In fashion, women’s equality comes with a complicated paradox. Women may dominate the industry at the entry level, but that representation often disappears when it comes to the rooms where the biggest decisions, and the biggest checks, are made. And for Black women and other women of color, the path to the top can come with an even steeper set of barriers.

Women make up the majority of fashion’s entry-level workforce, yet that presence drops significantly in leadership. According to McKinsey and the CFDA, women hold a majority of entry-level positions across fashion, but only 14 percent of major fashion brands had a female executive in charge in the study.

For female founders, the challenge takes another shape. Access, visibility, mentorship, investment, and opportunity can often be influenced by both what you know and, perhaps more importantly, who you know. Those networks have not historically been equally accessible to women, and the barriers can be even more pronounced for women of color.

The funding numbers tell a story of their own. In 2024, startups with women CEOs received just under 11 percent of U.S. venture capital funding in priced rounds, while startups led by men received more than 89 percent, according to Carta. For many women founders, building a company therefore means becoming an investor before anyone else is willing to take a chance: putting personal savings, income, time, and relationships on the line to bring a vision to life.

So, what does equality actually look like for the Black women building fashion’s future? In honor of Women’s Equality Day, we spoke with three female designers and founders about access, funding, sacrifice, visibility, and what they hope will change for the women who come after them.

Nia Thomas, founder of Nia Thomas 

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What Equality In Fashion Means to Her: “To me, women’s equality in fashion means that women are not only designing the products or executing the creative vision—we also own the companies, control the capital and occupy the most influential and highly compensated positions within them. Women should be CEOs, creative directors, investors, marketing executives and board members with genuine decision-making power.”

On the Industry’s Current State: “Women drive so much of the fashion industry, both as creators and consumers, yet we are still underrepresented in the positions that determine where the money goes, which businesses receive investment and whose ideas are given the resources to grow. We are not there yet. True equality will exist when women have equal access to ownership, leadership, funding and long-term wealth—not simply visibility or representation.”

On Her Current Realities: “When I visit major textile suppliers, I am sometimes looked up and down and assumed to be an intern or an assistant representing a male founder. In those moments, I have learned to stand a little taller, clearly state that I am representing myself and demonstrate that I understand every detail of what I am sourcing—from the fabric composition and width to the exact quantities and color names.

I make sure I arrive exceptionally prepared because I know my expertise may be questioned before I have even spoken. Once they recognize that I know exactly what I am doing, I can see their perception of me shift. While it is satisfying to earn their respect, it is also frustrating to know that I often have to prove my authority before it is given to me. I should not have to outperform someone’s assumptions in order to be recognized as the founder and decision-maker.”

What She Hopes For the Next Gen: “I hope the next generation of women fashion founders have greater access to two things that can make or break a business: capital and mentorship. Both are imperative to sustainable growth. Specialized guidance from people who have already built successful businesses can save a founder years of costly trial and error, while access to capital gives her the ability to actually execute what she has learned.

The reality is that it takes money to build a company—to develop products, hire a team, invest in marketing, produce inventory and create the infrastructure required for growth. Talent and vision are essential, but they can only take a founder so far without the proper resources and support. Through the work I am doing, I hope to help make the path more visible and attainable. I want the next generation of women founders to begin with greater access, stronger networks and a clearer understanding that they belong in every room where decisions are being made.”

Kaia Baker, founder of Quintessential 

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On What Equality In Fashion Means to Her: “To me, equality in fashion means equal opportunity to learn, to grow, and to exist in an equitable environment. We deserve to get into the room based on our accomplishments and the value we can provide—nothing else. So many women carry real pride in the intelligence they’ve built through their businesses and careers, and that should be enough. This industry has long run on ‘who knows who,’ and that dynamic won’t disappear overnight. But working hard, working smart, and building something impactful for our communities is work that deserves to be celebrated—that’s what equality looks like to me.”

On Her Current Realities: “I don’t spend much energy on what others expect of me. The real pressure is proving to myself that I can scale this brand as big as I’ve dreamed—and give it the impact I’ve always envisioned. There’s also the pressure of showing up for my team, because they’ve poured so much genuine work and love into this brand. I refuse to let them down. Anyone else’s expectations of me aren’t my concern—but we hold ourselves to a high standard of excellence and consistency across every medium, and that will never change.”

