Women Makers, Sustainable Textiles and the Future of Design

How women-led creativity is reshaping sustainable fashion and interior textiles.

International Women’s Day (IWD) (8 March) is not only a celebration — it is a moment to reflect. In textiles, women’s influence is important, historic and ongoing.

From domestic craft traditions to global garment production, women have shaped how textiles are made, used and valued. Today, they are also central to the transition toward sustainable textiles, ethical sourcing and circular design.

As NuBonelle prepares to launch the Spring/Summer 2026 collections, this intersection of women, materials and responsibility feels particularly relevant.

History of International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day has always been about women’s work, women’s voices and women’s visions of a fairer future. In the textile world, that story runs from the exploited garment workers of the early 1900s to today’s women makers, designers and innovators who are re‑imagining what sustainable fashion and interiors can be. This article traces that arc, then brings it home to the UK.

International Women’s Day (IWD) did not begin as a marketing moment; it began as a strike.

·       Late 1800s–1900s: Women workers in garment and needle trades protest long hours, low pay and child labour, tying workplace exploitation to the fight for the vote.

·       1909: US socialist Theresa Malkiel helps launch a “National Woman’s Day” in the United States.

·       1910: Clara Zetkin proposes an annual International Women’s Day at the Second International Socialist Women’s Conference; over 100 women from 17 countries support it.

·       1911: First IWD is marked in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, with over a million participants demanding rights to work, vote, hold public office and end discrimination.

·       1913–1917: Women use IWD to protest war; in 1917, Russian women striking for “bread and peace” around 8 March help trigger revolution and fix 8 March as the date.

·       1975 onwards: The UN adopts 8 March as International Women’s Day, and annual themes move from basic rights to parity, violence, economic empowerment, tech, and climate.

·       2026 - IWD marks 115 years of collective action, advocacy, and progress toward gender equality.

International Women’s Day is marked by women worldwide on 8th March 

Women in Textiles: Economic Influence, Environmental Consequence

The global textile and apparel market is valued at over $1.7 trillion, making it one of the largest manufacturing sectors worldwide. Women represent an estimated 70–80% of the garment workforce globally, yet leadership and ownership within the supply chain remain disproportionately male-dominated.

At the same time:

• The fashion and textile sector accounts for approximately 8–10% of global carbon emissions.
• Textile dyeing and finishing contribute to around 20% of global industrial water pollution.
• An estimated 87% of textiles globally end up in landfill or incineration, rather than being recycled.

These figures reveal a paradox: women power the industry, yet the environmental burden of textile production affects the communities where many women live and work.

For women makers, designers and founders operating sustainably, the challenge is to work creatively within a system that still rewards speed and volume over longevity and responsibility.

A woman at work hand weaving 

Sustainable Textiles: Beyond Aesthetic, Towards Accountability

The language of sustainability is now widespread — eco-friendly fabrics, biodegradable fibres, ethical sourcing — but terminology alone does not equal transformation.

Responsible textile design involves:

• Evaluating fibre origin (natural, recycled, certified)
• Considering durability and end-of-life potential
• Reducing reliance on virgin synthetic materials
• Improving transparency in sourcing

Natural fibres such as hemp and linen require fewer pesticides and less irrigation than conventional cotton. Certified organic and responsibly produced materials reduce chemical load and improve traceability. Upcycled textiles eliminate the need for new fibre production altogether.

No solution is perfect. What matters is material literacy — understanding trade-offs and making informed, incremental improvements.

A woman operating an semi Industrial weaving loom

🌿 NuBonelle Perspective: Sustainable Materials in Practice

At NuBonelle, sustainability is not treated as a marketing claim. It is a framework guiding design, sourcing and product development.

The Spring/Summer 2026 collections are structured across three sustainability pathways:

Revival – Circular & Upcycled

Using reclaimed garments, upcycled textiles and revived deadstock, Revival reduces waste and minimises demand for newly produced fabric.

Key pieces include:

• Upcycled washbags and accessories made from reworked textiles
• One-of-a-kind soft furnishings with extended material lifecycles

Impact focus: Waste reduction and circularity.

NuBonelle's Revival textiles 

Better Choices – Natural Fibre Integration

Better Choices prioritises plant-based fibres such as cotton, linen and jute, selected for biodegradability and reduced environmental intensity relative to synthetic alternatives.

Featured items include:

• Cotton and linen blend totes
• Natural fibre home accessories designed for longevity

Impact focus: Lower synthetic dependence and improved end-of-life potential.

NuBonelle's Better Choices textiles 

Positive Impact – Certified Eco-Friendly Fabrics

This collection incorporates certified materials including organic cotton, hemp, bamboo and Tencel.

Signature products include:

• Personal accessories and gifts, eye masks, makeup remover using certified fabrics
• Accessories designed with traceable textile inputs

Impact focus: Verified sustainability standards and material transparency.

Sustainable Organic Cotton

Serving Three Sustainability Mindsets

Through research, NuBonelle recognises three customer segments:

Eco-conscious
Actively prioritising certified materials, circularity and environmental impact reduction.

Eco-curious
Seeking accessible improvements without radical lifestyle overhaul.

