On March 8, 2025, join us in celebrating International Women’s Day under the theme, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
International Women’s Day (IWD) is a time to honor the achievements of women across industries, and at Paceline, we’re celebrating the incredible female entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of health, wellness, and fitness. This year, we spotlight the powerhouse women behind some of our favorite brands—brands that not only support a healthier lifestyle but are also led by women who are breaking barriers.
Female-Owned Brands Leading the Charge
From fitness gear to wellness essentials, these women-led brands are redefining what it means to live well:
- Alala (Denise Lee): A premium women’s activewear brand built for performance and style.
- Bala (Natalie Holloway): Creators of stylish weighted bangles, making strength training accessible anywhere.
- CURE Hydration (Lauren Picasso): A hydration brand making electrolyte-infused drink mixes with clean ingredients.
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HigherDOSE (Lauren Berlingeri & Katie Kaps): Innovators in wellness tech, offering infrared sauna blankets and recovery tools.
Women Pioneering Wellness
Beyond fitness, women are leading the way in nutrition and self-care:
- Apothékary (Shizu Okusa): A plant-based wellness brand rooted in traditional medicine.
- Ahara (Julie Wainwright & Dr. Melina Jampolis): A personalized nutrition company focused on science-backed health.
- Daybird (Veena Krishnan & Whitney Mcelwain): A skincare brand that blends beauty and wellness.
- Health-Ade (Daina Trout): A kombucha company promoting gut health with high-quality probiotics.
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Philosophie (Sophie Jaffe): Born after a desire to have an amazing blend of plant-based superfoods together in one, convenient blend without artificial flavors or added sweeteners.
- Serumize Skin (Elizabeth Shabi): A biochemist-founded skincare line delivering science-driven results.
Prioritizing Mental Health
Physical health and mental well-being go hand in hand. Women entrepreneurs are also making a significant impact on mental wellness, creating products that encourage mindfulness, stress relief, and better sleep:
- JIGGY Puzzles (Kaylin Marcotte): A brand that turns art into mindfulness with beautifully designed puzzles to encourage relaxation.
- Lunya (Ashley Merrill): A sleepwear brand redefining rest with luxurious, comfortable clothing designed for better sleep.
- Moment (Aisha Chottani): A natural beverage brand designed to promote calm and focus, inspired by meditation.
- NodPod (Melissa Bamberg): Creators of weighted sleep masks that help reduce stress and improve sleep quality.
Championing Women’s Health
Women's health has historically been underrepresented in medical research and funding, leading to significant gaps in understanding and addressing health issues unique to women. This disparity has profound implications for women's health outcomes and overall well-being.
Despite comprising approximately half of the global population, women have been inadequately represented in clinical trials. For instance, although 49% of cardiovascular disease patients are female, only 41.9% of participants in related clinical trials are women. Similarly, while 51% of cancer patients are women, they constitute just 41% of clinical trial participants in oncology studies. This underrepresentation extends to psychiatric research, where women make up 60% of patients but only 42% of clinical trial participants. Such disparities limit the applicability of research findings to women, potentially leading to less effective treatments and interventions. Harvard Medical School
Funding Disparities in Women's Health Research
Financial investment in women's health research remains disproportionately low. As of 2020, only 10.8% of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding was allocated to research focused on women's health. This underfunding contributes to a lack of comprehensive understanding of conditions predominantly or uniquely affecting women, hindering advancements in medical care and treatment options. Perelel Health
Empowering Change Through Female-Founded Health and Wellness Brands
In response to these challenges, many female entrepreneurs have established health and wellness brands aimed at addressing the unique needs of women. These trailblazing founders are not only filling gaps in the market but also advocating for better representation and research in women's health. What's Good
Supporting these female-founded brands not only empowers women entrepreneurs but also contributes to a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to health and wellness. By prioritizing and investing in women's health, we can work towards closing the existing gaps and ensuring better health outcomes for all women.
Join the Celebration
As we recognize International Women’s Day 2025, let’s support these incredible brands and the women behind them. At Paceline, we believe in rewarding movement, and what better way to celebrate than by embracing fitness, wellness, and the inspiring entrepreneurs shaping the industry? Check out our full International Women's Day Collection on the Paceline Marketplace to explore our other female-run companies.
Who inspires you? Share your favorite female-founded wellness brands in the comments!
