Beyonce’s Latest IVY PARK Roll Out Plus Other Activewear Brands Founded By Powerful Women

For too long, women have taken a backseat in the business world, especially in areas that affect us directly. Fashion, beauty, and cosmetics products, the health sector, and even the food world remain dominated by men.

Strong women with influence and financial success are changing that though – with new brands and reworkings of old brands that are bringing these things into our realm. For women, by women – all women – brands like Beyonce’s newly relaunched Ivy Park remind us that we have a say and we don’t need permission from anyone to succeed.

This week, Beyonce rolled out her newest innovations in the business world: Ivy Park Collection 2.

Originally founded by Beyonce in 2016 with partner, TOPSHOP, Ivy Park did well in stores and online, but since then, TOPSHOP founder, Sir Philip Green has been accused of sexual harassment and racial abuse. Beyonce has severed ties and reclaimed her company and the women she supports and encourages to find their own voice.

Since taking full control, Beyonce became the only Black woman to hold 100 control and ownership over an athleisure wear brand. Ivy Park is fully owned by Beyonce, but developed in partnership with Adidas.

The line includes everything ranging from sports bras and running tights to catsuits and hooded shrugs. Each item is gender-neutral or designed for women, specifically with styles in mind that suit a variety of body-types, instead of just “skinny” or “curvy” in unflattering designs.

There are tons of other women-owned brands in the leisure and athletics world. As more women take the scene in business, we’re finding more brands that we can actually get behind with ethically made products, women-designed attire meant for comfort and fit not the perpetuation of misogynistic views of women’s bodies.

From Australia fitness trainer sewing her own workout clothes at home to activewear mogul – literally, the person who coined the term “activewear” – Lorna Jane Clarkson is an international empire made up of powerful women designing and making beautiful workout clothes for women.

The fit wear is comfortable, practical, and well-made, with a company commitment to sustainable manufacturing and long-lasting wear. “We don’t do disposable,” their website says, speaking of their commitment to long-lasting wear that’s made responsibly.

While not exclusively an activewear brand, Good American has some high-quality gear for workouts. Founded by Emma Grede, with Khloe Kardashian, the brand is not only woman-owned, but POC-created with different body types, styles, and tastes in mind for each design that comes through the company’s catalog.

The brand launched in 2016 with new sizes and fits that hadn’t been seen before, and was the most successful denim launch to date, bringing in over $1 million in sales on the launch date.

Grede and Kardashian had the vision for their clothing to look good on anybody and specifically intended to combat the “ideal body type” in the fashion world.

Leggings, bras, jackets, hoodies, and more can be seen on models ranging from 0 to 16 – just choose your option at the bottom of the page.

One women-owned brand that’s extremely vocal about their mission for sustainability, eco-friendliness, and fair trade is Girlfriend Collective. The company’s stated goals begin with transparency. “We chose every part of our process, from our raw materials to our facilities to our partners, with care.”

They focus on socially responsible manufacturing from cotton plant growth to delivery for everything they make and aim to make everything as affordable as possible while meeting their own standards.

Their website adds, “We also discovered quickly that high end fit and feel is not a matter of cost, it’s a matter of time.”

It’s slow fashion with a purpose. From recycling plastic water bottles into clothing to intentionally manufacturing everything in Taiwan where they pay a fair wage and guarantee health work conditions and zero-child labor to boost the economy there, provide the best materials possible for their products, and do it all without sacrificing on quality or ethical stands.

The Girlfriend Collective also focuses on designs for all women – with models in all shapes and backgrounds.

Known for their bold leggings and vividly apparent personality, Terez was founded by best friends pair Zara Terez Tisch and Amanda Schabes Zeligman. The brand’s vision is empowerment for all women by highlighting individuality and the joy of self-expression.

Spreading positivity was the guiding pillar behind the initial formation of the brand by Tereze Tisch, later joined by Schabes Zeligman. Boldness, brilliance of color, and unique designs in their 1500 offerings of prints in their leggings, shirts, jackets, jumpsuits, bike shorts, and their popular clothing line for girls.

These brands have made it clear – they have women in mind, not just because the founders are women, but because women need woman-made clothing. Comfort, taste, quality, and functionality – and whenever possible, pockets! – should be the priority for women, and these brands deliver.