Eileen Fisher's 3rd Annual Inspiring Women Event

HadleyStilwell is Honored to Participate in Eileen Fisher's 3rd Annual Inspiring Women Event, Featuring Seattle Area Entrepreneurs

The Eileen Fisher Inspiring Women Event, held May 6th at the Eileen Fisher retail store in downtown Seattle, will feature three Seattle area Eileen Fisher grant winners - HadleyStilwell, Mama K's Play Clay, and Ricicli - as well as experts to advise women looking to follow their own passion in business.

Seattle (May 2012) - HadleyStilwell (www.hadleystilwell.com), designer of effortlessly elegant clothes for breastfeeding mothers, is thrilled to be invited to participate in Eileen Fisher's 3rd annual Inspiring Women Event. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect directly with three Seattle area entrepreneurs as well as executives from Eileen Fisher to ask questions and hear how these women have been able to turn their passions into successful, socially responsible businesses. The event will be held May 6th, 5:30-8:30pm, at Eileen Fisher's retail store in downtown Seattle.

The 2012 Eileen Fisher Inspiring Women Event will feature three Seattle area winners of the prestigious Eileen Fisher Business Grant for Women Entrepreneurs, a program to recognize women-owned businesses that embody socially-conscious and environmentally-sustainable business practices that benefit their local community. In addition to HadleyStilwell, the Inspiring Women Event will feature Mama K's Play Clay, a maker of all-natural play dough with hints of aromatherapy to calm while encouraging creativity, and Ricicli, maker of handmade, one-of-a-kind upcycled clothing for babies and children.

Holli Harris, founder and designer of HadleyStilwell, is dedicated to social entrepreneurship. HadleyStilwell's designs reflect Harris's goal of helping new mothers breastfeed longer by minimizing the challenge of pumping or nursing, which empowers women to succeed at both career and motherhood. Harris carries the idea of empowerment and social responsibility through her supply chain choices. Manufacturing is done locally in the Seattle area by other small businesses that are also social entrepreneurs, and Harris strives to source her materials as close to home as possible from responsible manufacturers and suppliers.

"I am so excited to be a part of the Inspiring Women Event. Eileen Fisher is a business leader and role model for all women," says Harris. "My business is all about merging functionality with style to support the most natural, and empowering, thing ever - breastfeeding. Working with Eileen Fisher inspires me to keep the focus on business values and giving back as we grow, just as Eileen Fisher has done." Harris and HadleyStilwell won the Eileen Fisher grant in 2011.

All three Seattle area winners of the Eileen Fisher Business Grant for Women Entrepreneurs, including Harris, will be available to answer questions and tell their stories. Additionally, they will showcase their products and have inventory available for purchase. Current Eileen Fisher grant committee members will also be available to answer questions and offer advice about the program.

"The current economic climate is terrifying for small businesses. More than ever, Eileen Fisher believes in instilling confidence in women entrepreneurs and letting them know that someone believes in them," says Cheryl Campbell, Eileen Fisher Business Grant Facilitator. "We want to inspire women to pursue new opportunities and find creative solutions that will move their businesses forward in a responsible and sustainable way. The Seattle Inspiring Women Event is just one method for demonstrating our commitment to women entrepreneurs everywhere."

Harris is getting ready to launch new pieces, a maxi dress and tunic-length top, to the versatile and popular Jet Set Collection. But even as she expands the HadleyStilwell collection, she always looks for ways to give back. She is a director on the board of Chindex International, the only private healthcare network of clinics and hospitals in China. She is also the chair of Washington CASH, a non-profit microfinance organization that provides business training, a supportive community, and microloans to enable low-income individuals to achieve self-sufficiency through their own small business ideas. Additionally, Harris donates 5% of every HadleyStilwell purchase to Best for Babes (www.bestforbabes.org), an award-winning organization dedicated to helping moms beat the "Booby Traps" to breastfeeding - the cultural and institutional barriers that prevent moms from achieving their personal breastfeeding goals.

About HadleyStilwell

Launched in February 2009, the HadleyStilwell collection is for breastfeeding, working mothers who are looking for well-tailored pieces that integrate with their existing wardrobes. With just a quick change of accessories, women can achieve their professional look for the boardroom, without sacrificing comfort when they're relaxing at home on the weekends. HadleyStilwell clothes are the wardrobe staples women reach for - from the new, nursing mom who needs quick access to breasts for pumping, to the mother of young children who may find herself frequently running from desk to after-school activities each week.

Named after the daughter of founder Holli Harris, HadleyStilwell's designs reflect Harris's goal of helping new mothers breastfeed longer by minimizing the challenge of pumping or nursing. Harris aims to empower women to succeed at both career and motherhood.

To this end, the HadleyStilwell website also includes a section called "Milk Notes," which provides advice ranging from managing milk supply to managing career as a new mother, including a chart of the breastfeeding phases; tips on presenting the business case for breastfeeding to your boss; and the art of pumping in a car. Visitors to the site can also sign up for weekly Milk Tweets via Twitter, through which Holli shares vetted sources for new mother information.

HadleyStilwell was also recently awarded a prestigious 2011 Eileen Fisher Business Grant for Entrepreneurs.

The entire HadleyStilwell collection is available online at www.hadleystilwell.com. More information about HadleyStilwell can also be found online, or by calling 1-888-872-9885.

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