Supporting Women: 19 Unique Gifts That Empower Females

By Jessie Festa. The female-focused gift guide contains affiliate links to trusted partners we think you’ll love!

Holiday shopping is all about showing others how much you care.

This year, make the gift twice as giving by choosing presents supporting women around the world.

To help, we’ve compiled a list of businesses that not only offer high-quality items but also help females with financial and emotional support, public awareness and employment opportunities.

Do good — and shop good — by purchasing from the below list.

Psst! Don’t forget to pin this post for later!

Gifts That Support Women’s Causes

On that note, let’s dive into our list of female empowerment gifts, including:

1. Sustainable Activewear from Girlfriend Collective

For women who love to workout or who simply love stylish athleisure, Girlfriend Collective sells sustainably made activewear.

Featuring everything from sports bras to sweatsuits and even dresses and outerwear, you can feel good about your athleticwear purchase—especially as garments are made in an ethical factory that guarantees fair wages, a safe workplace, and free catered meals to workers.

Additionally, their super soft pieces come in sizes XXS-6XL and are crafted from recycled water bottles and fishing nets and colored with eco-friendly dyes.

As they’re passionate about helping the planet, they also have a takeback program that helps keep their items out of the landfill.

Their team also regularly gives back to the community, whether it’s through beach cleanups, planting trees, spotlighting inspiring women combatting climate change, or donating to charity.

If you’re not sure where to start with your shopping experience, check out their Best Sellers page.

We personally love the Topanga Halter Bra, which features a high halter neck and adjustable criss-cross back straps. It’s perfect for low-impact workouts and is also cute enough to wear out as a crop top!

2. NOVICA in association with National Geographic

Once upon a time, you needed to go abroad to find unique handmade goods from your favorite destinations.

Not anymore.

With NOVICA, you can purchase clothing, accessories, housewares, and art from female (and male) artisans from around the world.

We’re particularly obsessed with this fashionable poncho made in Guatemala and the entire dance and music painting section.

3. Clothing, Beauty, Lifestyle & More from The Verticale

The Helm is a lifestyle brand selling high-quality products from female-founded brands. 

Whether your giftee loves clothes, accessories, beauty, sustainable makeup brands, housewares, aromatherapy or something else, you’ll find a huge selection of unique and thoughtful gifts that also empower women. 

A few items we’re loving include:

• Rose quartz face roller set
• Focus-stimulating essential oil
• Girl Power feminist playing cards
• Their collection of travel-inspired accessories

4. Apparel, Accessories & Jewelry from ABLE

At ABLE, 96% of the employees are women. Actually, training, educating and investing in women is at the core of this ethical fashion brand. 

Moreover, they make their wages publicly available to be transparent and show the public the ethics of their company. 

While their whole shop is dreamy, we’re particularly in love with the She’s Worth More Collection, showcasing items that are meant to serve as a constant reminder of this simple but important truth. 

5. Cotopaxi “Del Dia Collection” Backpack 

Cotopaxi is one of our favorite sustainable travel companies.

Not only do they make high-quality adventure gear, but their products are focused on putting good back into the world.

In fact, they help fund health, livelihood, and education projects — including working with organizations like Educate Girls in India that improve the quality of girls’ education.

Their Del Dia Collection is of particular note, as the colorful backpacks, duffle bags, and fanny packs are produced from recycled durable nylon fabric leftover by larger companies.

Bonus:

The Del Dia BATAC 16L is one of the most high-quality yet affordable hiking backpacks on the market!

6. Bling Brush from Baublerella

This natural on-the-go jewelry cleaner can polish up real or faux gemstones or fashion jewelry to give your accessories.

What also makes Baublerella shine is that the brand supports Rae’s Hope, by donating a portion of its profits to this Dallas-based nonprofit.

Rae’s Hope works to inspire young at-risk girls in holding weekly programs on healthy living, physical fitness and education while also serving as role models to them.

7. Modibodi Period-Proof Underwear

Whether you’re looking for a sustainable alternative to tampons and pads or just want a more convenient solution to dealing with periods and incontinence, Modibodi has you covered.

What makes Mobdibodi different from competitors is that they utilize their own patented Modifier Technology™.

And it works! In fact, these garments can absorb up to four tampons worth of liquid.

The garments — which are made from a breathable bamboo and microfiber blend — also feature Modifier Air Technology™, which helps to keep you feeling dry and combats odor.

While this in itself empowers women, Modibodi takes this a step further by putting a portion of each purchase toward providing a pair to a woman who needs it. To date, they’ve donated over 23,000 pairs!

8. Alana Athletica Garments

#MoveWithImpact.

That’s the hashtag of Alana Athletica, a company selling premium athleticwear at inclusive prices.

The brand is dedicated to helping women in Sri Lanka who have survived abuse. 

To date, they’ve positively impacted over 2,000 women through private tutoring, self-defense training, and new job opportunities. 

Your purchase truly has power. For instance, buying their uber-comfortable Dash Side Pocket Leggings helps seven women learn self-defense.

The leggings offer incredible quality, too, with non-pilling moisture-wicking material that keeps you temperate and dry and eliminates odors. 

On top of that, they have pockets to store your valuables. 

These are a must-have essential for your next hike or yoga class! 

