As the CEO of Know Your Lemons, a non-profit saving lives through creative breast health education for early detection, her aspirations for good design eclipse the embellishments you see on consumer goods. 

“Design is about understanding problems facing people and creating design solutions that beautifully address people’s needs,” she tells me. In her case, the design solutions in question revolve around inspiring people to take charge of their breast health in the hopes of increasing the odds of early breast cancer detection.

When discovered in its earliest stage, breast cancer survival rates are nearly 100%. When symptoms chronically go unnoticed, however, the odds of overcoming late stage breast cancer are nearly insurmountable. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Know Your Lemons (@knowyourlemons)

That’s the vital difference between early and late detection. And, most often, it’s a distinction that comes down to knowledge and education — which is where Corrine’s organization gets its hands dirty creating powerful designs that educate, empower, and transcend. 

Worldwide, roughly 50% of the population have breasts. And, yet, only 2% of women are familiar with the signs and symptoms of breast cancer. While Corrine is quick to point out that men are also afflicted by the disease (take, for instance, Beyonce’s dad), it remains somewhat rare (1 in about 100 cases). 

“Our main thing is encouraging people to get the app because it answers all the questions, helps people remember to do their self exams, and give people all that knowledge,” says Corrine. 

The Know Your Lemons app is a free resource that provides information about potential breast cancer warning signs, how to perform self-exams, what to expect during your first mammogram or ultrasound, as well as tips on how to speak to your health care practitioners. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Know Your Lemons (@knowyourlemons)

Corrine was just beginning a master’s degree in graphic design when she lost her grandmother to breast cancer. Having lost both her maternal and paternal grandmothers to the disease, she was left with a cascade of questions. “I started to think, what does this mean me for me as someone in their early 20s?,” she says. 

Curious about the affects of her family history and the warning signs she should be wary of, she headed to the library of a local cancer hospital. Unsure of how to advise someone of her age, she was handed pamphlets and directed to multiple websites. 

Text-heavy and brimming with stock images of women smiling, the material was dense and dissonant. “I realized I didn’t know anything about breast health,” she remarks. “I started wondering why I didn’t know this information.” 

The shortcomings of high school health class, and the stigmatization of breasts, are partly to blame — “In school we learn about every part of the body except breasts,” she says. The sexualization of breasts in tandem with the fear associated with cancer makes for a lethal combination, making for breast cancer resources that are difficult to digest.

Leaving with more questions than she had going in, she resolved to dedicate her master’s project to visualizing breast cancer myths. Using design to circumvent stigma, she ventured to find a stand-in for breasts that could bypass social barriers in a friendly and engaging way. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Know Your Lemons (@knowyourlemons)

Melons, jugs, cones, and other objects were used euphemistically to communicate breast cancer symptoms. Then, she discovered lemons.

One day, during a research-based mammogram, she asked the technician: “What does a cancer lump feel like?” It was hard and immovable, like a nut or lemon seed, she was told. “Then the whole metaphor came together and that’s when I started visualizing everything using lemons.”

Determined to communicate her project on a global scale, she moved to the UK to undertake a PhD in design. Corrine’s burgeoning non-profit remained a side project, until the loss of a childhood friend to breast cancer prompted her to quit her job and use her savings to jumpstart the charity as a newly single mom. 

When I press her about what it was like to take that leap of faith, she tells me it was the possibility of educating people that kept her going. “I knew the power of design could be useful in this space,” says Corrine. “No one else was thinking about design as one of the solutions to breast health education.” 

Today, Know Your Lemons is credited with helping many get diagnosed early through accessible design that helps folks conduct self-exams, spot potential symptoms, and advocate for themselves. “That confidence and knowledge can make all the difference in being able to get diagnosed,” according to Corrine.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Know Your Lemons (@knowyourlemons)

Since, globally, most women self-detect their breast cancer, the emphasis on education has never been more vital.

With resources translated in 33 different languages (soon-to-be 34 with the addition of Urdu) and 700 trained volunteer educators across 60 countries worldwide, the organization is opening up discussions in a way that’s unprecedented.

“We can communicate equally to men with our visuals as we do women or people who are transgender or don’t identify as a particular gender,” says Corrine. By recognizing taboos and barriers, they’re able to overcome cultural hurdles that might otherwise make it difficult to communicate information about breast health. 

“When people ask what I do, I’m like, I save people’s lives through design,” she says. 

For those seeking purposeful work, she recommends combining your talents with whatever fills your cup — no matter how disparate those interests may be. “Think about what you’re passionate about and combine it with a cause that’s close to your heart.”

—

“I’ll look like a ghost,” was Shontay Lundy’s response when, years ago, a friend suggested she put on sunscreen. Having recently moved to Los Angeles, she was spending more time in the sun hiking and doing yoga. 

Curious to see if she could find sunscreen that didn’t leave a white cast on her complexion, she turned to Google. After a series of keyword searches came up empty, “I can’t be the only woman of color looking for a product like this,” she thought. The homogenous world of SPF needed to be shaken up — and Shontay had the confidence and nerve to make it happen. 

Shortly after, from the bathtub of her Miami high rise where she first stored product, Black Girl Sunscreen was born. “We had to filter through seven manufacturers and chemists that would even be willing to talk to us just based off our name,” she tells me. 

The naysayers weren’t a deterrent for Shontay who cashed in her savings, hired a designer and developer, and ordered as many units as she could afford. “It was about 176 boxes that I loaded into an SUV right from the manufacturer to my high rise,” she says.

Today, as I chat with Shontay from the BGS headquarters in LA, the brand is a definitive success story — one she credits to following her instincts. Below, we get into the nitty gritty with the CEO and founder, from the tunes that keep her fueled at the office to her homebody tendencies. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shontay Lundy (@shontay_lundy)

What’s your go-to motivational song? Right now it’s Beyonce on repeat. Everyone in the office says I can’t sit next to them because I’m always requesting Beyonce You Can’t Break My Soul. But I also love Marvin Sapp Never Would Have Made It and East Side by Benny Blanco. 

Power suit or sweat suit? It depends. But I could wear sweatpants all day, every day. 

Last thing you do before bed every night? Put in my retainer.

First thing you do when you wake up every morning? The first thing I do is walk to the window to see what it looks like outside. 

Early bird or night owl? Night owl. That’s why Black Girl Sunscreen start-time is 10 am. 

Preferred form of caffeine? Red bull.

What’s a habit you’re trying to cultivate right now? I would say seriousness and work ethic.

What do you think it means to live unapologetically free? One thing that’s important to me is being able to make your own decisions. As children, every decision is pretty much made for us. What’s unapologetically free to me is being able to make good, sound decisions for yourself without thinking twice. Like, just live your life.

How do you maintain work-life balance? I don't right now.

What’s a mantra you live by? Follow your intuition. That’s first and foremost, and I apply it to literally everything: how I feel about the people around me, situations, outcomes. Follow how you feel, follow your heart. You don’t know how the story is going to end but if you can write it, then write it. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Black Girl Sunscreen (@blackgirlsunscreen)

Night in or night out? I'm a social introvert. I could totally just be home and not even have FOMO and just step out when I absolutely have to.

What’s the latest TV show you’ve binged-watched? Law & Order. I watch it whenever I can — even on repeat. But I was on holiday in my hotel room recently and 90 Day Fiance was on. So, now I’m hooked on this reality show (laughs). 

What’s something that always cheers you up when you’re feeling down? Talking to my 5-year-old niece, Nova. 

Who is your biggest source of inspiration? My grandmother. She passed in 2015. She was always the epitome of class and grace. 

What’s a piece of advice you’d give your 16 year old self? Nothing. I like to give my current self advice. As adults, we need that encouragement. We're not often checked in on enough because we’re adults and we’re supposed to have it figured out. I thought I knew it all at 16. Now I look in the mirror, as an adult, and say “you got this girl.” 

What makes you feel excited about the future? Money. I'm just kidding (laughs). But coming from really humble beginnings, I don’t take things for granted. Opening up my fridge and seeing it full of food is a big deal. I don’t think those things should be overlooked. 

I also look forward to my staff progressing in their professions. Black Girl Sunscreen is 99% female. I’m excited to see the business grow beyond Shontay and the legacy that will be left behind. 

I started stylizing editorial shoots on weekends with friends around the city, and chronicling my musings on my blog, What Women Want. At the time, I didn’t realize quite what I was cultivating. I just knew that in order to survive my 9-5, I needed to exercise my creative brain. It felt more like playing than launching a side hustle that would, eventually, change my career and life forever.

Even in my earliest blog posts, it was clear something special was taking shape. As a Black woman, I used my blog to spotlight other women of color. Soon, people started to take notice and, swiftly, weekend photoshoots and blog posts evolved into curated, sold out events. 

I knew I was dancing on the edge of something life altering when I walked into one of my events and realized most of the people there were complete strangers. It hit me: this was bigger than me, but it also felt effortless — like an extension of all the things I loved. I was walking in my purpose, and the universe was telling me to stay the course.

Then, the brands came. But one thing was clear from the beginning: I had discovered a gap in the traditional world of marketing. Yes, marketing lacked diversity but it also lacked storytelling, authenticity, and community. 

