March 8 marks International Women’s Day, a day dedicated to celebrating and uplifting women’s achievements and rights across political, economic, social and cultural spheres and to inspire a more equitable future for all women. This year, the theme is Choose To

Challenge, a message that comes in a time of deep reflection and confrontation, but with a glimmer of hope for change. Here’s what you need to know about International Women’s Day:

Where did the holiday come from?

While the United Nations began recognizing International Women’s Day in 1975, the holiday has been celebrated for much longer. The concept began in 1908 during a protest organized by Theresa Malkiel, where she and other suffragists marched through New York City to bring light to their unfair and dangerous working conditions. Because of this march, National Women’s Day was celebrated for the first time in 1909 in the U.S.

But it didn’t stop there. Fast forward a year later, where German campaigner Clara Zetkin brought the idea of an annual International Women’s Day celebration to the International Conference of Working Women, where it was then implemented throughout Europe, garnering more than one million attendees at the rallies held throughout.

Today, International Women’s Day is celebrated in more than 80 countries around the world.

Why is it important?

Women have historically been oppressed, underrepresented, and overlooked throughout the world, and in most societies, it still happens. The holiday stands for a day to reflect on the disparities while amplifying women’s achievements and building a better future for the women who will come after us.

But this year’s International Women’s Day message is one of the most meaningful; #ChooseToChallenge highlights the importance of challenging the discrimination, internal biases, and misconceptions towards women and women’s rights. While this is oftentimes a difficult position, especially for women, it is more important than ever for us to band together and choose to challenge the institutions that limit us.

How are we celebrating it at Rian Katherine?

As a woman-owned small business, empowerment is a cornerstone of Rian Katherine’s values. While we aim to build confidence in each person who wears a Rian Katherine bag, it is in our very DNA to uplift every woman, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, class and ability, to create positive change in the world around us, and inspire and uplift a new generation of women in any way we can. We aim to do this through our commitments to shining a light on the women that inspire us, support us, and exist with us, giving back to organizations that connect and support women from all backgrounds, and sharing our experiences and learnings to encourage strength and confidence in our audiences.

While the holiday has evolved and become more widely celebrated, we still have a long way to go to ensure every woman feels safe, celebrated, and equal. Join us as we Choose to Challenge in order to create change.