Celebrating International Women’s Day!
Blog by Mia Johnson, EETG Marketing Assistant.
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Happy International Women’s Day from all of us here at the Guild! Celebrated on March 8th, International Women’s Day was created in 1911 to celebrate the achievements of women and raise awareness of women’s equality.
For 2023, International Women’s Day’s Global campaign theme is #EmbraceEquality: “We can all challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out inclusion. Collective activism is what drives change. From grassroots action to wide-scale momentum, we can all embrace equity. And to truly embrace equity, means to deeply believe, value, and seek out the difference as a necessary and positive element of life. To embrace equity means to understand the journey required to achieve women’s equality.”
We encourage everyone to celebrate International Women’s Day in whichever way that they can, to support our female-owned enterprises here at the Guild, you could share their business or content on social media, buy from their brand or just send them a positive message! Looking for some female owned businesses to support? Take a look at our listings! From fashion to food to architecture we have hundreds of businesses for you to discover, make sure you check them out!
International Women’s Day is important to us at the Guild to celebrate all of the hardworking women that are part of our community. More than half of the businesses in membership of the Guild are owned or led by women. Many of them started their businesses because they need more flexibility around working hours so they can take care of their children.
Susanne Nichols is an amazing woman and member of the Guild who we would are celebrating for International Women’s Day. Susanne is an active member of the cultural group who regularly trades at our pop-ups and markets and is the owner of Suaura, selling natural and handmade skincare and haircare products.
Susanne launched her brand over two years ago when she struggled to find suitable products to cater to her hair type, she sought help and advice from shops but was unsuccessful. She began researching and discovered that her hair was sensitive to particular hair products and began making her own products to cater to her needs. Friends and family began asking for samples of her products and encouraged Susanne to turn her creations into a business. Susanne began expanding her knowledge through courses and research and the rest was history, Suaura was formed.
Shortly after the launch of her brand and during the Coronavirus pandemic Susanne joined the East End Trades Guild to be part of a community of entrepreneurs in East London.
“The Guild is a great community and a great way to meet and connect with other business owners. It has given me the opportunity to trade at other markets and events which has allowed me to grow my customer base. The cultural team, which I am also part of, is good to discuss issues with like-minded people and those who do not always have a voice. It’s good to see the group growing and how we are working together to grow our community” Susanne Nicholas.
Susanne will be trading at our April market alongside more of our fabulous traders, show your support by checking out her website www.suaura.co.uk and social media: Instagram: suaura.uk and Facebook: Suaura or popping down to our market to show her products!
The Cultural Group is a community of black and ethnic minority creatives in the Guild and is currently a female-run collective. In celebration of International Women’s Day, why not show your support to the group by attending the relaunch of their monthly market, which will be taking place on Sunday, April 2nd at Space Studios in Hackney? Last year, the group ran a pilot and are looking forward to making this year’s market bigger and better, running from April to November.
Not only will the market host a wide range of market stalls, but will include immersive games, activities and creative workshops, catered to all ages. Courtesy of our long-term Guild member and friend, Leonard Maloney, we have arranged for the Jazz Group, Terry Smiles & Friends to perform live at our April market! Make sure you come along and enjoy the music!
Although the cultural group is female-run, we welcome anyone to join! If you would like to be part of the cultural group and take part in our monthly markets, contact henrietta.c@eastendtradesguild.org.uk.
