International Women's Day 2023

by Elena Brennan

International Women's Day March 8th 2023 is a global day to celebrate social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This year's theme is Embrace Equity. Imagine a world free of bias, stereotype, and discrimination. A gender equal world that's diverse, equitable and inclusive, where difference is valued and celebrated. Together women can forge equity.

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#EmbraceEquity

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As a shoe designer, female entrepreneur, and as a recent recipient of the International Business Women of the Year Gold Award (BBWA) I passionately believe that inclusivity, diversity, representation, and women's achievements are to be celebrated every day of the year, not just solely on one day or one month during Women's History Month. 

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 Elena Brennan International Best Business Women Gold Award.

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This year my shoe boutique BUS STOP Boutique is celebrating 16 years. Sweet Sixteen, just in time for the reveal of my newest eponymous Spring/Summer 2023 shoe collection BUS STOP X Ground designed in Philadelphia, USA in collaboration with All Black Footwear, a brand that I have had a relationship with since I first opened my boutique in 2007.

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The theme and inspiration is GROUND.
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I've hit the ground running / My women's shoe collection has now grown to 19 styles, my most expansive collection to date. Every BUS STOP X collection has been named and designed around a theme that has inspired me, enlivened me, and resonated with me. Themes inform each and every collection's origin story. All BUS STOP X capsule collections reflect and respond to the moment in time in which they are created. BUS STOP X Ground is no different. Fittingly, my forthcoming collection is inspired by the beauty of Mother Earth. Each of my designs in this Spring shoe collection feature natural hues of deep, rich earth tones, shades of cream, warm rouge, and hues of the bluest skies connecting us to the mystique and wonder of nature.
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I believe that Earth is a woman. Mother Earth in all her strength, wisdom, wonder, and beauty is the ultimate and endless source of true inspiration.
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One of my personal mantras: "I'm a peace seeker and always find solace in nature. It grounds me." 
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The combination of the calming color palette with leathers, metallics, suedes and patent leathers in brilliant mash-ups, mixed with the clean lines and formal style gives my latest BUS STOP X shoe collection a natural aesthetic. To mimic the unmatched feeling of air on your skin and earth under your feet, the collection includes 19 shoes in 4 silhouettes – all refreshingly reminiscent of the beauty of nature.
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Ground will feature never-before-seen BUS STOP X silhouettes. I'm so excited to share them with you.
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Here's a tiny sneak peek of some of the styles in my new collection.
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"I hope to evoke the feeling of being surrounded by nature in this collection to offer city dwellers a little peace of mind while uplifting both spirits and creativity."
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Another cause for celebration to announce during Women's History Month is centered around a topic that is close to my heart "collaboration" and I'm very excited to share this news with you.
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In 2015, when I had embarked on my journey to become a shoe designer, I had another yearning - to author a book - and this is finally becoming a reality. Dreams really do come true and manifestation is real! 
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I was invited to collaborate with 14 brilliantly talented business women to write a book on the topic of collaboration. Everyone can benefit by collaborating with others, especially with female entrepreneurs. The purpose of this book is to help business women gain insight, and learn what it takes to collaborate effectively. In writing this book, I have learnt many fascinating skills, truths, and values from each of the other female authors. I know readers will do too. This book is a form of collaboration in itself, as readers can bring their own unique knowledge to each chapter and meld their personal experience & wisdom with ours.
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Authored by 15 female entrepreneurs, with each woman owning a chapter  Mindy Gibbins-Klein of The Book Midwife guided and coached us through the whole process. Putting pen to paper is quite nerve-racking when writing a book, even if it's just one chapter and I couldn't have done it without Mindy's expertise. 
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The title of the book is Fab Collab How Women Create Success and is launching April 2023 on Amazon, and the paperback version will be available in May. All of this truly coincides with the launch of my new shoe collection. I believe that the stars are in alignment! We look forward to celebrating both the reveal of our new BUS STOP X Ground footwear collection and the launch of my first book Fab Collab at the shop with you.
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Stay tuned for party details.
This is all worth celebrating!
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Fab Collab How Women Create Success is a nice mix of accomplished women who have collaborated on this book. Some are novices and have not authored any books, and others have written not one but quite a few books. All of their perspectives are important in creating a robust book exploring this dynamic subject manner.
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I'm in fine company and I would like to congratulate my fellow authors below, who have shared their insights, and poured their hearts out on each page of their chapters.
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Thank you to Hela Wozniak-Kay and Sister Snog a prestigious award-winning UK member-only club for remarkable business women for bringing us together and Mindy Gibbins-Klein for leading us and making this happen!
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Stay tuned for more details on my shoe launch and the publish date for the book.
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#EmbraceEquity in 2023
#IWD2023
#BusStopX #BusStopXGround 
#fabcollab
 
 
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