People weren’t connecting with the generic marketing techniques that became industry standard. They didn’t care about what a stranger on a billboard was wearing, they wanted to see themselves reflected. Soon, I wasn’t just shooting content for fun on the weekends, I was creating ads for brands and helping them launch new products.

Things started to change when influencer culture became more mainstream. In actuality, it began to mimic the same exclusionary culture that was so prevalent in traditional marketing. Black and Brown influencers and content creators were largely being ignored in favor of Eurocentric features. 

I was frustrated, but I also knew the answer to this dilemma. I created a following by being the authentic girl from Toronto that I am. I knew the response to the changes and regression in influencer marketing involved taking back power. And that’s exactly what I did by founding an agency focused on storytelling, strategic marketing, and advocating for Black content creators.

I loved creating content as a blogger, but I also loved the change I was impacting in Toronto and beyond. I knew that with my skills and experience, I could afford more Black and Brown women similar opportunities. 

I wanted to create footsteps for little girls who looked like me, including my daughter, — not just in marketing — but in the world of business. Within the span of a few short years I've founded an agency, Kensington Grey, grown an impressive roster of talented content creators from all over North America, and run thousands of successful campaigns. 

Our agency focuses on more than just representation. We’re committed to ensuring that underrepresented content creators are being given the recognition and compensation they deserve for the talent they bring to each and every ad. 

Throughout my creative and entrepreneurial journey, I've learned that to be truly successful, I can’t wait around for others to invite me to the table. I’ve also learned that when I step into my power, and take consistent action, I can build the table of my dreams. 

Feelings of imposter syndrome and not being enough were created to keep women like me out of positions of power, and keep us small. But when we choose to believe in our light and our vision, we’re truly unstoppable. Because when you start living in your purpose, things just start to click. 

That’s precisely what it felt like when I first launched my blog. I didn’t think of it as a side-hustle or career stepping stone — it was just something I loved doing and that other people loved as well.

There were countless people who told me I was wasting my time, both as a content creator and as an agency owner. Very few marketing professionals saw the potential in influencer marketing in the early days. They were wrong.

That's why it doesn't matter who believes in you, as long as you believe in yourself — and have the work ethic to get you to where you want to go.

I didn't — but if this is what a period was, I knew I wanted absolutely no part of it. I had spent the previous evening doubled over in my bedroom, in tears, rocking back and forth in intense pain — an experience I would, unfortunately, become very familiar with.  

For 15 years I went from doctor to gynecologist, to gastroenterologist, and back again trying to find answers and some kind of relief. Despite having a history of endometriosis in my family, I was told again and again it was "just" period pain — or maybe it was endometriosis but there wasn't anything they could do about it.

I was 13 the first time they put me on birth control. It didn't work but they insisted I just needed to find the right one. I spent the next 10 years on at least 10 different types of birth control, along with some combination of antidepressants and anti-anxieties to combat its side effects. None of it worked. 

My entire adolescence was shaped by my experience with period pain and the shame that came with it. Shame for missing school, shame for not being able to walk anywhere, shame for not being able to perform consistently as an athlete, shame for having a period that prevented me from doing anything, shame for experiencing pain during sex. 

Coaches told me it was because I didn't work out hard enough, teachers told me I was a lazy student, and friends told me it was normal. It was always my fault, something I was or wasn't doing or, worst of all, I was simply being dramatic.  

As I grew up and into myself, I began to unravel all the shame that had built up in my body over the years. I came out, I found feminism, and I began to understand all the ways the world around me made me feel powerless and alone. 

From a sexist medical system that dismisses women's pain as "hysteria" to a culture that believes women's suffering is inevitable, we are conditioned to believe that period pain is normal. When endometriosis — one of the most painful diseases in the world — can be regularly mistaken for period pain (one of the most common bodily functions in the world), something is very wrong. 

Exhausted by the lack of options and support available, I began my deep dive into all the new research around chronic pain, somatic experiencing, and, unintentionally, the magic of period sex. For the first time in my life I found relief. 

Imagine my surprise when I realized pleasure and embodiment could bring me more relief than any medication ever did. Don't get me wrong, there is a time and a place for medication — but there comes a point when pain becomes chronic and your central nervous system can no longer differentiate between good and bad sensations. Eventually, your pain pathways become so well-traveled that your brain can start to interpret all sensations as painful.   

A few years further into my journey exploring pleasure as pain relief, I found myself working for a sports recovery company and had my second “aha” moment. Period cramps are muscle cramps; cramping of the uterus, cramping of the abdominal wall. Lower back pain and leg pain — it’s all muscle cramps. 

When you get your period, your body releases a chemical called prostaglandins that causes the uterus to contract in order to shed its lining. Excess prostaglandins can cause cramping of the muscles around the uterus as well (including your bowels, which is why some people get diarrhea during their cycle). So, what if we took the science of muscle recovery and applied it to period pain?  

By combining the science of muscle recovery and the latest research on chronic pain, we developed period pain relief experiences that not only work to relieve pain in the moment but also work to change a person's relationship with period pain entirely. 

We do this by infusing pain relieving ingredients into sensual delivery systems like baths, body oils, creams, body wraps, weighted aromatic heat pads, and more to make pain relief more effective. By adding a pleasure component, your body becomes engaged beyond just the experience of looking for pain relief. It presents an opportunity to engage the pleasure centers in your brain to help build new, less painful neural pathways for more holistic and long term relief. 

We launched somedays in the spring of 2021 with a mission to radically change the way period pain is managed. With the largest and most comprehensive period pain relief line in North America, we are pioneering an entirely new category: period pleasure.  

Somedays is created by and made for anyone who has ever felt dismissed, alone, or hopeless in their experience with period pain. It's a soft landing place for people to explore their relationship to pain, find community, and welcome pleasure into a part of their life where it maybe hasn’t been experienced.

For a long time, I believed period pain was something I would spend my entire life trying to escape. Since founding somedays, I'm able to welcome it with open arms and finally offer it the spa day it so deeply deserves. 

Following the vision of founder Jenn Harper, the company is reimagining the cosmetic landscape, infusing their products with raw ingredients, minimizing waste, giving back to the community, and creating space for Indigenous youth. 

As the first B Corp (a designation given to companies with strong social and environmental commitments) certified cosmetic collection to line Sephora's glitzy shelves, the brand is proving that beauty doesn't have to be at the expense of the environment. All at once, Cheekbone Beauty is making a difference in the lives of Indigenous youth through its ample donations and by placing Indigenous issues at the centre of its campaigns.

Most recently, the brand's Glossed Over campaign has taken aim at the scarcity of clean drinking water facing many Indigenous communities. With lipglosses labeled "Luscious Lead," "E. Coli Kiss," and "Mercury Shimmer," the campaign is a powerful indictment of Canada's ongoing water crisis across Indigenous communities. 

Ahead, the brand's founder, Jenn Harper, talks the inspiration behind the brand, keeping cosmetics out of landfills, and the Indigenous youth at the centre of the company's mission.

Cheekbone Beauty broke out onto the cosmetics scene 2 years ago with the launch of waste-less lipsticks. What inspired you to launch that inaugural line? 

I was never a makeup expert but always loved makeup. It’s my favorite form of self-care and got me through tough times. In 2015, I was still working in sales and marketing in the food industry; I had this life changing dream that planted a seed — not a metaphorical dream, a real dream.

In this dream, I saw little Native girls dancing, giggling, and exuding such genuine joy — and they were covered in lip gloss. I woke up and instantly wrote down what became my business plan.

I always say this, but the world didn’t need another lipstick brand. What the world did need, however, was more representation. I really wanted to create a brand that highlighted Indigenous faces and gave back to community.

I spent months researching manufacturers and learning about the business before we launched in 2016. Fast forward and it is clear that we are driven by passion.

In the time since, how has the brand evolved?

Since our initial launch, Cheekbone Beauty has expanded in ways that I could have only hoped for. Cheekbone Beauty was an e-commerce side-hustle that I started in my basement with only $500.

I went onto Dragon’s Den in 2019 in hopes of attaining $100,000 in funding with a 20% stake in the company to help expand the brand, but I had to turn down my offer from Vincenzo Guzzo as he wanted a 50% stake in the company at such a crucial part of the growth stage.

Following Dragon’s Den, we received funding from an Indigenous investment firm, Raven Indigenous Capital Partners, whose values and mission truly aligned with ours. We have upgraded from my basement to an office space, built our own in-house cosmetics lab, and hired a full-time chemist.

To speak to the sales aspect of the brand evolution, Cheekbone Beauty maintains an active e-commerce site. It can be found in Sephora Canada stores, both online and in 15 brick-and-mortar stores. With Sephora, we have launched two incredible campaigns: Right the Story and #GlossedOver.

With all of this success, giving back has remained part of the foundation of Cheekbone Beauty. To date, the brand has donated upwards of $150,000 to a variety of organizations. This has been done with the intention of helping Indigenous youth see and feel their value in the world. 

Sustainability is a core tenet of the brand. From product creation to packaging, how do you ensure that your cosmetics have minimal environmental impact? 

As I often say, Indigenous people are the OG’s of sustainability. While sustainability, protecting the environment, and social responsibility are big drivers in business, these are things we would have done regardless.

