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25 Next-Gen Small Businesses To Follow On Instagram ASAP

Major job-spiration overload. - by Ellie McDonald
  • 04 Nov 2021

PSA: If staring out the window, dreaming of starting our own fashion empire on social media is wrong, we don’t want to be right. 

But as we are all well aware, making those #selfmade dreams come true isn’t easy; whether a business idea is born out of curiosity (‘WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE?!’) or circumstance (‘MY BOSS SUCKS!!!’), branching out and starting your own business is HARD. And getting that business to continue to kill it, over and over again? Even harder. 

WATCH: Kylie Jenner Announces ANOTHER Business Venture

Here at Girlfriend, we aggressively air-five those entrepreneurial go-getters who have struck out on their own to start their own business - one that operates on their time, their ideas and their values. 

To prove our commitment to supporting the next-gen of small-business bosses, Girlfriend and Are Media partnered with Instagram for their inaugural search for 25 of Australia’s top up-and-coming female entrepreneurs under the age of 25. 

Well, today the results are in! We are beyond inspired by this group of young business bosses, striving for their own interpretation of career supremacy. On their terms.

Introducing, Instagram's 25 Under 25 Top Female Entrepreneurs in Australia. 

Esther Adeyinka, SHADIE BY EA, NSW

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SHADIE BY EA is a Black woman-led brand that provides ethically made premium intimates and essentials for women of all skin tones and sizes. Despite not having any fashion experience, Esther started the label to help other women she knew couldn't find intimates that suited their bodies.

Darian Brooker, We, Future Leaders, NSW

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Growing up in foster care, We, Future Leaders' founder Darian Brooker was frustrated by the lack of consistent support, stability and education she experienced as a child. So, she started a tutoring business to help create a world where kids are not only educated, but empowered to leave the world a better state than they found it.

Zarah Garbrah, Embrace Your Frizzique, VIC

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Embrace Your Frizzique is a platform targeted at empowering and educating people of colour across Australia on the many ways they can love, nurture and reconnect with their natural hair. Zarah's motto? "You are you, and that is your power."

Angelique Wan, Consent Labs, NSW

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Built by young people for young people, Consent Labs' mission is to empower and educate their community to navigate consent respectfully, while raising much-need awareness for sexual harassment and assault.

Stephanie Weiss, Arula, NSW

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Stephanie knew many people who'd experienced breast cancer, and heard from many of them that the breast prostheses used post treatment didn't suit everyone. So, she decided to put her experience in product design to a new use, creating 3D-printed external breast prostheses for women who have had single or double mastectomies, using 100% Aussie materials.

Bridgette Sulicich, Oooh Mood, NSW

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Oooh Mood is a feminist sexual wellness brand empowering young women to liberate themselves in the bedroom, and in life. Bridgette started Oooh Mood as an approachable, fun and friendly brand that seeks to change the conversation around female sexual pleasure.

Aimee Hill, Japanese with Aimee, QLD

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After working as an international interpreter straight out of uni, Aimee decided she wanted to start her own business in the digital and creative field, and created her online Japanese course to help people learn the basics in 12 weeks.

Sarah Qian, Compassion Creamery, NSW

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Sarah wanted to create a tasty vegan cream-cheese alternative, and worked with her university thesis advisor to create the world's first oat cream cheese. It's made using traditional dairy cheese making methods, and is currently available at cafes and restaurants.

Philicia Kabia, Sapé Fashion, NSW

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Sapé Fashion is a Sydney-based label making customised African-flavoured power suits for everyone. After posting her designs on Instagram, people loved Philicia's sharp lines and started requesting bespoke orders.

Brianna Cardamone, il Pietra, VIC

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il Pietra creates natural stone pieces which each possess their own unique variations. Brianna wants to see businesses adopt a sustainable future, and so started selling marble offcuts to repurpose these materials as coasters, trays and other designs. The statement pieces have been picked-up by retailers across Australia.

