Women Embody Power

This is the last of the pre-launch series before we launch our iFundWomen Campaign to make custom-made womenswear next Tuesday, September 26th.
 
So I’d thought I’d get to the point. There are a lot of good reasons to do this work. I have listed them over the past seven weeks. But there is one central reason that motivates the work I do: I want women to wake up and recognize their power. In a literal sense, I want them to be able to dress themselves to take on the world. But in a broader sense I want them to embody their power. My journey as a designer has helped me understand something about what exists in women’s apparel: it does not take women seriously as leaders, businesswomen, makers, and problem solvers.
 
You might wonder, isn’t what we wear not so important? Isn’t this all a bit shallow, a bit trivial? Don’t we have bigger fish to fry in this wild and rapidly changing world? 
 
So consider for a moment why a man wears a tailored suit. What is that suit doing for him? It is following his figure. That figure may be very different from the next man but a good suit says: “This is who I am, this is what I bring. Unstoppable.” It adds power to his stature through the way it is cut. It respects him for what he brings to the table and cues the room that they are to do the same. That suit fits him. There will be no adjusting of hemlines, waists, or dress shirt when he walks into the room and asks for 1 billion dollars worth of investment for something he built. Why would he compromise himself in that way? When we adjust we are signaling we are uncomfortable (because we are), so why would he wear something that sends that signal on such a big day? The way he holds himself says: “I’m worth it.” (Because, of course, if he doesn’t believe it, why would anyone else?).
 
Now imagine for a moment that a woman’s custom-made apparel did this for her. We don’t have to go narrow with this vision. She doesn’t have to be in the gray power suit you are imagining. But she is in a blouse, a pair of trousers, and a perfectly cut blazer that reveals her powerful, feminine form. She is ready to own that room where she will ask for something big to solve the problem she is working on. Not for a moment will she adjust her skirt, pull on her stockings, tug at her waistline, peer down at her blouse to see if it is gaping in an awkward place. Nope. She’s got bigger things to worry about. Nothing is holding this woman back.
 
So when I bring it all together, I created something with better materials, that requires less maintenance, and is made for a woman’s form, a design that flatters a woman’s body, pays homage to her power, and has features to support her day to day needs. But the big aspiration is this: for women to own their power and in doing so, lead us to a better future. Take their place as leaders, problem solvers, makers, innovators, geniuses, next to their brothers to bring our world back into balance and create a better future for us all. I want her to cast off the cultural crap that says that she is not worthy, not capable, not smart enough or good enough or perfect enough and all the poor quality clothing that embodies this, and instead sport apparel that represents her true power to make her mark on this world. She is unlimited.
 

#unlimitedbydesign
 

Thank you for all your support! 

Sincerely,

Reid