Hi Virago Warriors – this is your holiday gift guide to support women athlete-led and owned businesses!
To honor the holiday season, we wanted to celebrate women athlete entrepreneurs and highlight the creativity and drive sportswomen have. We know that entrepreneurship isn’t easy, so we wanted to take time to celebrate brands led by women in sports!
The Virago Project
Empowering Shirts, hat, sweaters
We weren’t about to make this guide without plugging ourselves first! In our (unbiased) opinion, TVP’s merch hits two birds with one stone being that a) It’s dope, and b) it’s for a good cause.
100% of our merchandise proceeds go towards keeping our nonprofit afloat and funding our college mentorship programs, podcasts, workshops, and the daily content we push out to spread awareness about women athlete’s mental health.
Our customers LOVE how SOFT our t-shirts are, and how empowering the messages are. We always ask our community members for t-shirt ideas, and our newest “Game Changers” Collection is a line of tees that promotes gender and identity inclusion within sports.
You can shop our merch on Instagram or Facebook, @theviragoproject, or visit shoptheviragoproject.com to visit our online store.
Lauren Knits
Handmade Knit-Work (sweaters, blankets, and other fun things)
SHOP HERE
Lauren McMillan is an athlete who makes beautiful CUSTOM knit designs! Her Instagram features lush blankets, cozy hats and sweaters, warm head bands, and unique trinkets like the beaker you see in the image above that can add personality to your giftS. The things she makes looks like they were knit with love. You should definitely check out her work!
Women Ball Too
Empowering Merch
Women Ball Too is an empowering merchandise line that was created to redefine the culture and narrative around women’s sports. They have awesome beanies, tshirts, and hoodies that sport their name “Women Ball Too”. Simply taking a look at their Instagram account and window shopping their merch will make you feel empowered. Check them out!
Pace Club
Apparel
Pace Club’s take on athleisure is too good to ignore. Their designs are simple, yet flattering, and just look so comfy. The best part about this brand is that it was created by Maddie and Savannah Fitzpatrick of the Austrailian Women’s Hockey Team (the “Hockeyroos”). We love to see sisters and athletes coming together to make their dreams happen.
Check them out and follow them on instagram to see when new styles drop!
Playa Society
Empowering Merch
Playa Society is dope af – there’s no way other way to put it. Founder, Esther Wallace, is a former basketball player and coach who hopes her brand will inspire “more girls to play”, while “celebrating the true essence of female athletes”. Their staple t-shirt reads “Female athlete, judged by achievements, not by gender”. It’s absolute fire.
Esther, if you’re reading this, hit us up. This is a brand that we can’t NOT promote!
Elyse’s Pieces
Crochet Adult Hats and Baby Blankets/Hats
Elyse is a former college athlete turned graduate student, and is now studying to be a physical therapist. Her crochet designs are so cute, and appear to be thick and have great quality. This would be a great gift for yourself or anyone you know who lives in colder weather. Elyse also knits baby hats and blankets (aww). We loved the super reasonable price point of her products and would encourage you to support her awesome small business! Check her out on instagram!
P.S. Our co-founder, Emily, has a 7-month-old baby girl, so this was one of her favorite picks!
Coming in 2021: De Essentia
A store exclusively stocking emerging Black designers
Former College Volleyball Players Randi and Taylor Leath are the Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of De Essentia, a premium luxury concept store exclusively stocking emerging Black designers. They are set to launch in February of 2021. Visit deessentia.com to sign up for early release and get the inside scoop on what’s coming down the pipeline.
Omnesall Jewelry
Everyday Athletic Jewelry
Team USA Volleyball Player, Kelsey Robinson, collaborated with Omnesall Jewelry for some styles that she plays in and wears full time. Perfect for the active current or former athlete who likes to wear a little “bling-bling”. All necklaces are adjustable, and the pearl charms can be added to any hoop earrings you have or any chains.
Thanks!
We look forward to highlighting more women athlete owned businesses in the future. Please fill out the form on our “Get Involved” to be featured in the future!