At Cheekbone Beauty, we began our sustainable journey after our first year in business when we started to see the negative impact of packaging and mass production. We've spent the last 3 years in research and have started to create products with the idea of using less.

To ensure our cosmetics have minimal environmental impact, we offer products that are safe, containing raw ingredients with ethical sourcing. As for our packaging, we use a lot of recyclable and biodegradable components, the packaging for our new Mattifying Moon Dust setting powder is a tin that can be reused.

However, our sustainability journey is never over, and we will continue to innovate and find new ways to make our products and packaging as sustainable and clean as possible. 

How are your brand’s products inspired by nature and your Anishinaabe roots?

The inspiration comes from Indigenous beliefs, other influential Indigenous people, as well as sustainability and giving back to the community. For example, all of our SUSTAIN lipsticks are named after the word for “land” in various Indigenous languages and our SUSTAIN liquid lipsticks are named after influential Indigenous peoples who are making big moves in the community.

The sustainable packaging, which can be recycled or reused, is inspired by low environmental impact which shows our promise to the land for generations to come.  

In reimagining cosmetics, an Indigenous worldview is also at the centre of everything Cheekbone Beauty does and creates. What does that mean to you?

We have incorporated Indigenous wisdom with Western science in the creation of our cosmetics, which in turn prioritizes people and planet. Our products are developed with sustainably sourced raw materials, reinforcing the Biinad Beauty Standards, which makes them safe for both people and planet. 

How is the brand making a difference in the lives of Indigenous youth?

Cheekbone Beauty is making a difference in the lives of Indigenous youth in a variety of ways. It starts with just simply having representation in the business and beauty space.

I started Cheekbone Beauty because I never wanted another Indigenous youth to feel the way that I did, which was essentially invisible in pop culture. Through our sustainability practices, we honor and practice the 7th Generation Principle, which comes from the Iroquois People, to not only leave enough for the next generation, but to leave enough for our children in the next seven generations.

At Cheekbone Beauty, we hope to be laying down a firm foundation so that our youth can see their potential in any avenues that they may choose to pursue. 

How does it feel to be the only certified B Corp cosmetic brand available at Sephora?

We are very proud being B Corp certified. The process was extremely lengthy and extensive, taking upwards of ten months to complete. We will also have to re-certify every 3 years.

B Corp follows through on the promises that they make in terms of financial contributions and social responsibility. We hope that other companies will take that step and join us in considering more environmentally friendly approaches to how they conduct their business.

It is important because it shows customers our commitment to the environment and employees whilst also building additional trust between the brand and the consumer. It all goes back to the 7 Grandfather Teachings of my Ojibwe culture.

You’re truly transforming the cosmetic industry ⁠— what’s next for the brand?

Over the next few years, we hope to expand Cheekbone Beauty into the global markets. The more our mission is broadcasted, the stronger the impact will be for Indigenous youth.  

For Moore — better known under the social pseudonym Just Seconds — roller skating is about self-exploration, mobility, and community. Lacing up her roller skates is, at once, a form of self-care and resistance in that both involve joy. 

Adorned in our new Sport Skort, the pro roller skater and urban planning student let us in on the parallels between her two passions, her nostalgic ties to roller skating, and the kind of content she plans to brighten our feeds with this year.  

When did you first discover roller skating — and how did it evolve into a full-fledged passion?

(Jasmine Moore rocking the Sport Skort and LuxeLift Pullover Bra in Cloud)

I discovered roller skating at a young age with most of my exposure coming from its presence in Black culture and its nostalgic connections to the 1970s and 1980s; both eras I enjoy for their fashion, distinct sense of identity, and responsiveness to greater social causes.

However, after a long gap in roller skating as a kid to my early adulthood, my freshman year of college reintroduced roller skating into my life as a way to manage the stresses of working my first part-time job and being a full-time college student.

During the period of picking up skating again I began to share my journey online with no expectation beyond showing my progression of self. My love for skating as a passion deepened when I found ways to combine it with my other passions of creative direction, makeup, music, and style.

How has roller skating fostered your journey of self-exploration and expression?

Roller skating has fostered my journey of self-exploration and expression by challenging me to be responsive to my needs surrounding rest, productivity, and self-worth.

You’ve referred to roller skating as more than just a hobby or profession. How is it also a form of self care and activism for you?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Knix (@knix)

Roller skating has most definitely leaned towards the professional side more often than the recreational side as of the past couple of years, but I make an effort to return to the moments where I'm not in front of the camera.

Roller skating functions as a form of self-care for me because the right combination of sound and space is therapeutic. The role activism plays within my page evolves given the tolling events of 2020, but I do believe existing in a state of joy on my page is its own form of resistance.

Many people aren’t aware of the civil rights era origins of roller skating. Is there anything you wish more people knew about the culture and roots of roller skating in America?

I wish more people were aware of the space they take in communities that are kept alive by marginalized communities. Although inclusion is paramount in the hearts of most of the roller skating community, that is not always evident in the online space.

I would suggest that roller skaters take the time to find their local communities whether in the rink, skate park, local trail, or online space and build relationships.

Are there any parallels between roller skating and your graduate studies in urban planning?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by JASMINE MOORE (@justseconds)

I would say that roller skating and urban planning both share vital connections in the future of mobility. As the world moves towards lessening emission, alternative modes of transit such as roller skates (fingers crossed), bikes, e-scooters, and other micro-mobility options will hopefully largely challenge the car-dependent infrastructure in California.

Also, my graduate studies and time in the roller skating community has shown me the power of grassroots organizing and strength in community outreach.

The world is your rink! What’s next on the docket for you in 2022?

As for 2022, I'm open to receiving all positive opportunities that come my way (especially if they involve bringing my roller skates with me!). I'm also going to lean more into ways to connect my love for developing a more equitable future into my current exploration of self on my page.

Ultimately, 2022 will be a year that challenges me to remain authentic in the way I share my vision with the world.

This time of year, their tiny sprouts are a pleasant reminder of the warm months ahead and the inspiration behind our latest color refresh, which is saturated with delicate lavender and buttery sunflower hues. 

(Becky wearing the LuxeLift Tank in Painted Bloom)

Recently, we ventured to Toronto floral studio, Blush & Bloom, to have our new spring palette transformed into a lush flower arrangement, courtesy of shop owner and florist-extraordinaire Becky De Oliveira. Using our new bras, underwear, bodysuits, and tanks as inspiration, she seamlessly assembled a stunning bouquet — and let us ask every question we could think of about flowers.

Do you remember your first encounter with florals or plants as a kid?

I don’t remember an exact moment, but I feel like we were always destined to be together! I grew up in rural Nova Scotia. My mom is an avid gardener and grows everything, so I feel like I was bred to do this from birth. 

I remember she would have me weeding her garden and picking wildflowers to make bouquets at our family cottage. She would pick roses from her garden and place them around our house. I really was always surrounded by nature in every form, growing up beside the ocean.

When did you realize being a florist was your calling? 

(Becky wearing the LuxeLift Tank in Painted Bloom)

I would safely say at the ripe age of 6 as a flower girl in a handful of family weddings. But as a teenager, I knew I would forego university to pursue my love of flower shops and floral design. My family was super supportive of my decision and it felt natural — like it came as no shock that this was my path.

How would you describe your floral design style?

I think Blush and Bloom, naturally, is an extension of me. Modern meets wild, unexpected palettes presented in a playful way. I love that our range can encapsulate both a garden-style approach, as well as a more modern and structured design. I love a bold moment with an uber-neutral concept. I love that juxtaposition and really strive for it in my floral design and bloom selections.

Florals are such a beautiful way of expressing emotions. How do you approach creating arrangements for different occasions?

(Becky wearing the LuxeLift Tank in Painted Bloom)

I learned from a mentor at a young age that as florists “we sell emotion,” and I’m yet to find a better way to describe what I do. Personally, it’s important to connect with my client and the “why” behind the occasion in order to convey what they are feeling, or what they are hoping to express to others. 

Throughout your career, what’s the most surprising thing you've learned about flowers?

(The LuxeLift Bra in Sunflower and Leakproof Cheeky Underwear in Painted Bloom)

I learn something new every day, but learning to translate emotions through flowers has been crucial. I’m often surprised when people ax certain varieties of flowers based on traditional notions without fully understanding how they’re used. 

Flowers can be surprisingly versatile considering how fleeting they are. The process of flowers from growth to table is pretty incredible. The fact that we only get to enjoy them for a mere 5 to 7 days is a gift — and we shouldn’t expect anything more from them. 

We wish bouquets lasted forever — do you have any tips for getting the most out of an arrangement?

Clean water (no murky gunk!), keeping blooms away from direct sun, hot areas, and extreme cold temperatures (like beside a high traffic door in winter) are a few pointers. When purchasing cut flowers from a shop, always cut them with pruners or secateurs (not scissors) before adding them to water, which you should do within 10 seconds.

Clean the vase every 2 to 3 days and add fresh water to help minimize the bacteria content. Some flowers just don’t have long vase lives, so choosing blooms that are long-lasting from the get-go might help avoid disappointment.

What’s your all-time favorite flower?

