Boston Women’s Market vendors gather at the Charles River Speedway

Dozens of women-owned vendors gathered at the Boston Women’s Market to sell their products Sunday, Oct. 10 at the Charles River Speedway.

The Boston Women’s Market, co-founded by entrepreneurs Africa Rubio and Cara Loffredo in 2017, creates opportunities for women entrepreneurs and artists in the New England area to promote their work in a supportive environment. 

“It was kind of a response to the election at that time,” Loffredo said. “A lot of things were going on politically and socially that kind of just spurred this idea of how to bring communities together to support one another.”

Products ranging from baked goods to handmaid jewelry to prints were sold at the market. The market also had a photoshoot station, a pumpkin decorating table, and games like cornhole.

Liron Gal, chocolatier and owner of ChocAllure, began her boutique chocolate shop from the comfort of her own home in the early stages of the pandemic. By the end of the year, she quit her corporate job in software and pursued her business full-time. After being a member of the organization for a few months, she decided to participate in the event for the first time this weekend.

“I think it’s great supporting women-owned businesses [here]” Gal said. “The organization has been very supportive as well.”

For Jojo Mawejje, CEO and creative director of Laletty & Co., a clothing company that merges vibrant Ugandan prints with western silhouettes, it was not her first time at the Boston Women’s Market.

“Originally, I got introduced to Boston Women's Market a couple of years ago through a friend whose a member of the group. She introduced me to the women's group and said it's kind of a way to get yourself out there and really get to experience what Boston has to offer,” Mawejje said.

Brittany Montagna went in as a first-time vendor to sell soy crystal candles, pocket crystals, and offer tarot reading and energy healing services to the community. 

“I have all different types of clients from all walks of life,” Montagna said. “I think that the world is in need of energy healing at this time, so people can enjoy a healthy and happy life.”

Customers came from all over the Boston area to support small local women artists and vendors.

Lubna Yousef and Maria Aguilo decided to attend for their birthdays. 

“We love that we got to talk to a lot of the vendors about their background, and we love that it's just centered around women entrepreneurs,” Aguilo said. “They also put so much hard work into the products that they’re making.”

The Boston Women’s Market has gained over a thousands members, allowing itself to branch out and create an online store as well as offer seminars and educational workshops to provide its members with opportunities to learn skills to expand their business. Loffredo attributes the market’s success to it providing businesses an opportunity to be more involved within their communities.

“When we first started, it was quite challenging to even get space,” Loffredo said. “As we’ve grown and more people have heard about us, more people understand the importance of bringing small businesses and the community into their realm.”

The market’s mission is to not only empower women entrepreneurs and to support them with their businesses, but it is also to encourage people to shop small and support their neighbors.

“You can go buy a candle at Target and it’ll probably be cheaper than what you would buy here,” Loffredo said. “But when you bring home a candle from Boston Women’s Market, it has a story, you met the maker, you understand the history of it, so every single time you light that candle, you’re going to think of the great experience you had or the story the maker told you of how they handcrafted it.”