Appear Here celebrates the trailblazing women changing retail

This International Women’s Day, Appear Here highlights the game changing women that have set up stores on its platform and who are redefining retail.

This also matches its campaign for IWD. A selection of the venture’s stores across London have quotes from the female community emblazoned on shopfront windows - on how space can bring opportunity and ideas to young businesses.

“Our mission is to create a world where anyone can find space to make an idea happen. We’re proud to say that the women in our community are the ones leading that charge, with 70% of the ideas on our platform created by women,” an Appear Here spokesperson says.

“In celebration of International Women’s Day, we’re exploring the power of space for women; how it can give people a voice, spread a message or start an idea. Our storefront campaign tells the story of the rise of independent women-led retail businesses in our community – and the message they have for other aspiring entrepreneurs.”

Game changers

Aimee Felone, Knights Of - 

Aimee took a pop-up with Appear Here and now has a permanent space in Brixton market. She left Random House to start an independent publishing company focused on creating books with BAME characters to rebalance the lack of representation in children's books. She next crowdfunded to open the shop in Brixton.

Janet Oganah, Janet's List

Janet, an ex-family law barrister, created an online platform that connects businesses by women of colour with customers and also with business support and mentorship.

Louise Markey, Meadows

Based in Stoke Newington, originally from Australia, Louise is an ex-Burberry designer who set up first a workwear brand LF Markey and then a much more feminine womenswear Meadows. She did pop-ups with Appear Here in London, Paris and New York before opening her own store in East London.

Sophie Sellu, Grain and Knot

Sophie traded in life as a fashion-trend forecaster to carve from her garden workshop in London. Under the name of Grain & Knot, she turns everyday items such as spoons and butter knives into textured artworks that mimic the pattern of the sea in Oman where she grew up.