our fashion midst. Nicola Coughlan is known for her roles as Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton, as well as Clare Devlin in Derry Girls. However, on Tuesday evening she was receiving recognition for her involvement in protests on women’s rights to abortion, as well as campaigning for equal marriage.

The Actress/ Activist wore a gorgeous custom piece by Emilia Wickstead as she received her TV Actor Award. Differing from her Bridgerton work wardrobe of yellows and oranges, the Wickstead two-piece showed Coughlan in a much more glamorous style. The black embroidered two-piece -taken from Wickstead’s A/W 22 collection- was inspired by the films of Michelangelo Antonioni, and we must say Coughlan looked inspiring in it.

Rita Ora

Rita Ora is no stranger to standing up and speaking out on important issues. Being an Ambassador for UNICEF as well as supporting campaigns for refugees, Ora rightfully earned her Entertainer Award. The singer also continues to create female-empowering anthems which empower women daily- thank you, Rita Ora.

All eyes were on Ora as she stunned in a full-length, sheer black, figure-hugging gown. The partially off-shoulder strappy dress showed off Ora’s black underwear as well as her gorgeous figure.

Munroe Bergdorf

Making great strides for inclusivity in the beauty industry, Munroe Bergdorf uses her platform to create positive change by encouraging higher levels of diversity. As one of the UK’s first mainstream transgender models, she knows the industry first-hand and believes there is still a lot of work to be done. February 2023 will welcome the release of her debut book, which we are sure will be a success. Therefore, a big congratulations to Munroe Bergford for winning GLAMOUR’s Beauty-Changemaker Award.

Wearing a hyper-feminine, lilac gown from Sophie Couture’s S/S 23 collection, Bergdorf looked simply stunning. The dress featured delicate feathers and chiffon appliques, which were complemented by a matching set of heels.

Dina Asher-Smith

Now although Dina Asher-Smith presented an award as opposed to winning one, we couldn’t help but feature her in our mix. As she wore a custom Nensi Dojaka, she awarded the very designer the winner of GLAMOUR’s Fashion Designer of the Year. The sprinter’s red-carpet moment will be remembered for years to come as she elegantly sported the sheer brown, floor-length gown. True to a Nensi Dojaka, the dress featured delicate cut-outs and a breathtaking slit down the skirt’s left side.

Words By Erin Wilson

^{Header Image: Glamour}

The post The Fierce Change-Makers Of This Years GLAMOUR Women Awards appeared first on Voir Fashion.

‘From the New Look to the New Era’

Dior’s signature silhouettes – Maison Dior will always hold a special place in the French capital. It is here that the ‘New Look’ was born, a set of romantic, hyperfeminine- fin de siècle- silhouettes that evoke the clothes worn by Christian Dior’s mother. The development of structured heavy-wear fabrics led to a particular post-war fashion period for women. 

Since becoming Dior’s first female creative director in 2016, Maria Grazia Chiuri has continuously pushed the sartorial envelope for the House, best known for its nip-waist accentuated busts. Chiuri has now unveiled a fresh ready-to-wear collection that reflects on the conditioning of women throughout history.

This creative director is bringing Dior’s New Look into ‘The Next Era- Chiuri made a point of only hiring female photographers for this campaign. The AW22/23 ready-to-wear campaign features portraits of women amidst a dramatic red backdrop.

Chiuri’s collections are situated on the cusp of Dior’s history. The garments and accessories take inspiration from women’s fashion past and present- pieces that blend the classic Dior aesthetics with a modern flair. 

This show’s title comes from Mariella Bettineschi, in which the Italian artist showcased large-scale portraits of women in paintings dating from the 16th to the 19th century.

Embracing Bettineshi’s male gaze reversal, the ardent feminist Chiuri has utilized Dior’s antique aesthetic as a reminder of the truth about women’s struggle throughout history, and the modernisation of the classic Dior silhouette featured on this year’s runway signifies the milestones made in women’s suffrage history. 

Models América González, Maryel Uchida, Steinberg, and Philyne Mercedes are featured in the campaign, styled by Elin Svahn.

^{Images taken from DIOR, Photography by Brigitte Niedermair}

The cut, stark eyes that face the camera symbolise the questioning of the conditions that have condemned women past and present. The gaze is reversed to suggest a different interpretation of art history. Through the artistic arrangement, materials, and silhouettes, Maria Grazia Chiuri’s concepts come to life through Niedermair’s photography. Chiuri reconstructs the relationship between body and garment in a performative manner.

