Girls Up Front, Rad Clothes for Tiny Feminists
We've all heard the adage, "do what you love and the money will follow." I can say, in this case, it's true. With our crowdfunding campaign successfully behind us, Girls Up Front pushes through to deliver on our 'Rad Clothing for Tiny Feminists" mission.
photo, Ericka McConnell copyright Girls Up Front, 2017
Caitlin Williams Freeman and I set out to create a statement based in girls’ empowerment. We were motivated by each other's entrepreneurial spirit; her story; my design background and the cultural mess that the infamous Brock Turner trial revealed to us, in 2016.
OUR MISSION
As women & mothers to young girls, we were both armed with the belief that we could make a difference & that the need for 'difference' was enormous. We created a collection that would accomplish a multitude of goals--the leading ones being...
to present powerful imagery, specifically directed at girls, which modeled strength and empowerment.
to take the type of imagery that is usually reserved for the boys’ section and present it in cool, modern shapes that girls will love to wear.
to show boys & girls that they are Tiny Feminists -- which simply means that they believe in equality.
to create domestically-made product & put locals to work.
We wanted Girls Up Front to be an entry point for a new dialogue for how we speak about our girls, and then, in turn, how they speak about themselves.
DO CLOTHES MATTER?
I like to think of clothing as cultural armor. Girls Up Front provides girls the fierce predators traditionally reserved for the boys’ section. With our original Sharks, Dinosaurs & Fierce Cat prints, Girls Up Front reminds us all, that girls can defend themselves, care for themselves and craft the life they want, like any fierce predator.
In the Somerset shirtwaist; our signature Annie E. halter overall; the do-everything Penelope Skort; the Linden Coverall; the Gemma blouse & Vivienne shell; the Girls Up Front's capsule collection provides ideal choices for everyday dressing. And, we put local people to work in small businesses (a lot of them women) in the creation of all our pieces.
Feminist Santa
Have you Resisted & Persisted?
We know who's been 'Naughty' &
where did 'being Nice' ever get anyone?
FEMINIST SANTA PHOTO BOOTH
We even schemed up a Feminist Santa. Born out of our love of Rosie the Riveter (the true inspiration behind the coveted Annie E. overall), our Santa demonstrated a woman filling the job of what had once been a man's role.
No need to sit uncomfortably on Santa's lap; rather, stand to the side and make your wishes clear--in your biggest voice!
Feminist Santa, Sarah Lacy
Somerset & Meiko, Feminist Santas in training.
We were fortunate enough to have today's journalistic 'Voice of Feminism', Sarah Lacy as our premier Feminist Santa.
She debuted--in her Dickies' jumpsuit (just like Rosie would do) emblazoned with our Girls Up Front embroidered patch at back & jingle bells in pocket --at the Progress-SF Holiday Brunch Market. A second sighting of the Feminist Santa (looked a lot like Caitlin) was at MMclay Ceramics Airstream Holiday Popup in Hayes Valley. Enthusiastic supporters posed with Santa, pre-ordered our collection or simply funded our campaign.
The appreciation of our 'new tradition' was emphatically embraced by the throngs of those waiting in line for their chance to pose with Santa & make their wishes known.
The funding received and sales volume from the day was proof of the reception of our Brand.
GIRLS UP FRONT, ONWARD
There is, clearly, so much work still to be done. But one must start somewhere. Girls Up Front is one step toward a new approach in how we help our girls see themselves and how those around them, see them too.
Pre-order our Predator Not Prey Collection, sizes 12mo - 8years. Adult sizes in awesome graphic tees & vintage Levi's Trucker jackets too.