9. The Bidi Bidi Scarf from Obakki Foundation 

This scarf is decorated with drawings created by women at Bidi Bidi, a refugee settlement in Uganda, with the patterns reflecting their past and present experiences and future dreams.

The scarf is available for purchase through the Obakki Foundation, which carries out mission-centered projects in South Sudan such as drilling water wells and aiding refugees at Bidi Bidi.

All net proceeds from its sale go toward helping women rebuild their lives through the funding of their own business initiatives.

10. Three Popcorn Gift Bundle Kit from Women’s Bean Project 

A social enterprise, Women’s Bean Project hires women with histories of incarceration and puts them to work manufacturing gourmet food items.

This business packages and sells bean soup mixes, baking mixes, and other dry food products to stores across the U.S. and online.

The goal is to train women to become great workers so they have the experience necessary to find careers with other employers.

11. Batik Gift Sets from Shea Yeleen International

Shea Yeleen International specializes in manufacturing high-quality, organic, fair-trade skincare products and utilizing a sales strategy that incorporates women’s’ microenterprise development.

Shea Yeleen puts out two Batik Gift Sets, containing a cosmetics bag made by A Bag Against Neglect, a 3.4-ounce Lavender Shea Butter Body Cream, and a Honey Lip Balm.

12. Pink Breast Cancer Dual Sided Necklace from One Tough B 

Founded by breast cancer patient Shelly Fisher, this brand provides a mantra for all women going through breast cancer treatment, medical issues or personal challenges through a variety of products.

Among them, this pink breast cancer dual-sided necklace provides inspiration for recipients who support causes relating to breast cancer, are facing their own battle with the disease or just love the color pink.

One Tough B also donates sales proceeds to Give Her Camp, an organization hosting retreats for women focusing on subjects extending to health/wellness, happiness, and spirituality.

13. Kantha Throws from Dignify

These handmade kantha throws not only add vibrant color to any room but also provide sustainable, dignified employment for Bangladesh women who are survivors — or at risk — of sexual exploitation.

Dignify obtains their textile products from Basha Boutique, a business based in the Mirpur district of Dhaka.

Basha employs vulnerable and at-risk women in meaningful work. On dignify’s website, a recipient of a kantha throw can click on a link that lists the name of their specific item and tells the story of the Basha artisan who made it.

You can even send her a thank you note or message.

14. Nail Polish from Flora1761

A line of nail polishes inspired by the historical elegance of flowers, Flora1761 is a woman-owned beauty brand that gives a portion of proceeds from each polish to Dress for Success.

The worldwide non-profit organization focuses on supporting women to achieve economic independence by providing a support network and business attire.

15. Story Plate Recipes

Is there any gift better than food?

Story Plate is a female-first recipe sharing platform that highlights female chefs, restaurateurs, and mixologists.

With each recipe download, Story Plate makes a donation to the Culinary Contributor’s charity of choice.

For instance, when you download a recipe for Artichokes a la Romana you’re supporting Equinox Restaurant in Washington DC while also helping to save gorillas from extinction through the Dian Fossey Gorilla Foundation — which, by the way, just happens to be led by two female scientists.

Learn more about this conscious recipe sharing platform that supports women here, and consider gifting a few downloads to someone you’d love to share a meal with.

16. Women-Only Expeditions by Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel has been a key player in the sustainable tourism sector for a while. In fact, they are the world’s largest travel B-Corp — a hard-to-achieve certification given to only the most ethical and sustainable businesses. 

For the female traveler in your life, consider booking them a spot on one of Intrepid’s Women-Only Expeditions. 

These expeditions are part of the company’s mission to advance gender equality. The tours focus on breaking down barriers, promoting deep discussion, employing women, and immersing female travelers in local experiences that would typically not be possible in a mixed-gender group. 

Some of the experiences you can have include:

• Heading to a beauty salon with new female friends in Iran
• Visiting a women-only village in Kenya
• Trekking with an all-female crew in Nepal
• Enjoying the Turkish coast with a female skipper 

17. Kalamkari Blooms Napkins from Ten Thousand Villages

This global maker-to-market movement supports women and connects artisans in developing countries with conscious shoppers in the U.S.

They offer ethically sourced gifts, homewares and fashion accessories crafted by hand — so that givers can purchase something meaningful.

For starters, these Kalamari Blooms Napkins are block printed by hand using an ancient technique by makers working with Asha Handicrafts, which works with more than 50 producer groups and more than 1,200 makers across India.

18. Jewelry from The Sanctuary Project @ Target

Looking for a budget-friendly but beautiful gift?

The Sanctuary Project is a nonprofit social enterprise jewelry company that employs and trains women who have survived trafficking, violence, and addiction. Actually, the company was started by Holly Christine Hayes, who is a survivor herself.

Since its inception, The Sanctuary Project has provided over 10,000 hours of employment to 26 women.

Most of the items are $60 or less, too!

19. Brave Bracelet from The Brave Collection

Women are resilient and courageous, and Brave Bracelets — which are handmade by fair trade artisans in Cambodia — are a reminder of that.

Each bracelet features the word “Klahan,” meaning “Brave” in Khmer, the language of Cambodia.

By purchasing a Brave Bracelet, you’re not only helping to provide sustainable employment to women in Cambodia, but 10% of the profits go toward fighting human trafficking and empowering women and girls around the world through education and healthcare.

Do you know of any other companies supporting women around the world?

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