Women’s needs have been dismissed, overlooked, and underserved for far too long—but Antonia Saint Dunbar, Co-founder of THINX and founder of Antonia Saint NY, is on a mission to change that.

From rethinking period products to reinventing high heels for ultimate comfort, Antonia has disrupted industries that were never designed with women in mind. In this episode of RedefineHER, we explore her journey of innovation—from solving a personal challenge to transforming intimate apparel and footwear.

But it hasn’t been an easy road. As a woman breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated industries, she’s faced pushback, funding hurdles, and the constant pressure to prove that female-focused solutions are worth the investment. How did she push through the doubts? How did she navigate setbacks, build the right team, and stay resilient?

In This Episode, We Cover:

✔️ The striking parallels between designing performance underwear and reinventing footwear

✔️ The challenges of securing funding for female-centric innovations

✔️ How to find and work with the right partners in male-dominated industries

✔️ The reality of running a business while raising three kids

✔️ The role of sustainability in designing products that truly serve women

TimeLine

00:00 Breaking Barriers: The Journey of Antonio St. Dunbar

02:49 From Personal Need to Revolutionary Product

08:20 Empowering Women: The Impact of Thinks

12:42 Transitioning from Personal Care to Footwear

22:29 Challenges in Innovation and Funding

29:10 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

39:03 Innovative Thinking in the Shoe Industry

39:50 Building a Trustworthy Team

41:29 Navigating Equity and Partnerships

42:51 Understanding Contracts and Legalities

44:08 Celebrating Milestones and Future Aspirations

46:11 Balancing Entrepreneurship and Family Life

49:08 The Importance of Support Systems

54:22 Designing for Comfort and Mental Well-being

56:10 Influence of Family on Design Philosophy

01:01:24 The Journey of Entrepreneurship

01:06:15 Empowering Future Generations

01:09:19 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

01:12:04 Supporting Vulnerable Communities

01:15:39 Profit with Purpose

Connect with Antonia Saint Dunbar

• Website: https://www.thinx.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniasaintdunbar/
• Social: https://www.instagram.com/antoniasaintdunbar?igsh=MXhuZDJlN3lwNHljbg==

RedefineHER Podcast Credits

• Host: Brenda Armstrong - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendaarmstrong1/
• Producer: Tarryn Long - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarrynlong/
• Sponsor: ITEOM Talent Partners search and placement experts | connecting purpose -driven organizations with top-tier talent to create thriving, impactful & diverse teams.

More Details on RedefinHER Podcast:

www.iteomtalent.com/redefineherpodcast

Thanks for following and see you on our next episode!