This is a love letter to your long-term partner, your friend-with-benefits, your love-at-first-sight, and to your planet earth as well. How? Well, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite brands, their founders, and their products. Everyone on this list is making the world a better place while also adding some pizzazz to your Valentine’s. A win-win in our book.
1
Rooshy Roy – Aavrani
Female-founder Rooshy combines her Indian roots and traditions with modern formulas to create skincare that does wonders without unnatural ingredients. Gift to the partner who prioritizes their skincare routine.
2
Carina Chaz – Dedcool Fragrances
Dedcool was founded by 21-year-old Carina Chaz who wanted to extend her passion for colognes and masculine scents. Their fragrances are water-free, made with organic ingredients, and perfect for the partner who presses their nose to you when you hug.
3
Murielle Victorine Scherre – la fille d’O Lingerie
What is more romantic than inclusive lingerie? This female-founded avant-garde brand was Murielle Victorine Scherre’s love-child for lingerie created for every body, praising the natural beauty we all have.
4
Carly Burson – LAUDE the Label
For the laid-back sweetheart that loves comfortable clothing, LAUDE the Label was founded by Carly as a way to support local female artisan communities– specifically in Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, India, and Peru.
5
Katherine Theobalds – ZOU XOU
Black and Female Founded, Katherine’s ZOU XOU is a slow-fashion footwear brand that makes its products locally in Argentina. Perfect for the Valentine that loves unique things, and pretending they forgot where they got it from.
6
Haley Boyd & Jarod Faw – apse
What says romantic like jewelry? Apse (which stands for All People’s Shackles Exchanged) was founded by a married couple and best friends Hayley and Jarod who were originally getting their fine art degrees in sculpture and printmaking before turning to jewelry. They started Apse as a way to help others portray their individuality through self-expression.
7
Jennifer J Matchett – Machete
Based in Georgia and founded by Jennifer J Matchett, Machete makes gorgeously unique accessories and are best known for their Tortoise acetate disc earrings and patterns. Plus they donate to a series of organizations that advocate for women’s rights and sustainability. Us? We’re obsessed with the hair accessories and the apple watch bands– somehow both simple and chic.
8
Abigail Quist – ARQ
Ever heard a complaint about an uncomfortable bra or underwear? Well Arq makes size-inclusive intimate clothing via a family-owned factory AND it’s founded by a husband-wife team– how romantic!
9
Babba Rivera – Ceremonia
For the Valentine that is obsessed with good hair care. Ceremonia is Latinx women-owned, it’s sustainable, and their hair care products are made with clean ingredients. Just be ready for them to be taking loooong showers.
10
Jody Hall – Wunderground
Who doesn’t love coffee? Okay, not everyone, but if your beau does, then we highly recommend WunderGround. Owned by a queer woman who helped Starbucks off the ground, WunderGround’s founder Jody is also a very strong advocate for mental health. So, make your Valentine a mug of conscious morning brew.