On What She Hopes For the Next Gen: “I hope the next generation of women founders feels confident and inspired to chase the dream they’ve carried their whole life. I want to show them there are no limits on what they can build. While I’m laying this foundation with my brand, I want to inspire people to dream big and execute even bigger—I don’t believe in putting a ceiling on what you can do. I’ve been a daydreamer since I was a kid, and I’m still executing on those daydreams today. Every new daydream becomes new motivation, new vision, new inspiration, a new goal. I just want to encourage women to never stop—learn to balance, learn what you want to prioritize, and go after it. I don’t believe in putting limitations on what you can do or what you dream of.”

Sade Mims, founder of Edas 

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What Equality In Fashion Means to Her: “I think being a woman founder comes with many beautiful gifts and advantages, first and foremost. But if I’m being honest, there have been many moments where I’ve had to over-explain or convince my male counterparts that my vision and my voice hold weight.”

On Her Current Realities: “I’ve often felt that I spend more time proving that I am competent than simply being able to move forward in my work. Sometimes I’m having to overly sell who I am in conjunction with my career, rather than allowing my career, experience, and the role I hold to speak for themselves. I’ve had to really crystallize and articulate my vision in ways that require additional explanation and validation, and delay progress on the goal in front of me. Hate it! It’s a reality I’ve had to navigate, but it has also made me incredibly clear about who I am, what I bring to the table, and the value of trusting my own voice.”

On the Industry’s Current State:  “I think equality for women in the industry looks like seeing more women appointed as creative directors at luxury houses. It also looks like women holding executive positions where they can truly be a voice for change and help shape the culture and direction of these companies from within.

Beyond representation, I think women need more flexibility—at least here in America—to prioritize motherhood without feeling the pressure to return to work before they’re ready or that they no longer can be relevant in an industry / culture that is always looking ahead. The list could really go on and on and I don’t know if I think we’re quite there yet. 

Ultimately, we need to evaluate capitalism and our work structures as a whole in order to truly meet the needs of the modern woman today. So much of the way we work was built around a particular idea of who the worker is and what their life looks like. If we want to create a healthier industry, I honestly believe we should be looking to women. Our experiences, needs, and the many roles we navigate can teach the fashion industry a lot about what a more equal and sustainable way of working could look like, for everyone.”

On What She Hopes For the Next Gen: “I hope that the next generation of women entering this industry have a more honest sense of self-worth and confidence. I hope they know that there is room for connection and community, and that it doesn’t always have to feel so competitive or convincing for us to get ahead.

We’ve adopted so many dated concepts and ways of doing things in fashion—whether that’s the formula for gaining access or the perceived path for climbing the social ladder. But I believe we should be dismantling the notion that we all have to do things one particular way in order to find success in this industry.

I’m no hero, and I’m certainly not a perfect person, but I do believe that my ability to remain confident in my vision, and to stay grounded in my own understanding of what success actually looks like, has allowed me to experience a lot less disappointment when I lay my head down at night. It has also been the very thing I emphasize anytime I have a chance to speak with the next generation. At the end of the day, I think there’s something to be said for building a life and career that feels good to you, rather than constantly measuring yourself against someone else’s idea of what should be. I hope they know that.”

Danielle Laraque, founder of Laraque 

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What Equality In Fashion Means to Her: “To me, women’s equality in the fashion industry looks like women being able to lead in historically male-dominated spaces with confidence, authority, and without having to prove that they belong there. I think of something similar to Mirana Pristley in The Devil Wears Prada—a woman who holds an incredible amount of influence and creative authority—but I want that to exist beyond the screen and in real life.”

On the Industry’s Current State: “We’re not quite there yet. When you look at the creative directors of many major fashion houses and labels, a large portion are still white men. That’s why seeing Rachel Scott as the Creative Director of Proenza Schouler is so beautiful and such a major step forward. It’s exciting to see a woman, and especially a woman of color, stepping into a position with that level of creative influence. I hope we continue to see more women represented not only in these positions, but actually shaping the creative direction and future of the industry.”

On What She Hopes For the Next Gen: “I hope the next generation of women fashion founders feels more supported by other women and feels like they don’t have to build alone. I’ve noticed that there can be a strong sense of community and support around emerging male-founded brands, and I want to see that same energy grow among women.”

On Her Current Realities: “A big part of what I’ve tried to create through my own brand is a space where women can come together and genuinely enjoy each other’s company. For me, building a fashion brand has never just been about selling clothes. It’s about creating a creative community around them. I hope that the spaces I’m creating today make it easier for women to support and celebrate one another.”