VIP Publishing is delighted to announce that the eir Power of Women Awards are back.
These awards celebrate the best and brightest female entrepreneurs in Ireland, across the worlds of fashion, technology, beauty, lifestyle, wellness and more!
The winners, decided by an expert panel and awarded at an exclusive lunch in Dublin’s Marker Hotel on November 18th, will be profiled in the December issue of VIP Magazine.
The Sustainability Award sponsored by Alfa Romeo honours women who have made sure that their mark on the world is only green and have been paving the way for a more eco-friendly environment. Here’s a bit more information about our inspiring nominees…
Emma Fraser – Reverie vtg
A beautifully-curated vintage store, Reverie Vintage was set up two years ago by Emma Fraser.
A project which started during lockdown and is now a successful business that boasts both online weekly drops and a collection of pieces inside Dublin’s new Fade Street vintage concept store Loot, Reverie is all about finding one-of-a-kind pieces that the consumer will treasure and wear forever, as the store’s beautiful tagline reads “preserve our future, wear your values”.
Having first opened Nine Crows when she was 21-years-old, bringing sustainable choices to a wider market has always been Emma’s vision and now, Reverie is another branch of that, offering a more curated vintage offering to those in search of something special.
Fiona Donnellan – Sustainable PR
With an in-depth knowledge of the PR and communications industry, Fiona Donnellan started Sustainable PR in 2019 after a decade of working in the industry.
Working with Irish businesses both large and small, Fiona helps brands with an incredible story to be heard and grab the consumer’s attention.
Working with smart, eco-conscious brands that care about the planet, Fiona takes on clients that she not only believes in herself but believes are making ethical choices in how they operate and conduct business. Also, doing her part as well as helping to highlight others, Fiona is a proud member of 1% for the Planet – donating 1% of Sustainable PR’s annual revenue to environmental causes.
Pat Kane – Reuzi
After a successful career in Customer Experience, Kane developed Reuzi while on maternity leave, five days before the birth of her second son!
Reuzi is Ireland’s one-stop shop for sustainable living. With 800+ products available in-store and online, their aim is to break the stigma around sustainability.
Sustainability is not exclusive to scientists or the all-or-nothing folks. Pat wants to make sustainability an easy-to-digest subject with fun, colourful products and educational services. She also wants to help everyone take one extra step towards sustainable living – whether that means helping people get their first reusable straw to providing tools and knowledge to transform their entire shopping routine.
Rachel Hennessy – Happy Days
What started as an idea in 2019, became reality in 2021 for Rachel Hennessy and her vision to change the behaviours of fashion lovers everywhere, giving everyone access to high-quality fashion in a sustainable way.
Without burning a hole in your pocket, or the planet, Happy Days – a clothing rental company, was born.
Helping aid that demand for “newness” which sees many people turning to fast fashion for their next fix, Rachel is providing a sustainable alternative, offering items from luxury brands such as Rixo, Rotate and See by Chloe at a fraction of the cost, delivered straight to your door. Now one year in business, Happy Days is growing from strength to strength.
Kara O’Sullivan and Johanna Dooley – Greens Are Good For You
Best friends, Johanna Dooley and Kara O’Sullivan set up the luxury clothing rental service Greens Are Good For You in October 2021.
Growing from strength to strength in less than a year, the pair now have their own store located on Dublin’s Royal Hibernian Way.
Curated X Greens is a concept store with over 10 incredible small businesses coming together under one roof to sell their products – from candles to custom trainers and incredible designer pieces to rent, all the brands are Irish owned and spearheaded by women. Greens Are Good For You is here to help you make a sustainable choice when it comes to making sure your outfits never lack sparkle, no matter what the occasion.
Noelle O’Connor – Kind Brand Co
Over the past 12 years, Noelle has grown her business from strength to strength. Starting in 2010 with one product and a dream to introduce an organic tanning lotion into the Irish market, TanOrganic secured an investment on Dragons’ Den.
With sustainability always at its core, Noelle has grown her business The Kind Brand Company – formally known as Beauty Results – into a range of organic skincare and beauty products, serums, body oils and tanning accessories.
Recognising the magnitude of the industry’s plastic problems, Noelle not only strives to make ethical products but she also gives back. For every bottle of TanOrganic and VeganTan sold, she funds the removal of 1lb of ocean-bound plastic from the environment.
Aine Kilkenny, Fiona Parfrey, and Lauren Duggan – Riley
Riley is on a mission to end period plastic.
An idea that first started at the height of COVID-19 has turned into a successful business for three entrepreneurs who felt compelled to create an eco-friendly alternative. Supplying sustainable products delivered right to your door so you can sit back and live the life of Riley. A stress-free period? We like the sound of that.
Plus, Riley is not only supplying us with the goods but doing good too, partnering with Development Pamoja, an Irish registered charity in Kenya helping young girls who don’t have access to proper sanitary products which results in them.
Evelyn Browne – s.l.o.w.s.t.r.e.e.t
Browne established s.l.o.w.s.t.r.e.e.t in 2020 for all those, like her, who want better options for their wardrobe.
At s.l.o.w.s.t.r.e.e.t you will find a selection of positive impact clothing brands which have been chosen because they have environmental and social values at the heart of what they do. Some are better at production and some are better at materials and energy management, but they are all constantly striving to do things differently and better.
When choosing brands, Browne thinks about the fabrics they use, their approach to labour practices, production processes, waste and energy management. She declares herself obsessed with doing what’s right for mother earth. All packaging is made using recycled materials and can either be composted or recycled.