Ellie Gall, elga Ceramics, NSW

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Ellie became obsessed with pottery and started sharing her pieces to her Instagram page. Soon people asked Ellie if she would sell her pieces and Elga Ceramics was born. Ellie has based her entire business on Instagram and uses it as a fun way to share her latest work and share tips about pottery and running a small business.

Joanne Rahman, sent studio, NSW

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Sent is the first candle brand in Australia to offer a customised candle service called The Candle Bar. Customers complete an online quiz to create their own one-of-a-kind scents that remind them of their most cherished memories. Joanne is also passionate about the environment and is adopting sustainable practices throughout her business.

Eliza Schwab, Glam Theory Cosmetics, VIC

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Glam Theory Cosmetics offers high quality, gorgeous makeup tools at an affordable price point with easy guides to help people learn how to apply make-up like a pro. Founder Eliza works as a makeup artist and educator and pivoted during lockdown to keep herself busy.

Amanda Moncur, Moncur Collection, VIC

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Moncur Collection is home to handmade earrings that Amanda carefully curates out of polymer clay, a medium that is so versatile to let her creativity flourish. Amanda has built a loyal following on Instagram and ships products all over the world.

Alexia Barsoum, Allora Curated, NSW

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Allora Curated is a small jewellery business specialising in independent, handmade & thoughtfully curated pieces. Alexia started the brand in Sydney earlier this year with the idea of making jewellery that she could not find anywhere else on the internet.

Britt Fenton, Ligne Studio, QLD

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Creative studio Ligne Studio specialises in brand designs, offering photography, fashion, art, graphic design and everything in between. Britt goes beyond the standard branding practices to give clients a fully customised and ready-to-launch brand.

Emily Turner, Lujuria Studio, VIC

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With a mixture of Spray Tanning, education and a passion for helping beauty business owners, Lujuria Studio is a place with the dream of making the Spray Tan industry an educated, relevant and desired space. Emily has developed a product line based on all of the things she thought the industry lacked, and also developed training for both technicians and at home tanners to get the best spray tan.

Mikaela Swan, Artist and Musician, VIC

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Mikaela works as an artist and musician across a number of mediums, and has built a loyal community on her Instagram account, where she sells her music and art to thousands of fans.

Alina Arkhipova, Alina Huck Nails, NSW

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Alina has spent years perfecting her skills as a nail technology specialist. Over the years she's worked in health, opened her own salon in the heart of Sydney's CBD and now teaches others on her nail techniques online.

Rochelle Smith, BitsNBugz, VIC

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BitsNBugz sells unique scrunchies and masks with novelty fabrics to help people stand out from the crowd. Roey started her own sewing business in early 2020, finding it as a great way to de-stress and relax from her job as a nurse.

Makayla Maree, Aviana the Label, VIC

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Aviana the Label is a fashion-forward tights and legwear label designed to encourage women to embrace their femininity and sensuality. The brand was born in March 2021 after Makayla wanted to empower women to be more confident and fearless with their fashion choices.

Gabriela Rodriguez, Molina Suaz, NSW

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The brand Molina Suaz is about embodying a quiet but strong confidence. Minimalist and sleek, Molina Suaz products are functional, durable and can be used for any occasion. Gabriela named her business after her biggest inspirations, her grandparents.

Maih Porfyriou, Hysteria Studios, QLD

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Maih wanted to create a brand to uplift and empower people through an all inclusive clothing brand which was bright and fun. Originally known for its reflective festival outfits, Hysteria has expanded to also make activewear, loungewear and unisex clothes.

Molly Cochrane, Leni Swims, VIC

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Swimwear label Leni Swims was founded in 2017 by sisters Lucy and Molly Cochrane with an aim to make a carefully curated collection of sustainably and ethically made swimwear. With a focus on styles that are made to last, all of their processes, colours, quality and designs have an emphasis on creating a bikini which sustainably and ethically considers all steps in a products life cycle.

Alex Nairn, Moose Cow Fish, VIC

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Moose Cow Fish is an active streetwear brand, combining fashion and function. The brand was founded in 2020 by 20 year old Alex, who struggled to find activewear brands with stylish and groovy designs which were also durable enough to wear everyday without falling apart.

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