International Women’s Day celebrates the cultural, economic, social and political achievements of women. As a business, our staff, including our freelance colleagues, are 73% women. Seven of our eleven female colleagues are working mums. And amongst the amazing people who manufacture our clothes there is a similarly positive story of equality in our workplaces. 43% of the manufacturing staff at our UK partner factories are women. We recognise equality in ability and reflect this through equality in pay.
Here are some of the amazing women in our team, and some of the women who inspire them.
Rosamund, Womenswear Designer
"To mark my first (and hopefully not last) cycle ride to the factory today, my inspirational woman is the late, great cyclist Beryl Burton.
Her outstanding speed and cycling achievements amaze me, especially her world-record 12-hour time trial in 1967, which exceeded the men’s record for two years. I also admire her cycling gear — I’m pretty sure it would have been wool and cotton based, aka plastic-free too.
My dad says he remembers seeing her whizz past his school bus stop. Whenever I read about her life, I’m reminded to get up and out on two wheels instead of four."
Jayne
"As soon as International Women’s Day was mentioned and we were asked who we would consider an inspirational woman, I thought of my late grandmother — a lady I never got to meet, but whom I feel I know through the stories my mother told me. She was made all the more inspirational for raising two children during the Second World War (one being my mum, who was born in 1942) and refusing to send them away for evacuation so they could stay together. That meant they lived through the Blitz in Liverpool city centre whilst her husband was fighting in the war as a sergeant major."
Rachael, Product Developer
"I am very lucky to be surrounded by many amazing women in my life who are a constant source of support and inspiration. I’ve recently been inspired by sustainable fashion leader and industry expert Carry Somers, who I had the pleasure of meeting last year at her book signing for The Nature of Fashion at Manchester Fashion Week.
She co-founded Fashion Revolution, the world’s largest fashion activism movement, and her work has influenced many industries around the world, from supporting artisans to exploring the future of plant fibres and dyes. In 2020 she sailed 2,000 miles from the Galápagos to Easter Island to investigate microplastic and toxic chemical pollution.
Her tenacity and dedication to her work are truly inspiring and show that positive change within the fashion industry is possible."
Victoria, HR & Finance
"Annie Lennox stands out as an inspirational woman whose impact reaches far beyond music. Throughout her career she has challenged gender norms, embraced authenticity, and used her platform to advocate for women’s rights and HIV/AIDS awareness through global humanitarian work. Her courage to speak out, combined with her artistic excellence and unwavering commitment to justice, makes her a lasting symbol of strength, compassion and empowerment for women everywhere."
Caroline
"Moji Odusanya played for over 20 years as a Division 1 WBBL player, and she has coached girls and women at Brixton Topcats Basketball Club for 26 years. Her energy, drive and enthusiasm for the game are phenomenal.
After hearing her speak from the heart at the 2025 Topcats awards ceremony last year, I fully understood how she extends that drive and passion to the girls she coaches. She works them hard, pushes them to their full potential and teaches them to play with pride.
Moji is a truly inspirational woman.
She also has great style - bold, confident and constantly evolving."
"I’ll start by saying that all the women in my life offer a constant source of inspiration, creativity, challenge, kindness and support.
My studies led me to research the life and work of Pauline Boty, considered Britain’s first female Pop artist. As women, we often face the choice to follow suit and accept the norms, or instead choose to break away from inertia and challenge society and women’s role within it. Boty distinctly chose rebellion. Through her work, she addressed issues of sexism head-on and used her pieces to view women through our own lens. She understood how being a woman worked symbiotically with her art, something she cultivated in a sea of male Pop artists.
You can view some of her work at Tate Britain in London - and I’m sure elsewhere too. I’ve been lucky enough to see the piece below up close. To sit and take in the work of such an inspirational woman… well, I could’ve stayed and looked at it forever."
International Women’s Day celebrates the cultural, economic, social and political achievements of women. As a business, our staff, including our freelance colleagues, are 73% women. Seven of our eleven female colleagues are working mums. And amongst the amazing people who manufacture our clothes there is a similarly positive story of equality in our workplaces. 43% of the manufacturing staff at our UK partner factories are women. We recognise equality in ability and reflect this through equality in pay.