(The WingWoman Bra and Leakproof Cheeky Underwear in Flower Print)

A mother never picks favorites! (Just kidding.) 

This changes every week, but I usually gravitate toward something underused or super delicate-looking – like spirea or sweet pea. I love black scabiosa, gloriosa, nina (hot red or orange roses are my signature bloom), and fritillaria. I love dainty bits with texture, but I always try to appreciate every variety. Even the simplest variety will often blow me away from time to time. 

In the time since, she’s leveled up her career: dividing her time between New York and Los Angeles to play more music, moving out on her own after years of being roomies with her sister (and bandmate) in Harlem, and navigating her newly amplified voice online as an influencer and activist. 

Over Zoom, we bond briefly over the utter embarrassment of being a creative, of having to put yourself on display. For Kae, finding her stride on social media has been like everything else in life — a matter of “trying everything and finding the sweet spot between what other people like and what feels genuine to me,” she says. 

(April Kae photographed in the Knix x Betsey Johnson LuxeLift Pullover Bra and High Rise Essential Underwear in Flower Flourish)

Scrolling through her Instagram, you’ll find a seamless hodgepodge of groovy bass riffs, tallies of her favorite music and films, self-care wisdom, diary-style entries on her body-image struggles, and her musings on intersectional feminism (just to name a few). In its totality, she possesses the exuberant energy of a cool big sister. 

Embracing the “cringe” is key to not overthinking her online persona — “I’m realizing more than ever that I just have to get over myself.” Taboo topics, like generating discourse around period underwear, come to mind for Kae (in reference to her recent partnership with Knix). “I'm the only bass player who also talks about periods and body image,” she quips. 

On the topic of the inherent uneasiness of being an artist, I’m reminded of a Joan Didion quote: “The peculiarity of being a writer is that the entire enterprise involves the mortal humiliation of seeing one's own words in print.” 

Reading it aloud, Kae is immediately reminded of a one-liner her editor pulled from a recent podcast episode. (Yes, in addition to all her endeavors, Kae is also the host of I See What You Mean — a podcast where she interviews other creatives on artistic freedom and living authentically.) 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by APRIL KAE 🦋 (@aprilkae)

Pulling up the excerpt, she reads: “The agony of existence is that I have to create to be alive because it gives my life meaning, but it's also very difficult to create.” It’s piercingly true. 

But having the space to create ​​— however agonizing it may be, at times — is something Kae has fought hard for. After graduating from her degree in economics, she found herself working a relentless Wall Street job. After months of long hours and seven-day workweeks, she recalls coming home crying one day and thinking “I can’t do this anymore.” 

It suddenly clicked that she was on the wrong path, that she should be pursuing her creative drives. She took the weekend to mull it over before swiftly resigning, but that’s not to say she’s completely abandoned her affinity for the analytical.  

She confesses, for instance, to still doing her own taxes as a means of channeling her inner-economist. “I like understanding the way money affects people’s decisions,” she says. Understanding the flow of capital, for her, is a way of gauging economic disparity — “I’m interested in how we help the folks who are struggling the most.”

(April Kae pictured in the Knix x Betsey Johnson Evolution Bra and Super Leakproof Dream Short in Teal Rose Fête)

Today, it’s her work as a sessional bassist and as one half of the sister-duo IMANIGOLD that occupies most of her time. April helms the bass, guitar, and synths, collaborating on the lyrics and vocals with her sister, Nikki, who hones the band’s visual identity. 

Last year the band released their first single “Ride On,” an ode to their adolescence and journey as sisters. “Tired and young we ride on,” the chorus incants against a nostalgic backdrop of footage of them as kids and teenagers in the song’s music video. 

A self-proclaimed mix of Alabama Shakes, Florence and the Machine, and Solange, their forthcoming EP leans into the folk hymns they grew up on. When pressed on her creative process, Kae says she likes to start with a drum beat or base line before layering on the vocals. “I feel like I finally get to play bass, which is what I want.” 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by APRIL KAE 🦋 (@aprilkae)

Kae likens her chosen instrument to a heartbeat, or a cat purring. She’s sensitive to sound, but finds the deep tones of the bass soothing and inviting. “It feels like a weighted blanket,” she says, “I want to add to the larger tapestry with something that can help glue it together, and I think that’s a really special role that I enjoy.” 

Being community-minded, she’s always attentive to how her creations speak to others. Music, to her, is a form of service — and she wants to know what people are getting out of it.

Her band's upcoming single, “Comfort and Sound,” she says, is a testament to that sentiment. “It’s all about that burrowing feeling of comfort and joy.” 

At night, I remember waking up because my abdomen was throbbing with period pain and, in the morning, weeping uncontrollably at the mercy of my unbalanced hormones.

When I eventually managed to speak to a doctor about my pain, they asked how much it hurt on a scale from 1 to 10. I said 8 or 9, but didn’t feel a number described it sufficiently. I’m an illustrator and perceive the world visually.

(Illustration by Justyna Green)

Numbers and words, to me, can be limiting when describing personal and visceral states. That’s why, over time, I started to draw characters suffering from period pain.

I pictured their abdomen tangled in a knot of thick, black, and white tentacles, to illustrate how severe the pain was and how it felt. When menstruating, I felt overcome with pain spreading from my abdomen through my whole body, also affecting my mental state.

Those illustrations helped me understand my pain, and when shown to family and friends, helped communicate what I was going through.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Justyna Green (@justynagreen)

But, for the first doctor I saw, they didn't convey my pain. To her, it was just a bad period, and our conversation left me shaken and misunderstood. As I researched endometriosis more, I realized many women have similar experiences.

In the end, my journey to diagnosis took two years. I illustrated it along the way to process what I was going through and record just how hard it can be to get diagnosed and feel understood.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Justyna Green (@justynagreen)

When I received my diagnosis, I was filled with anger. I was angry with myself, my body, and my womb, for failing me — for being weak and ridden with endometrial tissue. Luckily, over the years, to manage my mental health, I learned about the power of meditation and visualization.

Knowing that endometriosis is a long-haul journey — currently there’s no cure — I was determined to maintain a positive outlook.

To do that, I’ve resorted to visualizations: picturing in my mind’s eye and drawing beautiful wombs, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and the whole reproductive system — growing like the most beautiful plant you’ve ever seen. These meditative illustrations helped me create a loving connection with my body, instead of turning against it.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Justyna Green (@justynagreen)

Whilst cultivating a positive relationship with my body, my endometriosis journey remained unbearable — from not being able to mention periods in my workplace to doctors refusing gynecological referrals, and the uncertainty around fertility and treatment.

I thought about my suffering and the fact that 1 in 10 women worldwide have endometriosis. It empowered me to speak up and share my story. So, I published my first comic Living with Endometriosis.

It was met with an outpouring of messages, emails, Instagram comments, and social media shares. Creating it was a cathartic personal experience, but seeing it resonate with so many women around the globe brought a further purpose to my work.

It became a way to raise awareness of endometriosis, to make people who suffer from it feel less alone, and to help their families and friends understand how debilitating living with the condition can be.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Justyna Green (@justynagreen)

That’s why my journey with endometriosis art continues. I have now created a comic zine called Raw, which follows the character’s journey from first experiencing severe period pain to her diagnosis.

Through my work, I want to create an in-depth account of living with endometriosis, raise awareness, normalize talking about periods, and provide comfort to the 1 in 10 among us.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Justyna Green (@justynagreen)

And I’m dreaming big, because how amazing would it be to see an animated series on Netflix talking about periods, endometriosis, and fertility trepidations, in a kind, empathetic, and uplifting manner?

I’d watch it, and I’m sure the estimated 190 million women around the world suffering from endometriosis would do too.

Justyna Green is an Illustrator and endometriosis advocate based in London. 

Looking to fill the void of live performances during the pandemic, she sought to connect with fans through "piano chats" — where she sounds off on terrible dates, body image, double standards, and everything in between. Heartening and affirmative, she has the aura of a best friend you call after a terrible day (the kind who shows up with a bottle of wine shortly after). 

In every way, she's the embodiment of female strength we're trying to convey in our latest project Big. Strong. Woman. Creative directed and narrated by the one and only Ashley Graham, the film spotlights systemic barriers women face on the daily and aims to challenge gender norms.

In celebration of the recent launch (and in anticipation of the release of her new single), we caught up with Ariana to get the scoop on the inspiration behind her art.

Your piano chats are so empowering and affirmative — we’re obsessed. What inspired you to start the series?

Thank you so much! A year ago I was thinking about starting a TikTok and was really daunted by the idea of trying to figure out “content.” A friend gave me great advice and said, "you need to create things that you love doing" — and the thing I love doing most is playing shows.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ariana and the Rose (@arianaandtherose)

The idea for the videos came from that section of a concert when I’m vamping before singing the next song, talking about my life and inspiration for whatever I’m about to sing.

I didn’t realize that playing and chatting would resonate so much, but I’m so glad it did! It has definitely created a dialogue with people and opened up a way for me to talk about the things I care about and am inspired by.

Clearly, we’re not the only ones who are loving the videos. Has the viral nature of your social content changed your approach to songwriting and music creation?