^{Images taken from DIOR, Photography by Brigitte Niedermair}

Dior’s iconic Bar jacket was reimagined in structure and tech innovation, regulating the body’s temperature and warming or cooling it as needed. An illuminated criss-cross bodysuit also followed, which controlled its wearer’s body temperature.

The iconic Roger Vivier for Dior pump was reimagined in Fall/Winter 2022, using technical fabric instead of leather. Several items, such as belts and corsets, were used, giving everyday wear a futuristic and versatile twist.

^{Images taken from DIOR, Photography by Brigitte Niedermair}

A collection of skirts and dresses exhibited Chirui’s recognizable touch from a new perspective. An elevated approach was achieved by reinventing pleated skirts like the Grisaille from men’s clothing; technical knitwear featured embroidery on waterproof materials, gloves, Moto jackets, and bright stockings reminiscent of biker accessories were paired with gowns.

^{Images taken from DIOR, Photography by Brigitte Niedermair}

As a nod to Chiuri’s rebellious yet respectful nature, she used a print from a backdrop of a portrait of Christian Dior to create a new print, seen on an oversized coat with couture gloves.

Words By Chanelle Jassim

^{Header Image: DIOR, Photography by Brigitte Niedermair}

The post An Ode to Every Woman – Dior’s Next Era appeared first on Voir Fashion.

“I wanted to create a brand that was luxe, empowering, bold, unapologetic… a community that women could come… to learn from experts and [confidants]”, Emaan Abbass.

Having been featured in Forbes, Cosmopolitan, and Vogue, Emaan is conquering this worldly taboo with the recent launch of KETISH. Having created a platform with luxury goods that celebrate and promote feminine care openly and unapologetically, along with a blog, COOCHIOLOGY, Emaan is demystifying feminine concerns and prompting discussion between women with shared experiences.

After the most recent release of KETISH’s fem product, The Quickie, Voir catches up with Emaan about her entrepreneurial journey in establishing KETISH, her work within the beauty industry and her new products coming up.

Before we dive into the exciting world of KETISH, could you tell us more about your background?

I’m from California, I grew up in a little country town called Hollister. My parents are Egyptian immigrants who moved to the states to give me and my sister a better life. I started my beauty career working at the Sephora headquarters as a supply chain manager. I always had a deep, sincere passion for beauty, skincare, makeup – basically everything beauty! When I joined Sephora, I thought ‘finally I’m working for one of the biggest beauty brands in the world, I should be satisfied’. But I wanted to work closely in product development and fulfil my dream of having my own brand instead.

I didn’t have a ton of experience, but I did have a lot of passion. I ended up meeting Huda when I was going on vacation to Dubai. I was completely obsessed with her and it really was a miracle that I got to meet her – to this day I still am not entirely sure why she said agreed, but thank god she did! I remember leaving the meeting with her thinking ‘wow, this woman is incredible’. I believed she was creating something magical and I definitely wanted to become a part of that magic.

How did you get into doing product development with the Huda Beauty Team?

I asked Huda for a job a few months after meeting her. I expected again to be a supply chain manager, but she brought me on as a product development manager, I was shocked because I didn’t have experience in that field. Huda reassured me saying she would teach me what I needed to know – I knew the beauty industry and I had a passion for my job which was more important for her.

We saw your pitch to Huda & Mona on an episode of Huda Boss – Tell us more about how this opportunity came up?

I have always wanted to start my own brand but it wasn’t until I heard about the Huda Beauty Angels Fund that I actually put pen to paper, mapping out the picture of my brand. Huda wanted to invest in young, female entrepreneurs as she had experienced difficulty beginning her brand as people didn’t exactly support her or what she had wanted to pursue. Initially, I made a pitch that was between Huda and me, it was quite an intense experience. It was originally just a business plan and an idea. She was excited to see where my mind was going and was proud that I had the courage to approach her with this idea. Feminine and intimate wellness was something not as well known, so she was originally a little hesitant but after a few meetings and conversions on the subject, she chose to jump in feet first with me. Huda essentially told me it was time to cut the umbilical cord, so I moved from her product development team to being involved in KETISH.

How have you found transitioning from an employee to a Brand Founder?

It definitely has been a transition, it also has not been linear. Breaking through my shell as an employee under one of the most powerful women in the industry was a lot of pressure. It’s odd because I’m still under her wing as a mentee, but at the same time, I’m a business partner. There is still moments of hesitation or overthinking, based on my self-doubt, but every day I have to remember she invested in me for a reason and to keep pushing myself forward.