Here are some of the amazing women in our team, and some of the women who inspire them.
Rosamund, Womenswear Designer
"To mark my first (and hopefully not last) cycle ride to the factory today, my inspirational woman is the late, great cyclist Beryl Burton.
Her outstanding speed and cycling achievements amaze me, especially her world-record 12-hour time trial in 1967, which exceeded the men’s record for two years. I also admire her cycling gear — I’m pretty sure it would have been wool and cotton based, aka plastic-free too.
My dad says he remembers seeing her whizz past his school bus stop. Whenever I read about her life, I’m reminded to get up and out on two wheels instead of four."
Jayne
"As soon as International Women’s Day was mentioned and we were asked who we would consider an inspirational woman, I thought of my late grandmother — a lady I never got to meet, but whom I feel I know through the stories my mother told me. She was made all the more inspirational for raising two children during the Second World War (one being my mum, who was born in 1942) and refusing to send them away for evacuation so they could stay together. That meant they lived through the Blitz in Liverpool city centre whilst her husband was fighting in the war as a sergeant major."
Rachael, Product Developer
"I am very lucky to be surrounded by many amazing women in my life who are a constant source of support and inspiration. I’ve recently been inspired by sustainable fashion leader and industry expert Carry Somers, who I had the pleasure of meeting last year at her book signing for The Nature of Fashion at Manchester Fashion Week.
She co-founded Fashion Revolution, the world’s largest fashion activism movement, and her work has influenced many industries around the world, from supporting artisans to exploring the future of plant fibres and dyes. In 2020 she sailed 2,000 miles from the Galápagos to Easter Island to investigate microplastic and toxic chemical pollution.
Her tenacity and dedication to her work are truly inspiring and show that positive change within the fashion industry is possible."
Victoria, HR & Finance
"Annie Lennox stands out as an inspirational woman whose impact reaches far beyond music. Throughout her career she has challenged gender norms, embraced authenticity, and used her platform to advocate for women’s rights and HIV/AIDS awareness through global humanitarian work. Her courage to speak out, combined with her artistic excellence and unwavering commitment to justice, makes her a lasting symbol of strength, compassion and empowerment for women everywhere."
Caroline
"Moji Odusanya played for over 20 years as a Division 1 WBBL player, and she has coached girls and women at Brixton Topcats Basketball Club for 26 years. Her energy, drive and enthusiasm for the game are phenomenal.
After hearing her speak from the heart at the 2025 Topcats awards ceremony last year, I fully understood how she extends that drive and passion to the girls she coaches. She works them hard, pushes them to their full potential and teaches them to play with pride.
Moji is a truly inspirational woman.
She also has great style - bold, confident and constantly evolving."
"I’ll start by saying that all the women in my life offer a constant source of inspiration, creativity, challenge, kindness and support.
My studies led me to research the life and work of Pauline Boty, considered Britain’s first female Pop artist. As women, we often face the choice to follow suit and accept the norms, or instead choose to break away from inertia and challenge society and women’s role within it. Boty distinctly chose rebellion. Through her work, she addressed issues of sexism head-on and used her pieces to view women through our own lens. She understood how being a woman worked symbiotically with her art, something she cultivated in a sea of male Pop artists.
You can view some of her work at Tate Britain in London - and I’m sure elsewhere too. I’ve been lucky enough to see the piece below up close. To sit and take in the work of such an inspirational woman… well, I could’ve stayed and looked at it forever."
International Women’s Day celebrates the cultural, economic, social and political achievements of women. As a business, our staff, including our freelance colleagues, are 73% women. Seven of our eleven female colleagues are working mums. And amongst the amazing people who manufacture our clothes there is a similarly positive story of equality in our workplaces. 43% of the manufacturing staff at our UK partner factories are women. We recognise equality in ability and reflect this through equality in pay.
It’s British Pie Week next week. Which in our office means one thing: serious debate.Steak & ale versus pork pie. North v South.
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2025 was a year of some pretty amazing numbers for Community Clothing, but there are two that mean more than all the others. Read Patrick's New Year Impact Update |