It’s so cool that people have been liking the videos and that they can see pieces of their own experiences in them. My approach to songwriting hasn’t changed.

If anything, I think the response to the videos has instilled more confidence in me to write about the things that feel closest to me — even if that feels scary and vulnerable. It’s shown me there’s an audience for it, which is an amazing feeling.

What daily affirmations are you all about lately?

My daily affirmation these days comes at the end of the day. I exhale and say, you did your best. You are one person, doing the best you can, and that is enough. You are enough.

I don’t know if wine counts as an affirmation but that is in there too!

In a recent video, you called on women to stop apologizing for taking up space. Why do you think this is such an important call to action?

Women are programmed from an early age to apologize. We have different words for it: we tell girls not to be too “chatty," “bossy,” “loud,” or “difficult” — and if they are any of these things, we call them out on it and expect them to apologize for being themselves.

As girls grow into women, it is internalized in everything we do. For me, it’s been about unlearning that. When I do hear something like that, it's about recognizing that those are not things to be sorry for. Being “chatty,” has helped me reach millions of people on the internet.

Being “bossy” is really just a function of me learning how to lead a team of people with an aligned vision. I’m way “louder” now, with a literal microphone in my hand, and if speaking up for myself and standing my ground makes me “difficult” then I’m cool with that.

We rate double standards two giant thumbs down. Women are constantly having to navigate a sea of expectations — what made you want to speak to this through your art?

If you were to stop any woman on the street and ask her to name a double standard she has experienced between her and a man, I’m sure she could name 10. All women have experienced this, which is why I felt like it was worth talking about.

I feel hopeful that we’re in a time where these kinds of discussions are happening more frequently and, ideally, if we all keep speaking about it, over time, there will be some real, lasting change.

We’re pumped for your upcoming single Setting Me Free. In it, you sing “I’m changing like a season, I am what I believe in.” What’s the inspiration behind the song?

I am so excited to put this song out! The song was born out of me really sitting down with myself and facing the things I didn’t like — and then looking at why I didn’t like those parts of me.

What it came down to was so much of it was based off things other people have said to me, about me. I didn’t want to hold that anymore. The lyrics really started as an affirmation.

I want people to look in the mirror and say those lyrics to themselves. It took me a long time to be what I believe in. It is no small feat and my hope is that other people can take those words and make them their own.

Learn more about Big. Strong. Woman. at Knix.com.

Our latest project, Big. Strong. Woman. — narrated and creative directed by Ashley Graham and featuring Cami Arboles — tackles the impediments women face on the daily. In honor of International Women's Day, the film aims to celebrate the magnitude, complexity, and multifaceted nature of female strength.  

When it comes to shapeshifting, Cami knows a thing or two about living in a state of metamorphosis. As a movement artist and pole dancer (she taught SZA how to pole dance for her Good Days music video), her body takes myriad forms as it twists and contorts artfully around her pole.

Beyond her movement practice, she takes a figurative approach to shapeshifting — embracing life's ever-changing currents whilst firmly remaining its architect.

From Yale Graduate to Pole Dancer and Founder of a movement collective — you’re the literal definition of what it means to be a shapeshifter, a term you reference a lot in your work. What does shapeshifting mean to you?

To be a shapeshifter is to live in a constant state of flow, and to be open to the constant change that we experience as human beings. We must not be too attached to one idea of ourselves or what we should be, because we are forever evolving!

(Image by Carolyne Loree)

A mantra I love to live by is “flow, don’t force.” What is meant for me will always be there; I will never miss out on anything that is meant to be for me.

Can embracing shapeshifting empower us to be the architects of our own lives and to defy social expectations?

Absolutely! Life is in a constant state of redesign and revision. We are unstable, shapeshifting entities. We are also constantly being reimagined and influenced by our interactions with others and our existence in different kinds of spaces.

(Image by Carolyne Loree)

It is really our job to navigate this slippery and beautiful existence with integrity and authenticity. Easier said than done! Shapeshifting as a mode of living helps me to do that.

Shapeshifting suggests fluidity, whereas social media tends to encourage us to package our lives into neat, little squares. How do you resist this kind of categorization and embrace the messiness of life?

In my opinion, one of the most draining aspects of social media is that it favors the complete commodification of the self and the takeover as the “personal brand.”

Instagram asks of every user, “How can you make yourself easily digestible and branded into neat squares? How can you commodify your existence and optimize it for likes, shares, engagement, and maximum screen time?”

Humans love to think categorically, meaning we love to label everything neatly and tidily, even if certain entities resist categorization (sex and gender are a great example of entities that are not binary).

(Image by Carolyne Loree)

I am of course complicit in this inorganic social process packing of life into “neat little squares,” I’m not gonna pretend like I am not! That being said, I believe there are ways to defy this kind of categorization and embrace the messiness of life that feel authentic and true to me.

For example, I like to use my Instagram captions as journal entries, and most people definitely do not do that. I will often write paragraphs for my captions and not think twice, or even proofread, before posting them, almost like a form of my stream of consciousness.

For me, writing is very therapeutic, as is pole dancing. Why not marry the two? So that’s one way I like to do that. I also try to share parts of my existence that have nothing to do with pole dancing, such as my writing, or my affirmations, or just general musings on life.

You’re a big fan of affirmations, and clearly, they’ve helped you manifest some big things. How can affirmations help us give shape to our lives, instead of the other way around?

I always tell myself that whatever I believe about myself ultimately becomes my reality. So in a way, I do have some control over my reality. Affirmations help me to build a positive mindset towards myself.

(Image by Carolyne Loree)

There are definitely days I feel deeply insecure or disappointed in myself, and practicing my affirmations or stating things that I am grateful for feels like work, hard work — but that’s OK! I have the power to switch the narrative in my head about myself. I am the art and the artist; the story and the writer of the story.

We love seeing you shapeshift in our film Big. Strong. Woman. How does it feel to be featured in a project that challenges the expectations placed on female identity and bodies?

Super excited to be featured in this project, and in any art that celebrates women being whatever they want to be, however they want to be it!

Learn more about Big. Strong. Woman. at Knix.com.

Today, "witch" isn't slander so much as a self-designation, worn proudly and made to symbolize an attunement with the natural world, deep intuition, and a sense of liberation. 

For Bri Luna, better known as The Hoodwitch, being a witch encompasses everything from stepping into your power to a solitary dip in the ocean — there's no one-size-fits-all. Intrigued and ready to dive deeper, we got a glimpse into Luna's witchy world and gained insights on how to sprinkle a little magic into the everyday.

We’re curious — what’s it like being a full-time witch?

I would say it’s an honor. I'm immensely grateful to be of service to my community and, much like anyone else's life, I have my good days and my shitty days. As much as I’d like it all to be well-curated photos, that’s not the reality of it.

Spiritual work can be more draining, so it's absolutely important to enforce major boundaries with your clients and for yourself. I do a lot of energetic work, especially in my readings with clients. I have to be very upfront about my boundaries and very mindful of my energy to make sure I'm clear, grounded, and not holding onto other people’s shit.

(Bri Luna wearing the Good to Go High Neck Seamless Bra and Leakproof Dream Short in Black)

People will suck you dry if you allow them, so you gotta stay on point. For the most part, I really love my life: I love helping people and have a deep love for guiding more Black and Brown women into their power, and into their magic.

I like to lead a very relaxed lifestyle — one that is very much centered around ancestral and spiritual reverence. I love being out in natural environments, the solitude of being in the forest, or swimming in the ocean alone. I love exploring old cemeteries and learning about their history. I read a lot of old books and like creepy antique stores.

I also really enjoy preparing meaningful rituals with friends, but the pandemic has made that more difficult. I make it a point to create meaningful personal rituals for myself — whether it's beauty magic or powerful energy cleansing in my space.

My family is very important to me, and my main priority. In this way, there's even magic in the mundane, like creating elaborate meals with lots of love and the recipes passed down by my elders. I practice candle magic, and I find comfort in honoring natural cycles, like the seasons, and passing this information down to my son.

How would you define what it means to be a “modern witch?”

Well, there is no “one-size-fits-all” and that’s the beauty of the witch: having autonomy over oneself and doing so fiercely and unapologetically.

What are some ways people can incorporate a little magic into their everyday lives?

Believe in your magic! Know that you are the powerful creator of your own reality and that anything and everything can become a ritual to improve the circumstances of your life.

(Bri Luna wearing the Papaya Slip Dress in Garnet)

You don’t need expensive candles or these bullshit “spell kits." You can accomplish the same results with a 99 cent store candle than with a $30 “intention” candle. Your intention, the essence of your hopes, and your energy are what make it powerful.

What do people stand to gain from cultivating spiritual practices and rituals?

First and foremost, we are all spirits having a human experience. You have everything to gain by learning how to co-exist with this planet, the cycles of nature, and pursuing a more balanced, peaceful, and healthy incarnation.

You can achieve this by connecting with practices that uplift you, make you laugh more, feel more beautiful, sane, alive, whole, and free. Magic is your birthright!

How did you uncover your calling as a witch?

I have always been called to do this work, it wasn't a trend or something I just stumbled upon. Magic is in my blood and has been passed down to me from both of my grandmothers. I began my own journey as I became more connected to my intuition and my soul.