What message lies for you at the heart of KETISH?

I feel like KETISH is something that has always been inside of me – it took a lifetime of experiences to bring it to where it is today. Having gone through cervical cancer, caused by HPV, without the ability to turn to my family for support definitely shaped me. I wished at that time, I had a community or educational source I could turn to when I most needed it. Going through the medical journey made me increasingly aware of the products I was using, I became more intrigued by the feminine and intimate wellness space.

Back in 2009, it was still a very limited space, I questioned why I could only buy products in the drugstore, rather than stores where I buy items to make me feel good and confident. I wanted to be proud to show products on my vanity without having to hide them when my boyfriend came over. This brought me to a place where I wanted to make a brand that was powerful, luxurious, and unapologetic – a brand giving women effective products she could trust. I wanted to build a community so women could lean on one another, but also a space where they could learn from experts and other women with shared experiences.

£ 27

KETISH: The Quickie Wipe – 20 Count

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Tell us about the name KETISH, how did you come up with it?

I wanted to make sure the name represented my culture and tied back to my Egyptian heritage, so I asked my parents and researched along those lines. We found that the ancient Egyptian goddess of love, passion, sexuality and pleasure was named Qetesh, it definitely spoke to the core of the brand as a powerful, goddess unapologetic and unashamed, who champions sexuality and pleasure.

You’ve been working on KETISH for the past two-three years what was that like in a pandemic?

To say the least, it was rough. For KETISH, it forced us to slow down, we took more time to consider what we stood for. We had the opportunity to have conversations with the women we wanted to launch this brand for, rather than have to rush into things. It was tough and a challenge, but also a blessing in disguise for the brand as it gave us more time to think about who we are.

What challenges did you come up against when building KETISH?

I definitely anticipated challenges. To launch a feminine and sexual wellness brand out of the Middle East is a big thing – since the launch, we have started to hear what people think about it. Launching here, we knew there was the possibility for backlash but it allowed us to speak to women from the Middle East, to understand what they wanted to see from the brand and how to not alienate people, to create the brand the right way and stay true to our ideas. We have learnt that as long as we stay true to what our focus is – amazing products, education, and creating a community – that you can’t go wrong with that.

What has been your most rewarding moment since launching KETISH?

Reading the messages, we have received from women all around the world and the response from women has been incredible, a lot of them bring me to tears. I am so grateful that women feel safe and trust us enough to share their personal journeys. What we wanted to do was to break down these barriers to help women engage together in a safe environment.

What advice would you give to other female entrepreneurs’ looking to start a brand?

The number one thing is to really understand and know your purpose, a lot happens behind the scenes which can potentially through you off course. If you don’t have the guiding star and belief in your brand, it can cause things to crumble. It is a tough road to start but with personal belief it is doable.

You have more exciting products coming up – can you tell us more?

I can’t give away too much, but I will say we are focusing on products for targeted body care and will range from intimate, pleasure focused products. We started with a less intimate product, unintimidating and accessible for every woman, as something to begin the conversation. But we are slowly moving over to the sexier side, you can anticipate us to be a well-rounded brand that focuses on the woman and her body first.

And lastly, some words of wisdom for our Voir readers?

Never giving up – if a door shuts in your face, you build another door and do not give up!

My mom always says ‘everything in its right time is beautiful’. I really believe that – when the world is falling apart it is falling apart for a reason, with something more beautiful to come in its place.

Shop and discover more about feminine care through KETISH

£ 27

KETISH: The Quickie Wipe – 20 Count

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KETISH ships internationally to the UK from Ketish.com and Hudabeauty.com!

Words by Caitlin Sahin

_{Header Photo Credit: KETISH}

The post Those Who Dare Win: KETISH, The Feminine Wellness Brand Changing Well Being History appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Following International Women’s day, Mother’s day and the tragic murder of Sarah Everard, there has never been a time more pressing to stand up and show support for women in the UK and across the world. Everyone can contribute this united cause to better women’s political, societal and economic situation. Even as little as buying from a brand that stands up for women, is a great start to promote and fund positive change. Here is a list of five brands to buy from that support, empower and help women.

ASOS Women-owned Brands Edit
Continuing on from International Women’s day, online clothing retailer, ASOS, have produced a fashion edit showcasing their favourite women-owned brands. As well as promoting and celebrating female ran businesses, ASOS have also collaborated with the Prince’s Trust on its #ChangeAGirlsLife campaign, in which they have donated £28,000 to its Women Supporting Women initiative.

