Hi Everyone,

Thank you for reading our fifteenth blog post. We are honored to have Emma Mcilroy, the founder and CEO of Wildfang, featured on our blog! As the founder and CEO of Wildfang, she is committed to smashing the patriarchy and gender norms in fashion and beyond. Since its founding in 2013, Wildfang has obtained their Climate Neutral Certification and dedicates 1% of their net revenues to give back to charity each year. While Wildfang's roots may lie in advocating for women's access to traditionally male clothing, its core values extend to championing broader causes like women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and gender inclusivity. Over the past decade, they've donated over $1 million to important organizations such as ProjectQ, ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Tegan & Sara Foundation, The Trevor Project, RAICES, Girls Inc, and many more. The company has also been featured in prominent publications such as Forbes, CBS Mornings, and The New York Times.

Wildfang was founded in 2013 in a studio apartment in Portland, Oregon. The idea formed when Emma was in Urban Outfitters shopping for a graphic tee and a blazer. She noticed that all the blazers in womens department had fake pockets and fake buttons. She wandered into the men's section and realized all the great graphic tees and blazers were there. That got her asking: why do we restrict styles based on gender? Don't women deserve great blazers? Realizing that this does not make any sense, she decided to fix it.

Prior to Wildfang, Emma had worked on several of the world's best sports brands: Nike and the Premier League. Those brands taught her the importance of consumer understanding and obsession. Emma believes the best brand marketers are consumer obsessed. Emma’s work at Wildfang has led her to many awards including: one of Inc.’s Female Founders 100, Oregon Entrepreneur of the Year by OEN, and Executive of the Year by the Portland Business Journal.

Despite Wildfang’s success, building the company was not without its challenges. In a landscape where women receive less than 3% of venture capital, and queer individuals face even steeper odds, with less than 2% in their corner, securing investors proved to be an uphill battle. However, Wildfang's unwavering determination and commitment to its mission allowed it to overcome these obstacles.

Today, Wildfang proudly positions itself as a trailblazer in the realm of "tomboy" fashion, boldly challenging the conventional norms and heteronormative ideals that have long restricted sartorial expression. In stark contrast to labeling customers, the brand champions empowerment, placing the power of choice firmly in the hands of individuals to authentically reflect their personal style. Above all, Wildfang is on a dedicated mission to foster a welcoming and vibrant community where womxn can unapologetically embrace their true selves.

Visit their website www.wildfang.com to learn more about Wildfang’s mission and clothing options. To stay updated and browse their diverse clothing selections, follow Wildfang on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Thank you for reading our post!

What was your career prior to founding Wild Fang? Do you think your experience in branding helped you found Wild Fang?

Prior to Wildfang I had worked on several of the world's best sports brands: Nike and the Premier League. Those brands taught me the importance of consumer understanding and obsession. The best brand marketers are consumer obsessed.

How did you get your idea for this business?

I was in Urban Outfitters shopping for a graphic tee and a blazer. All the blazers in womens dept had fake pockets and fake buttons. I wandered into the men's section and realized all the great graphic tees and blazers were there. That got me thinking "Why do we restrict styles based on gender? Don't women deserve great blazers?! This doesnt make sense." So I decided to fix it.

What were any obstacles you faced while developing your business? Did gender play a factor in any of these?

Women receive less than 3% of venture capital. Queer folx less than 2%. Finding investors was really tough.

How does your business focus on giving back to women and why is this a main focus of your company’s business?

We are climate neutral and we took the 1% pledge so 1% of our net revenues gives back to charity each year. We want to support the community who supports us. Also we know our consumer cares about giving back, so it's a primary focus for us.