As a child, I was very tapped in, very psychic, and very sensitive to spirits who had passed on. At that time I didn’t know how to explain what I was feeling, or why I felt called to the unknown or occult teachings. I had to learn for myself. I began to read a lot of esoteric books and I met many witches and healers on my journey.

(Bri Luna wearing the Good to Go High Neck Seamless Bra and Leakproof Dream Short in Black)

I stepped into this work by sharing with my community. I stated making teas and giving tarot readings at local markets, the rest just fell into place. To this day I'm continuously learning and evolving my craft.

Do you have any witch tips for 2022?

Unapologetic relaxation. Don’t feel guilty for prioritizing yourself, your rest, and your healing. Say “no” to things you don’t want to do without feeling guilty. Life is short, don't waste a single day giving energy to the shit you hate. Get into the habit of deep cleansing your home and aura weekly!

Brag about yourself! What’s the deal with your upcoming book?

My first book is coming out this year by Harper Collins! I don’t like giving away too much (that’s the Scorpio placements in my chart), but I’m very proud of myself and eternally grateful to my Ancestors and my Guides for holding me up and allowing me to walk this path.

Featured everywhere from Vogue to Lizzo’s TikTok, Lesley’s brand is focused on mental health awareness, body positivity and authentic representation. Indigenous owned, women led, and size inclusive— Lesley’s changing the fashion industry as we know it. We’re honored to include her design in the Papaya Box II and can’t wait for you to meet Lesley Hampton. 

📸: Lesley's earrings: Niio Perkins Designs, Lesley's Scarf: Designed by her for the Papaya Box II

Hi Lesley! What inspired you to start designing? 

I grew up as a Third Culture Kid (I lived in 8 cities across 5 countries before my 18th birthday), but with every move my mom always made sure we had a craft room as a creative outlet space. So creating something beautiful was always my way of processing my emotions and learning about my identity. I take that knowledge with me today in my career with each design or collection, and it allows me to dive deeper into self discovery while pushing for change in the fashion industry.

📸: @lesley_hampton

Your art and your advocacy go hand in hand. Why do you think fashion is such an important outlet when it comes to activism? 

Our fashion choices are so innately intimate with who we are, and what we choose to put onto our body has such a high level of storytelling attached to it. As an artist and designer, I create work to help individuals feel comfortable telling these authentic stories with what they wear and the confidence to thrive in their passion. 

How does your work help to represent and reclaim power? 

As an Indigenous owned, women led, size inclusive brand, I am honoured to take up space in the fashion industry. With this platform, we also have the responsibility to push for representation of all bodies in the fashion space— to truly reflect the beautiful diversity of society. For us, we have and will continue to increase representation in runway and high fashion in Canada, just like Knix has done in the commercial space. 

The equal parts excitement and calmness I feel seeing my body represented in a Knix ad on TV, is the same power I want to provide to the youth watching my designs on the runway. Celebrating with collaborations like this one with @thebirdspapaya is another great way to continue to reclaim this power. 

What (or who) are some of your biggest influences lately? 

Travelling is my biggest influence when I'm looking for creativity. Whether it was hopping on a plane (pre-pandemic), or discovering a different part of the neighbourhood that I live in, I'm very inspired by seeing how people work, play, heal, and grow.

This month is Indigenous History Month. What are some ways we can help support Indigenous creators in June and beyond? 

Supporting Indigenous means increasing education every month, not just for June. I'd recommend reading the Calls to Action within the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada to see where you can implement change for the better.  

What are some of your favorite small Indigenous businesses? 

So many! We've recently worked with Niio Perkins, Second Aura, Indi City and Scott Wabano! My daily go-to's for accessorizing are Tania Larsson, Warren Steven Scott, and Cheekbone Beauty. You can read and learn more here.

Miigwetch! (Thank you!)

Check out all of Lesley's work here, and mark your calendars for June 23rd to snag Lesley's limited edition print scarf in the Papaya Box II. 

Diana ready for a sleepy summer in the Pima Cotton Tank Dress

Hi Diana! What was your inspiration for creating DARE Magazine? What can we look forward to?

I created the first issue of DARE in my final year of university. I was studying Fashion Communications and it was my thesis project. I always had a love for magazines— I had interned at several throughout the years and felt that I never saw myself represented in the pages of these publications. I wanted to see people that looked like me in beautiful clothing!  

I decided that I wanted to be the one to make that change and so I created Canada’s first plus size fashion magazine. I never expected the impact it would have! It received so much positive feedback, and my inbox was full of inspiring notes from plus size people who were thrilled to finally see themselves represented in fashion. It was at that point that I decided to pursue DARE and take it beyond a project. 

Over the years, we've had incredible icons like Chrissy Metz, Nabela Noor and Shannon Purser grace our covers. More issues are in the works— I have a long list of inspiring people that I’d love to shoot and feature. Can’t wait to get back to it!  

Simply put: you are one of our fashion icons. What are some fashion rules you love breaking?

That means so much to me! I’m blushing! Thank you. 

I love breaking pretty much all fashion rules! People in bigger bodies are often told to stay away from bright colors, horizontal stripes, certain silhouettes, oversized prints— the list goes on. I say wear ALL the colors, prints and shapes. The only rule we should follow is to wear what we love!  

Diana is good to go in the Good to Go Shorts Romper

What’s your favorite way to wind down after a long day? 

After a long day, I always love to sit in the backyard with my partner! It’s our little oasis. We turn on our string lights, make a drink (sometimes a tea, sometimes a fun cocktail), light a candle and listen to some nostalgic playlists (usually full of Death Cab and MGMT).  

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Diana • Plus Size Fashion (@diana.dares)

I’m also a huge reality TV fan— The Real Housewives, Big Brother, 90 Day Fiancé. They're always a great way to turn off my brain and have some laughs!  

Do you have a night-time routine? Tell us about it! 

It’s all about the skincare for me! My night is not the same without my skincare routine. I love winding down with a hydrating sleep mask, a few drops of lavender in my diffuser and super comfy PJs (I’ve actually got my Thigh Savers on right now—love wearing these to bed too, they’re so lightweight and I feel like I’m wearing nothing!).  

Hit the snooze button with the Pima Cotton Sleep Set

Brag about yourself, what are you proudest of?  

My husband and I purchased our first home and we’ve been putting so much time into renovating it over the last year. I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished. We’ve learned so much along the way and have become quite the DIY couple, if I do say so myself!

Follow along with Diana and DARE, and stay cool this summer with our new Sleep Collection here.

This month is Indigenous History Month. It’s a time to show support and recognize the communities that were here first— the communities that have found ways to thrive despite lack of institutional advocacy. There are so many ways to show support that extend beyond the month of June, some of which include donating, investing in education, and supporting Indigenous creators and businesses in our neighbourhoods and across the country online. 

We feel especially lucky to be collaborating this month with Lesley Hampton— an Anishinaabe artist and fashion designer, whose scarf print will be featured in the next Papaya Box on June 23rd.

We sat down with Lesley recently to chat about supporting Indigenous creators, and asked her to share some of her favorites right now.

Check out all the talent below to support these businesses all year round. And don’t forget about Lesley’s own clothing and accessory brand LESLEY HAMPTON!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lesley Hampton (@lesley_hampton)

Niio Perkins

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Niio Perkins (@niioperkinsdesigns)

Second Aurora 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮 (@secondaura)

Indi City

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Angel & Alex 🌈 (@indi_city)

Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics INC (@cheekbonebeauty)

Scott Wabano and WVBVNO

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by WVBVNO (@officialwabano)

Tania Larsson

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tania Larsson (@tania.larsson)

Warren Steven Scott 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Warren Steven Scott (@warrenstevenscott)

Check out all of the creators above, along with Glowing Igloo— the creators of Lesley's earrings in the lead photo. And make sure to follow along Lesley's journey here! 

Throughout the last few years, we’ve been lucky to work with Khana— a nonprofit on a mission to ensure everyone has access to products that help manage menstruation so they can stay in school. Recently we had the opportunity to sit down with Khana advisor, the amazing Steph Shepherd, to chat about all things Khana, her work in Uganda, and the future of menstrual equality. Meet Steph Shepherd. 

Steph's wearing the Lace Leakproof Boyshort

Hi Steph, tell us about Khana!

Khana is a nonprofit on a mission to ensure every girl has the panties she needs to manage menstruation and stay in school. For the past several years, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) have been providing pads for students in rural Uganda, but most girls didn’t have underwear to actually hold those pads in place.

In religious regions, products that require insertion (think menstrual cups and tampons) violate the cultural concept of virginity and are therefore taboo. Without panties to hold pads in place, girls were continuing to miss up to one week of school every month, and eventually dropout altogether. Khana exists to fill the panty gap and make education for girls possible (especially during their periods).

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Khana (@khanapanties)

How did you get involved with Khana? Why is it important to you? 

I was first introduced to the concept of “period poverty” in 2017 when I read an essay from Meghan Markle on period poverty and breaking the stigma. It became very clear to me that as long as girls and women are unable to manage their monthly cycles, we would never close the gender gap. As a person with a period who firmly believes that everyone benefits when women have equal opportunity, I was desperate to get involved. Through a serendipitous series of events I was introduced to Khana’s founder, Shayna Fowler. After helping Khana launch on Kickstarter, Shayna asked me to become a board member. It’s some of the most fulfilling work I’ve ever been a part of.