£ 6.95

Lottie London Freckle Tint

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£ 65

WMNSwear one shoulder lace up back dress in black

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Estrid Razors
Estrid is a brand built on the continuous support for female empowerment. This online brand sells Razor subscriptions; their products are super cute and luxury quality. Importantly, the brand pride themselves on sustainability; how they defy the Pink Tax and donate a portion of their revenue to charities which increase women’s power and influence globally. They give money to The Fawcett Society, Kvinna til Kvinna and Medica Mondiale, all charities which campaign for gender equality UK and worldwide.

£ 7.95

Estrid The Starter Kit — Space

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£ 8.95

Estrid Body Oil Wash

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House of CB
House of CB is renowned for their luxurious, high quality occasion-wear; the company pride themselves on their products making women feel confident and beautiful. Conna Walker, owner of House of CB has set up a campaign CBwomen4women in celebration of International Women’s Day. House of CB is giving the opportunity for three female owned businesses to win a prize of cash injections to fund their own brands. This support for women in business is super important in the working world, House of CB want to promote equal pay, equal respect and equal opportunity for females and believes this campaign will afford women the opportunity to grow and expand their businesses.

£ 109

House Of CB Makani Corset Blazer

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£ 129

House Of CB Chocolate Satin Corset Dress

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Missguided
For International Women’s Day, Missguided have adopted the slogan Changeagirlslife. They are partnering up with The Princes Trust Charity and donating 100% of the profits on their Charity collection in the mission to support women in underprivileged and challenging situations.

£ 30

Princes trust x Missguided sand international women’s day hoodie

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£ 15

Princes trust x Missguided sand international women’s day cap

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Nectar Nectar
Nectar Nectar is a Fair Trade Jewellery business, sold in UK stores such as Anthropologie and John Lewis. The brand is committed to help women areas from around the world, which do not provide safe working environments and do not pay fairly or equally. Nectar Nectar employs women as artisans, training them to be jewellery crafters, agricultural croppers, wooden handicrafts makers and other occupations suited to their skills. Nectar Nectar pay their employers equality and ensure they are working in working environments where safety is ensured. They also offer the women the chance to take educational modules; mentors give them classes on literacy, business education, nutrition and financial planning. This jewellery company are commuted to the personal and professional growth of their female employers.

£ 60

Nectar Nectar Gemstone Drop Earrings

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£ 85

Nectar Nectar Elliptical Link Necklace

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Words By Theodora Wood

The post Supporting Women: 5 Brands That Empower and Help appeared first on Voir Fashion.

“There is too much value placed on stability greatness can only be found through rebellion.”

These women have achieved greatness in their prospective industries by rebelling against the norm and rewriting the rules.

Lizzo

Lizzo an American pop artist who gained mainstream success when she released her number one single ‘truth hurts’ the singer-songwriter made waves with her unapologetic. Confidence in her body despite societal views. She continues to push the envelope with her fashion, music, live shows and recently as she twerked at a basketball game in a thong peeping through the hole cut at the back of her shirt. Time and time again Lizzo has proved she is 100% that bitch.

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish an American singer and songwriter first broke out on the scene in 2016 with her single “Ocean Eyes”. The teenager’s dark and unsettling tonal songs seem to relate to all the experience of the gen Z proven as she swept the board recently with five Grammys. Billie Eilish seems to have re-written what it means to be a pop star from her music to a neon oversized and animated sense of fashion, she continues to contradict and pave her own path.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Screenwriter and actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge is known for writing tv hits like Fleabag and Killing Eve continues to entertain us with unique female characters. In the tv comedy Fleabag, she presents a female character with mental issues, a failing business and a difficult family navigating life and still made us laugh. In Killing Eve, she presents two opposite females: one an erratic female assassin and the other an obsessive ambitious investigator who chase each other around the world. Her works Present wholesome female characters with realistic three-dimensional personalities

Marine Serre

Futuristic Upcycled and hybrid are just a few words that describe the French brand Marine Serre. Marine Serre is a French designer founded the brand after working under fashion biggest names like Demna Gvasalia. She has gained an occult following for her blurring the lines between ready-to-wear, couture, tailoring and sportswear. Her garments are easily identifiable by her iconic crescent moon shape and also the by use of upcycled materials to create hybrid garments. Her creations are a view of a sustainable future of fashion.

