Drop Everything & Check Out These Sustainable, Asian-Women Owned Businesses
We promise you won't regret it!
We've rounded up some of our favorite Asian-owned sustainable brands, that also happen to be female-founded! With the rise of Asian hate crimes and discrimination, the Asian community needs our support now more than ever. One easy way to show your support to the Asian community is by supporting Asian-owned businesses. By supporting these sustainable brands, you're showing love to the AAPI community and the earth!
From skincare to home cleaning supplies, to jewelry, clothing, and so much more - this list has it all! Once you try out Cocokind's affordable skincare or start using Baggu's reusable bags, you won't be able to live without them. Keep reading to discover and shop our favorite Asian-women-owned sustainable brands!
Before you continue, we'd like to let you know that this list may contain affiliate links, meaning we may collect a commission if you decide to click through and make a purchase.
1. Cocokind
Cocokind is a conscious beauty company that makes plant-powered, sustainable, affordable, and cruelty-free beauty and makeup products for all skin types. Founder Priscilla Tsai was inspired to start the brand after suffering from acne, sensitive skin, and finding a lack of clean and safe products available. Tsai was determined to create a beauty line centered around simple, clean, and effective ingredients and affordability. From their award-winning Oil to Milk Cleanser to their iconic and multi-use beauty sticks, Cocokind will become your new go-to for affordable clean beauty!
Our Pick: At Cocokind it's nearly impossible to choose just one item, especially when it comes to their beauty sticks. These sticks are like oversized chapsticks that pack in a ton of different uses and benefits for the face and even body. You have to check out their highly-rated Mymatcha All-Over Moisture Stick, which nourishes dry skin, reduces undereye circles, counteracts redness, and so much more. We also love their Mai-Light Rosé Highlighter Stick, which, unlike many conventional highlighters, uses natural ingredients to make your skin glow!
Click here to shop Cocokind's clean and affordable beauty products!
2. Skylar
Skylar offers natural perfumes that are hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, and vegan with at-home sampling so you can find the perfect scent for you. Founder and CEO, Cat Chen, was driven to start the brand after discovering her regular perfume had been causing allergic reactions in her daughter. Skylar's scents are free of toxic chemicals and allergens and their scents are fresh, crisp, and layer-able. We love that they give back by making donations to different nonprofits every month.
Our Pick: Fragrance preferences can range greatly from person to person, and shopping for scents online can be difficult. This is why we recommend the Skylar Scent Experience which allows you to pay for the price of a perfume, but you get to try out (and keep) 10 scent samples before you decide on your bottle! This makes the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one!
Click here to shop Skylar's Natural Fragrances!
3. Blueland
Blueland creates everyday eco-friendly cleaning products to save you money and space, without any plastic waste. Founder and CEO, Sarah Paiji Yoo, believes that no one should have to sacrifice a clean planet for a clean home, thus Blueland was born. How it works is you buy your refillable bottles once, and then receive eco-friendly, sustainable refills either through their subscription service or a la carte! Blueland uses only effective, people-friendly ingredients so you can rest assured your bodies, homes, and appliances will remain clean and safe!
Our Pick: Ready to make the eco-friendly switch to refillable cleaning supplies? With Blueland's kits, it's never been easier. Overhaul your cleaning routine with the Blueland Clean Suite which includes 7 reusable containers and refills to make:
- 3 Cleaning Sprays (Multi-Surface, Glass + Mirror, Bathroom)
- Foaming Hand Soap
- Powder Dish Soap
- 40 Dishwasher Tablets
- 40 Laundry Tablets
Click here to shop Blueland's Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products!
4. AMYO
AMYO (Accessories Make Your Outfit), sells high-quality yet affordable jewelry that's designed to last and be worn for years to come. AMYO Jewelry founder, G, grew up in a family of jewelers and noticed how wasteful the industry can be trying to keep up with trends. She set out to make minimalist and evergreen pieces meant to last, at an affordable price point. Their pieces are handmade and ethically produced, using materials from the US.
Our Pick: We're obsessed with pretty much all of AMYO's pieces, they're designed to be timeless and versatile so you can't go wrong with anything you pick. Our favorite would have to be from their "celestial collection", their Starburst Huggie Earrings. These gold vermeil huggies are hypoallergenic, lead & nickel free.
Click here to shop AMYO's affordable and sustainable jewelry pieces!
5. Baggu
The founders of Baggu started the brand in 2007 because they wanted a reusable bag that was functional, affordable, and nice-looking. Baggu creates products to have long, useful lives, including their reusable bags, or face masks. Their designs are made with minimal waste and sustainable materials, by their manufacturer in China who is committed to ethical and environmentally responsible practices.
Our Pick: You can't go wrong with the original, best-selling Standard Baggu, which comes in a wide variety of patterns and colors. This reusable bag is not just for the grocery store! It folds up easily so you can take it along with you anywhere. Carry in your hand or over your shoulder. Holds 2-3 plastic grocery bags worth of stuff!
Click here to shop Baggu's reusable bags, masks, and more!
6. AVRE
AVRE uses sustainable materials and recycled water bottles to craft their eco-friendly line of shoes. Julie and Connie, the sisters who created AVRE wanted to start a brand that empowered women, with the purpose to improve the world for the benefit of future generations. With a family history in the shoe manufacturing industry, they witnessed firsthand the amount of waste that comes from production and sought to create shoes that are eco-friendly, comfortable, and affordable.