How does menstrual hygiene affect a person’s overall health and wellness? 

Let’s look at this specifically in the regions where Khana works. In Uganda, underwear is an expensive import often regarded as a luxury good rather than a necessity (especially when you’re choosing between buying underwear or buying food). Some folks sell used underwear at the markets, which causes severe discomfort and even vaginal infections (though the government is trying to stop this). In areas like Kagadi, which is one of the poorest regions in all of Uganda, girls have shared that they use plastic bags, old bed sheets, and even mud and leaves to try and stop the bleeding. Ultimately, menstrual hygiene enables girls to overcome obstacles to their health and freedom— such as gender-related violence, child marriage, and school dropout. 

Tell us a bit about your trip to Uganda, and the work you did there! What’s one of the biggest things you learned? 

I went to Uganda with Khana to better understand the need for and impact of panties. In Kyaka (pronounced Chaka), our Khana team did a panty distribution alongside our pad partners, Days for Girls. Every distribution includes locally-led sex education, because it’s critical that girls learn scientifically accurate information about their bodies from folks who look like them, speak their language, and understand their religious and cultural background. 

At the end of the Kyaka distribution, the head teacher raised her hand in tears. She explained that she’d been taught that the vagina had to be cleaned during menstruation by inserting two fingers to remove dirt. In reality, the vagina is self-cleaning and her method had the potential to cause severe infection. The head teacher wondered how many of her students had infections because of what she taught them, and if they would go on to tell their classmates, friends, and daughters the same thing.

I knew that talking about menstruation was taboo, but I was not prepared for the long-term effects that incorrect information could have on generations of people with periods. The work we’re doing with Khana and Days for Girls is not just idealistic, it’s absolutely necessary. 

What are your hopes for the future of menstrual health?

I believe period poverty can be eradicated within my lifetime. Every person with a period deserves to have access to the education, products, and support they need to make safe and dignified decisions about their bodies. I also hope to see significantly more innovation in the menstrual health space /femtech space— with products funded by women and men. 

What are some ways we can help advocate for menstrual health equality?

I think the first step is learning as much as you can about period poverty. Here are some incredible (and free) resources-- 

Watch: Period. End of a Sentence on Netflix

Read: Keeping Girls in School is Worth Billions 

Follow:

@khanapanties 

@daysforgirls 

As a nonprofit, Khana’s work is entirely funded by donations. It costs $4 to provide a Khana Kit (panties, soap, menstruation education) to a girl in need. Give once or monthly online.

A Cat basking in the sun, the indigo Good to Go Seamless Set, and a knitting project

Hi Cat! Tell us a bit about yourself! 

Hi! ☺ I’m a social media manager for a global tech brand by day, slow fashion blogger by night! I live in sunny LA with my partner and cat children, Kiwi and Kimchi. In my free time, I’m reading, writing, and DIY-ing.

Describe your perfect day. What are you eating, what are you wearing, where are you going?

My perfect day starts with an oat milk matcha latte and a comfy, colorful outfit. I feel most myself when I’m wearing color—tons of it—and relaxed, comfortable silhouettes. I’d while the day away reading and writing (in my ideal, imaginary world, next to a gorgeous view of the beach or the mountains…), work on my latest knitting or crochet project, go to the climbing gym or a yoga class, and end the night eating hot pot with my friends.

What’s your favorite thing you’ve ever knit?

Probably my Wool and the Gang x The Knitter Whoopsie Daisy sweater or the crochet butterfly top I just finished in time for hot girl summer! They’re some of the more fun and bolder pieces I’ve made.

A floral knit and Cinnamon Good to Go Seamless Leggings are the perfect match.

Do you have tips for people who want to lean more into sustainable fashion choices? 

You don’t need to buy exclusively from expensive sustainable brands to practice sustainable fashion. It’s all about challenging the fast fashion model of consumption. The most sustainable thing you can do is to shop less and take care of the clothes you already have so that you can enjoy them for longer.

When making a purchase, the sustainability of the brand or whether the item is secondhand should be a consideration, but also ask yourself: will I love this item in one year? Five years? How often will I wear it? 

Lastly, everyone should feel empowered to be part of sustainable fashion. The industry needs to be more inclusive of size and BIPOC representation, but buying from sustainable brands isn’t the only way to be part of the movement. If you make your own clothes, thrift, do clothing swaps, mend your own clothes, inherit clothes from your family members, or simply make the conscious effort to buy less— you’re already part of it!

Brag about yourself. What are you the proudest of? 

Every time someone tells me I inspired them to try slow fashion in any way (whether that’s making a more conscious choice or picking up knitting needles for the first time), that’s truly a moment when I feel like the work I do as a sustainable fashion influencer is worth it. I’m proud of creating this space where people feel comfortable trying, however imperfectly, to make a difference.

Oh, and since you gave me permission to brag, I’m also proud of:

• Getting better at resisting impulse purchases. I used to be a huge sucker for flash sales, but I did a “no buy” month last year and it really helped me reflect on my shopping habits.
• Learning how to make the ✨perfect✨ oat milk matcha latte.
• Taking myself to therapy for the first time two years ago.
• Already reading over 30 books this year!

Gwenyth rolling in the Good to Go Seamless Set in Cinnamon

Hi Gwenyth, tell us a bit about yourself!

Hey there! I’m 24 and currently based out of Arizona. I’m excited to be moving to the East Coast in the fall to begin a PhD program in computer science. Beyond skating, I’m a big fan of solo dance parties in my room, long bike rides at the beach, discovering new music, and eating at every vegan restaurant I can find.

Why roller skating? How’d you get into it?

Like many new roller skaters, I’m a “pandemic roller” and got into skating last spring. Before then, my experience with skating had consisted primarily of falling very hard on my tailbone at a roller rink in seventh grade.

Then, one random afternoon in April 2020, my mom told me that one of our relatives had started skating. She asked me if I wanted to give it a try too. In that moment, all I could think of was that one time I hurt my butt at the rink—  but suddenly I found myself dreaming of gliding down the neighbourhood streets on skates. I’m so grateful for the chain of events that led me to roller skating!

Do you have any tips for getting out of your comfort zone?

One of my favorite Youtube creators, Evelyn from the Internets, once said, “Don’t be afraid to be seen trying.” I now think of this phrase whenever I’m nervous about going out of my comfort zone...which is often because my comfort zone is tiny!

Both in skating and other areas of life, I can sometimes be afraid of what others will think if they see me trying something and making a mistake. But if I let that fear run my life, I would never do anything new!

Something that helps me get out of my comfort zone when skating is throwing on some good music— it really helps me relax and stop overthinking. I also highly recommend skating with a friend so that you can feed off each other’s good energy and try new things together!

Top 5 songs to skate to right now?

This is a hard question! My skate music changes all the time, and I love so many songs. Here are a few that I’ve been feeling lately:

6’s to 9’s - Day Wave Remix by Big Wild and Rationale: This is skating-through-the-neighborhood-at-sunset music. The combination of this song and the warm golden light while I fly down the street is just heaven!

Jeannie Becomes A Mom by Caroline Rose: This song is so groovy, and it always brings my mood up and gives me the confidence to try skate tricks that scare me.

Watch Me by The Pom-Poms: I love the beat of this song— there’s something about it that makes me feel bold and empowered. It’s definitely a perfect song for rhythm skating.

Mango by yung cxreal, Grant Landis, and Annelisa Franklin: Off skates or on skates, I can’t resist doing a little dance to this song. It screams summer and sunshine to me.

No Better by Raveena: My dream is to skate to this song (and all of Raveena’s music, honestly) at a skating rink. It would be so perfect for a nice, slow partner skate under the disco lights.

Your skating videos are all about progress. How do you take the “practice makes perfect” method into your life outside of skating too?

I like to think of it as “practice makes progress” because the goal of perfection can be so daunting. I’ve occasionally been hesitant to try new things because I’m intimidated by my desire to do a perfect job.

In terms of my computer science research and studies, I come from a demographic that is underrepresented in this field. Knowing that, I put extra pressure on myself to succeed, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking, “Well, if I can’t do it perfectly, why even try?”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gwenyth (@gwenythskates)

But instead of getting hung up on perfection, I try to just give my research projects my best shot and then make little improvements, day by day. By putting in work every day, I refine my ideas until I finally find a solution to whatever research question I’m working on.

The same could be said for learning any roller skating skill. Every time you practice, you make a little more progress. It’s really the consistent practice that gets you to your goal— which, for me, is simply to be better than I was the day before.

What are you proudest of?

It might seem cliché to say, but I’m proudest of my general progress in rollerskating. When I first got my skates, I could barely stand up on them!

I’m naturally a very uncoordinated person, and it takes me a very long time to learn new moves. Sometimes I get discouraged with how long it’s taking me to learn something. But when I look back at old videos of myself skating, I can see how far I’ve come. My 180 jumps used to be so hesitant, but now they’re so easy. My waltz jumps get higher every week, and my spins are very gradually getting more stable.  