Phoebe Philo

Philophile a term coined for the fan base of the former creative director of Céline (accent on the e) British designer Phoebe Philo. The former creative director amassed great support from fans during her time in Céline. For the first-time women felt that the designer wasn’t guessing what women would like she just knew it. Philo a mother of three presented clothes that featured realistic femininity. Her designs featured aspects of functionality and wearability that seemed to relate with many. Her less is more strategy in early 2010 gave birth to today’s minimalism in women’s fashion. In summary, her work presented women femininity from a female perspective.

Words by Precious Njoki

Graphics by Séverine Denis-Lessard

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The post Five Females Re-Writing the Rules appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Just a glance at Mocaro’s website and it’s clear that British-Caribbean designer, Monisha Robinson, is onto something. Her bespoke menswear brand epitomises uniqueness in how it manages to pair precious metals with silk to create one-off accessories for suave and modern men.

Whilst many male designers have had womenswear as their focus, think Karl Lagerfield, Christian Dior and Alexander Wang, you may be scratching your head to think of women designers who have dedicated their brands to menswear. Well, now you can add Monisha to that list. Her ‘For Him. By Her’ ethos makes Mocaro truly stand out from the crowd and demonstrates an evolution in the industry with Monisha being a female designer working under the umbrella of menswear much like Bianca Saunders, Pariah Farzaneh and Roni Ilan.

Monisha Robinson in her studio space

In speaking to Monisha, it is clear that she was determined to be unconventional with her brand. She saw a “gap in the market” when observing the outfits worn by men at award shows. “Every bowtie appeared the same” – there was no variation in colour or texture. Men ties were standard, predictable and unadventurous so Monisha set out to create something more exciting – interweaving her expertise in jewellery design with her love for quality fabric to create one-of-a-kind pieces which now forms the baseline of Mocaro../

Monisha’s journey in the world of fashion begins as a secondary school student on the set of an Edward Scissorhands production. Gaining work-experience with a theatrical costumier introduced her into the processes behind design including “patternmaking, sewing, heat-pressing” and provided rich inspiration. Fast-forward a few years and Monisha found herself at London College of Fashion studying womenswear and business and secured an internship at Hatton Garden jewellers. The world-famous jewellery district in fact still plays a large role in Monisha’s brand with every signature piece being “individually hand stamped with the Mocaro hallmark”, made at Hatton Garden.

When asking Monisha on when she felt like Mocaro truly began blossoming, it was made clear that it was when she discovered the right manufacturers to uphold her high standards of quality: “once I found great manufactures – which was hard in terms of getting them to produce to a great standard – I saw Mocaro growing”. Good quality materials such as silk, metals and craftmanship is undoubtedly key to the brand, with the 100% silk fabrics being sourced from Macclesfield mill (est. 1755), the 925-sterling silver detailing stamped with the British Hallmark and a future possibility of incorporating “diamonds” into the next collection.

Undoubtedly, eminence is at the centre of Mocaro, as is authenticity. Robinson’s Caribbean heritage really shines through in the bespoke bowties featuring African fabric. The ties were made to be “bright, vibrant and luxurious” to add both tradition and culture to any outfit. The gold texture of the fabric along with the 18K gold neckband adds another layer of lavishness to the ties which interweave Monisha’s Caribbean and British heritage.

Bespoke Bowties from Mocaro

Being a female entrepreneur and a woman of Caribbean in heritage means Monisha has a unique place perspective on the industry. When asking Monisha on any advice she has for other women and PoC trying to start their own fashion businesses, she states: “Find your niche. Try to be different from the rest. I would also recommend finding a mentor because it is great to have a guide when you’re starting out so they can direct you beforehand and you can get a bit of experience”. Ultimately, Monisha adds, “follow your dreams. Don’t let anything hold you back. Once you have a great product/talent, don’t think or let anything get in your way with perseverance. You just need to keep on going and never give up!”.

With Monisha’s commendable worth ethic and advice, it is unquestionable that Mocaro has a bright future ahead of it. In 5 years Monisha hopes to extend Mocaro’s product range into menswear clothing, cologne after-shave and even skincare. Only time can tell what the future of the brand will be – possibly one with diamonds, perhaps one with Idris Elba (the Mocaro client of Monisha’s dreams) but definitely one that will continue growing and impressing.

Video of the design process on Mocaro’s website

Take a look for yourself here: https://www.mocaro.co.uk/

Words by Hena Sharma

Graphics by Katie Janes

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The post Meet The Female Entrepreneur Reshaping Men’s Accessories appeared first on Voir Fashion.