Meet The Wonder Women Behind Beyond Retro
We're celebrating this year's International Women's Day by asking the beautifully brainy ladies behind Beyond Retro about their inspirations and aspirations for the female future.
Casie Brown: Vintage Picker
Who's your biggest female icon and why?
Yoko Ono! Her album Approximately Infinite Universe is such a powerful feminist statement. It's created with humour, compassion and ideas that still resonate today.
What's the most important aspect of the women's movement to you?
Intersectionality; in order for the women's movement to be successful it needs to be representative of ALL self-identifying women, across race, gender, class, ability and ethnicity.
What are your hopes for the future of feminism?
That the future generation of women grow up recognizing and naturally utilizing the importance of their voices and stories, and bodies.Emma Lodin: Store Manager
Who's your biggest female icon and why?
I'm going way back in time and say The Suffragettes. Those strong female icons empowered women to start thinking for themselves. Their legacy and message lives on today.What's the most important aspect of the women's movement to you?To raise awareness of the millions of women who still find themselves oppressed.What are your hopes for the future of feminism?The utopian dream would surely be that the term feminism becomes a thing of the past when equality becomes something that is inherent to everyone on earth.Alishia Dickenson: Digital Marketing Assistant Manager
Who's your biggest female icon and why?Cliched as it sounds, my fabulous Mama. Her positivity and love of life is infectious; she has a wild laugh, an uplifting spirit and sees the beauty in everything. She's definitely my go-to person on a rainy day!My celebrity icon is Tracee Ellis Ross. She's witty, eloquent and induces serious hair envy.What's the most important aspect of the women's movement to you?Support of one another emotionally, verbally and vocationally. For too long women have been pitted against one another and we oftentimes hold the same prejudices as some men without even realising it. It's not a case of being a race to the top, it's about getting there together.What are your hopes for the future of feminism?That it will no longer need to be a movement because there is a mutual respect and admiration between the genders, and we've achieved what we set out to do. Idealistic yes, but it can be done one day!
Nithya Mukandan: E-Commerce Manager
Who's your biggest female icon and why?My Mom. Playing different roles so beautifully at the same time, be it the role of a caring mother, a loving wife, a strong adviser and managing all of them with a sweet smile whilst still working is nothing less than magic.
She taught us to "never say can't". I am indebted to her entire generation of women who blazed a path for me and my generation of females.What's the most important aspect of the women's movement to you?Opening up huge opportunities for women, ensuring them equal access to higher education, compelling colleges and universities to support women's athletics. an undeniable improvement in the lives of women everywhere.What are your hopes for the future of feminism?The future of feminism should be to celebrate femininity because of it's essence instead of as a reminder of basic rights. Individual choice and equal opportunity for everyone.Caroline Jonasan: Office Manager
Who's your biggest female icon and why?When it comes to vintage style icons my favorites have been the same for years: Katharine Hepburn, Jane Birkin, Kim Gordon and Nico.But if we talk general female icons I could probably go on forever cause I'm quite obsessed with tales of mysterious women through history - everyone from Pocahontas to Cleopatra and Jeanne D'Arc... Sure, I'm a geek.What's the most important aspect of the women's movement to you?Equal pay, to be free from sexual violence, free abortion and right to education for women worldwide.What are your hopes for the future of feminism?That the word feminism in the future will have the same value and importance as the word democracy. In a nearer future I hope the Feminist Party in Sweden will have some success in the election later this year.Tatiana Nicholaeva: Production Analyst
Who's your biggest female icon and why?Irena Sendler, she is a brave woman who saved approximately 2,500 Jewish children during World War II.What's the most important aspect of the women's movement to you?The most important aspect of the women's movement to me is the acceptance women as human beings with rights, equal to men's rights.What are your hopes for the future of feminism?That the future generation of women grow up recognizing and naturally utilizing the importance of their voices, stories and bodies.Sophie Guyte: Assistant Manager
Who's your biggest female icon and why?My old dear, we've had some family hardships which allowed me to see her strength and determination. She amazes me everyday. She's truly my best friend and role model!What's the most important aspect of the women's movement to you?That it's helping to inspire and motivate generations of women.What are your hopes for the future of feminism?That it leads to more strong women in positions of power and authority.