Eco-inactive (but open)
Interested in practical, manageable and affordable steps toward sustainability.

Rather than excluding any group, the Spring/Summer 2026 collections provide layered entry points — allowing customers to engage at different levels of commitment.

Women Makers & Collaborative Change

Sustainable transformation does not occur in isolation. It develops through networks of women sharing knowledge, challenging norms and redefining value.

This International Women’s Day, NuBonelle highlights women makers who embody material awareness, craftsmanship and responsible design:

·       Safia Minney – People Tree, helped establish Fair Trade fashion long before “sustainability” became a selling point. Her early work proved that transparent supply chains, artisan partnerships and organic fibres could sit comfortably alongside desirable, wearable clothes. Her work gave consumers their first glimpse of what ethical fashion could look like and has helped set benchmarks for others to meet or exceed.

·       Stella McCartney – At the luxury end, she has shown that it is possible to build globally recognised brands around principles like vegetarian materials, reduced waste and investment in next‑generation textiles. By refusing to use leather or fur and by collaborating with innovators in bio‑based and recycled materials, she has pushed mainstream conversations about what “luxury” means – and who bears the cost of it – into new territory.

·       Priya (Pri Pri Sustainable Style) – upcycles saris into cushions, accessories and decorations, shows how intergenerational craft knowledge and cultural heritage can be honoured while also tackling textile waste. Each piece carries a story: of the original garment, of the maker’s skill, of the decision not to discard but to reimagine. 

·       Women‑led interior/home brands such as One Nine Eight Five creates unique pieces that reduce waste without compromising on design. Drawing inspiration from art and mid-century architecture. The brand avoids fleeting trends, focusing on contemporary design and circular production processes, including the use of recycled fibres in their textiles. 

·       Curatorial platforms like The Future Kept, Venner and Green Tulip front small, sustainable makers. These platforms and concept stores led by women play a vital role in amplifying these efforts. By selecting products according to clear criteria – local production, natural or recycled materials, ethical labour practices – they make it easier for time‑pressed consumers to find items that align with their values. They also create communities of makers, many of them women, who might otherwise struggle to gain visibility in a crowded marketplace.

Collectively, these practices reflect a shift from volume-driven production toward intentional creation.

 

Women are making sustainability their business

What Can I Do? Supporting Women & Sustainable Textiles

Meaningful change is cumulative.

You can:

• Support women-led brands prioritising transparency
• Extend the lifespan of textiles through repair and reuse
• Replace synthetic-heavy products gradually with natural or certified alternatives
• Ask informed questions about sourcing and production

Sustainability is a journey of ongoing improvement, where every action can move us closer to or further from our goals. Progress matters more than perfection.

NuBonelle aims to make sustainability easy and encourage positive change by supporting and fostering collective action through community workshops, online resources, and collaborative projects that empower individuals to contribute to sustainability efforts. We invite you to join us in making sustainability accessible for everyone and creating lasting change together.

Subscribe to our mailing list for insider news, product launches, and more. 

IWD Theme 2026

For International Women’s Day 2026 and beyond, the theme is let’s Give to Gain for gender equality.

“Give To Gain emphasises the power of exchange and support.  The idea being, that when people, organisations, and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase.

Giving is not a subtraction, it’s intentional multiplication. When women thrive, we all rise. Whether through donations, knowledge, resources, infrastructure, visibility, advocacy, education, training, mentoring, or time, contributing to women’s advancement helps create a more supportive and interconnected world. We can all challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out positive action”.

Follow the link for more information about IDW 2026.  

International Women's Day Poster

Spring/Summer 2026: Creativity with Measured Impact

To mark International Women’s Day, NuBonelle introduces the first releases from the Spring/Summer 2026 collections.

These pieces represent a commitment to material integrity, circular thinking and informed design — celebrating women’s creativity not only as aesthetic expression, but as environmental responsibility.

👉 Explore the NuBonelle Spring/Summer 2026 collections. 

NuBonelle's next blog will focus on Why Handcrafted Matters (Beyond the Aesthetic)

Durability. Emotional connection. Waste reduction. Enduring value.

🌿 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

Do you know of any female makers specialising in sustainable practices?

Have you ever consciously purchased a sustainable product made a woman or female led business?

What did you purchase and why?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks for being here 💚

 

If you would like to access sustainability training the Carbon Literacy Project provides generic training courses and specialist for different sectors. 

My love for textiles and making started long before I ever imagined creating a sustainable brand.

One of my earliest memories is sewing at infant school. I’d take my needlework home over the weekend, finish it as quickly as I could, and bring it back on Monday, hoping I’d be immediately given another piece to make. That joy of creating something by hand has never really left me.

I went on to study textiles and fashion, trained at the London College of Fashion, and worked in the fashion industry, gaining professional experience in garment technology and high-quality craftsmanship.

Later I ran children’s wear businesses and managed a fashion centre, so I’ve seen the industry from the inside — its creativity, its pace, and its impact.

Over time, I became increasingly disillusioned with the direction of the industry, the environmental toll of textile production and fast fashion. That awareness changed how I thought about materials, design, and what it really means to create responsibly.

NuBonelle grew from this shift in thinking.