Our Pick: Our top pick is the AVRE Limitless Shoe, a slip-on sneaker designed for versatility and extreme durability. We love these seamless shoes because they complement and go with any style. Made with their signature 3D stretch material, these shoes will stay comfy all day!
Click here to shop AVRE's sustainable shoes for active and everyday wear!
7. Aerangis
Aerangis sells luxury, sustainable, non-toxic home fragrances, and scented candles. Alicia Tsai, founder of Aerangis always had a passion for fragrance. She started Aerangis in hopes of helping others use fragrance to tell their stories and unlock memories. Aerangis works with world-renowned perfumers to craft luxurious scents using only non-toxic and allergen-free ingredients. Their candles are made with lead-free cotton wicks and a 100% plant-based wax blend free from synthetic dyes, parabens, and phthalates.
Our Pick: We recommend the Discovery Journey Gift Set, which makes the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one! This candle set comes with their 3 signature, best-selling scents: Aging Spirits, The Beginning, and Secret Garden.
Click here to shop Aerangis's natural and sustainable scented candles!
8. Grey State Apparel
Grey State Apparel is a sustainable and ethical women's clothing brand on a mission to make your life easier. They offer seasonless pieces curated to complement, not complicate your life. Their clothes are made using the UN's Sustainability Goals as their guidelines. With every purchase, they donate $1 to One Tree Planted.
Our Pick: We love their best-selling Kaylyn Top, which is an easy-fitting long sleeve made out of their softest cotton. It comes in 10 different colorways and 5 sizes so you can find your perfect fit. And at a price of only $35, you may want to buy multiple!
Click here to shop Grey State Apparel's sustainable everyday clothing!
9. Veque
Veque sells clean, vegan nail polish that mimics the lasting effects of gels. The Vietnamese-American founder, Audrey Siu, decided to start her line of nail polish because over 50% of all professional manicurists in the United States are of Vietnamese descent, so she felt it was of utmost importance that she create a brand. Their polish is 9-free, meaning it’s created WITHOUT: Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, DBP, Toluene, Camphor, Ethyl Tosylamide, Xylene, TPHP, or Shellac.
Our Pick: You can never go wrong with a classy red nail, which is why our rec would have to be their color PRÊTE. This nail polish is formulated with dual-patent technology to mimic the lasting effect of gel. Their signature brush contours a streak-free, full coverage, high shine application with ease and absolute precision.
Click here to shop Veque's long-lasting, clean nail polishes!
10. Aplat
Aplat creates modern zero-waste design products that elevate the sharing and storing of food, wine, and garden. They manufacture locally in San Francisco, California, where they can be involved with their factories and design process. Throughout their manufacturing production, all their products are made with zero waste. Founder, Shu Bertrand, hopes to influence the textile industry, and the community as a whole, towards more environmentally responsible practices. They donate 1% of sales to nonprofit organizations that work to educate and inform communities on sustainable eating and living.
Our Pick: Aplat's zero-waste Poche Pantry Kit is a great starter kit to reduce waste in the kitchen. You get 5 food storage bags made of extra durable and breathable preshrunk organic cotton. These bags keep food fresh longer and are made to last - great for bread, grains, herbs, nuts, fresh produce, and much more. Perfect for the refrigerator or freezer! Simply wash, reuse, and reduce single-use plastic from your home.
Click here to shop Aplat's sustainable home and kitchen supplies!
11. Nguyen Coffee Supply
Nguyen Coffee Supply is the first specialty Vietnamese coffee company in the United States importing via direct-trade and roasting in Brooklyn, New York. Founded and led by a 1st generation, Vietnamese American and daughter of refugees, Sahra Nguyen is on a mission to change the future of specialty coffee through diversity, inclusion, and sustainability.
Our Pick: We recommend Nguyen's Original Vietnamese Coffee Trio which includes the following three 12-ounce bags of either ground or whole bean coffee.
- Moxy: Sweet and smooth. Their brightest coffee.
- Truegrit: Their strongest coffee. Nearly 2x more caffeine content than arabica, and 60% less sugar and fats.
- Loyalty: Bestseller. The perfect balance of bold, smooth, with subtle notes of fruit. This blend has roughly 25% more caffeine than blends made with 100% arabica.
Click here to shop Nguyen Coffee Supply's sustainable and delicious coffees!
12. Valani Sustainable Fashion
Valani is a sustainable clothing brand that's passionate about building a better fashion industry for everyone involved and creating dreamy, feel-good clothing everyone can enjoy. And the clothing is dreamy.
Why shop Valani? Because you can feel good purchasing clothes from Valani knowing they're vegan and their GOTS 6.0 certified production partner adheres to stringent environmental and ethical standards. Their tailors are paid hourly wages instead of by the piece, so quality and safety are never compromised for speed. This means no toxic chemicals, no child labor and no unfair wages, all while being low waste, low impact in safe working conditions. Then, after receiving fabric from these partners in India, local seamstresses in Chicago and California sew the clothes. Such a great, transparent process! As Valani says: Lighter Living is easier than ever when you know exactly how and where your clothes are made.
Our Pick: We love this Vanna Hemp Midi Dress. It's beautiful, flowy and flirty... plus you can dress it up or down! Don't stop there though, Valani has lots of simple (but well-made) boho chic clothing options. What are you most excited to try out?
Click here to shop Valani's sustainable clothing!
We Want to Hear From You
Have you tried any of these Asian-women-owned sustainable brands? Did we miss any that should be included on this list?
Message us on Instagram @womendotcom or Facebook to tell us!