The Good to Go Seamless Set in Indigo pairs great with a set of wheels!

.

It’s only in retrospect that I can see this progress though. It’s hard to see how much I improve day to day, especially when progress isn’t linear— there are times I plateau or even regress. Every once in a while, I can’t even spin!

I have to remind myself to be patient, to keep showing up and trying. I might not realize it in the moment, but things are always falling into place.

Shop the full Good To Go Collection here

In a study completed by Van der Pop, a cannabis lifestyle brand for women, they discovered that while the majority of women polled consume cannabis for health and wellness reasons (pain relief, relaxation, curbing anxiety), 66% of them hide their cannabis use. The reason? A fear of being judged, having their ability or intelligence questioned, or being tagged with lingering stoner stereotypes. 

Sarah Best believes there’s a simple solution to this: “The more we lower the barrier to reaching for cannabis, the less stigmatized it will be”. It’s part of the reason why she created Dirt, a lifestyle brand and dinner series that collaborates with local restaurants to create uniquely infused meals— all centred around merging community, amazing food and cannabis. Read on to learn about Sarah’s experience in the weed industry, the future of de-stigmatization, and the importance of having intuition when working in male-dominated spaces. Meet Sarah.

Hi Sarah! Tell us a bit about yourself! 

Hello! I’m Sarah, and I’m the founder and CEO of Dirt International Inc. Dirt began as a travelling dinner series, and a creative outlet for me to explore my love of food, cannabis, and the experience of bringing good people together. The last decade of my career has spanned the cultivation of the art, technology and entertainment industries in both marketing and live events, although my passion for creating memories has been a lifetime pursuit.

How did you get into the cannabis industry?

I was raised by a couple of undercover hippies, who although tried their best to hide their love of certain vices, gave in pretty quickly once each of my siblings and I reached an age where we could all enjoy it together. 

Sarah is wearing our Lace High Rise and Lace WingWoman in Pacifica 

.

I think alcohol was far more stigmatized in our household than cannabis was, so I’ve naturally viewed it as a very welcoming, and useful material. When cannabis started to go through legalization I got really excited about the idea of creating a brand that explores the history of the plant, and imagine all the ways it fits into the chaotic world we live in today. Immediately I wanted to apply my view of cannabis, a nurturing and lighthearted plant, into my love for curating a meal and getting great people around a shared table, all open to new experiences. And so Dirt Dinners were born. 

What do you think is so special about centring these experiences around food?

I think we were really successful in redefining high dining. We didn’t try to invent something new, we took something most people love to do, and we added a little weed. I think the dinner table is such a special place because you know you’re about to be looked after— someone is going to serve you food, and that is such a gift. It’s that care-taking feeling that goes along so nicely with cannabis. Getting a little high and being fed is to me the perfect marriage.

Now we apply that same sentiment to our goods. We only want to create things that evoke care and joy, and we collaborate with people who pay special attention to those same things. I hope that every time someone looks at an item we’ve produced or attends a dinner, they know we want the very best for them.

How is Dirt helping to destigmatize THC and CBD use? 

Dirt specifically is centred around micro-dosing. It’s the approach I’ve taken to enjoy it everyday, and so we seek to bring this idea to others. The more we can lower the barrier to reaching for cannabis, the less stigmatized I believe it will be. I think especially for women, who are so multifaceted and take on so much responsibility for ourselves and others— cannabis is such an excellent way to help us balance that. 

Our mission is to inspire others to enjoy their lives, a little more. Whether that means you’re smoking a blunt every morning or digesting a CBD edible, I don’t care, as long as you are happy and you feel good. Everything we produce should evoke balance and joy, without any judgment. To me stigma is judgment, so just know there is none of that here, and we love you.

What’s something you’ve had to learn from being in a heavily male dominated industry? 

I’ve learned to stay true to me and my intuition. Those who ‘dominate’ are always going to try to convince you to do things a specific way, based on their own motives and what they think is best— that’s why you see a lot of sameness in the industry today. One of the greatest things about being a woman is being intuitive. With Dirt we are playing a long game, not just a 'moment in time' experience, and so listening to my gut about what we should and shouldn’t be doing, who we should be listening to and who we surround ourselves with has been a superpower.  

The moment we stop enjoying the work, that’s the moment it’s been ruined— so it’s important to always have those check-ins with myself. I also think the notion of dominance is based on optics. I like taking the backroad to get somewhere, so my mission is to keep blinders on against the dominators and stay true to our vision. I find with this approach you naturally attract the right people, who understand what it is you’re building, respect your potential and support you along the way. Everything else is just noise.

What do you think the future of women in the weed industry looks like? 

My hope for the industry as a whole is to start opening up to smaller businesses. It’s currently a big business marketplace and you're pushed to align with big corporations if you want to produce a cannabis product. Hopefully this will shift to welcome smaller businesses that are here out of true passion. I think that’s when we’ll start to see women really shining— when there is acknowledgement that we're incredibly smart, collaborative, savvy and intuitive people who are ready to guide the industry somewhere even better. 

Thanks Sarah! Follow along with Dirt, check out their store, and get notified for future dinners here. 

Which is why her goals as a fitness coach might be starkly different than what you’re used to. And in all ways, they act as an empowering alternative. Instead of focusing on shrinking, Chrissy is changing the narrative to focus on how people want to feel in their bodies. And not just certain people— all people. 

At the core of her practice is a simple tenant: Everyone deserves access to wellness in environments that feel welcoming and comfortable, and where they feel seen, respected, affirmed, and celebrated. 

You can click here to snag tickets and hear Chrissy talk more about her views on wellness at the first ever BodCon, happening February 21st. But first, read more about her role in the fitness space, and what she hopes for the future of inclusivity in her industry. Meet Chrissy. 

Hi Chrissy! How did you get into the wellness space? 

My journey into the wellness space started just like so many people. Nine years ago, I joined the gym for the first time in my adult life with one goal in mind: get skinny.

I hired a personal trainer and hated every minute of my first 30 minute session, but I kept going back because I had paid for a package. She was the first person that really taught me the value of strength training for physical change, but through that process, I realized that my body could do things I didn't think it could. It was really challenging at first, but eventually, I grew stronger and could do a lot of things I never thought I was capable of. 

Through a series of events, I found myself training at a small strength and conditioning gym. For the first time in my life, I saw women powerlifting, a strength sport that consists of bench pressing, squatting, and deadlifting. I was intrigued, despite the fact that I had never even held a barbell in my hands. After a couple of months of casual observing, the owner encouraged me to try it for myself, and it was love at first lift. 

Powerlifting was transformative for me both mentally and physically. I spent the majority of my twenties focused on shrinking — my body, my voice, and my life in general. I obsessed with my weight and truly believed that my happiness lay on the other side of fat loss. Powerlifting changed that. It allowed me to stop focusing all of my energy on what my body looked like and to start seeing all that it could do.

.

Thanks to powerlifting, I also stopped playing small and learned to take up more space in the world, unapologetically and authentically. It also impacted how I viewed the stories I told myself about my abilities. After all, if the narrative about being physically weak was a lie, what other lies had I been telling myself? Powerlifting allowed me to tap into my unrealized potential in nearly every facet of my existence, and gave me the strength to start sharing my truth in the world. 

The feelings that I experienced from strength training led me to embark in a career in fitness as a trainer.  I wanted to help other people realize the transformative power of strength training as well. 

What are some of your main goals as a fitness coach? 

Although the benefits of movement are vast, including reducing stress levels, improved mental health, and better sleep (just to name a few), mainstream fitness tends to focus on exercise solely as a means to lose weight, possibly alienating large populations of individuals who perhaps just want to move their body for joy and pleasure. But the reality is, fitness allows us to feel energized, whole, empowered, and nourished in our bodies. My goal as a fitness coach is to do just that — help individuals feel energized, whole, empowered, and nourished in their bodies. 

I’m a strong believer in working out for the joy of movement or because you like your body feeling strong and capable, and want to do things that you didn’t think were possible. When you look at the people who are celebrated as the experts in mainstream fitness, they’re typically not in larger bodies.  The industry is hyperfocused on health being focused on a “look” or “size.” The industry doesn’t frequently acknowledge that fitness and movement aren't about having a particular physique. There is still very little discussion about the fact that people can enter fitness spaces for reasons other than shrinking, maintaining, or otherwise manipulating their bodies. 

My goal as a coach is to change the narrative, help individuals break free of diet culture, and set fitness goals that are not rooted in shrinking their bodies, instead focusing on how they want to feel in their bodies. I no longer consider fat loss a part of the work I do. I’m deeply invested in liberation for my clients, in all senses of the word.

What does inclusive fitness look like?

For me, inclusive fitness involves the ability of individuals from different identities—whether it’s BIPOC individuals or members of the LGBTQIA+ community—  to be able to walk into fitness spaces and feel seen, respected, celebrated, welcomed, and affirmed.  When we fail to create inclusive fitness environments, people will feel unwelcome, and it may have lasting impacts on their personal relationship with fitness—in addition to simply feeling it's inaccessible at that moment.

The words ‘diversity’ and ‘inclusion’ are often paired together, but the reality is that there is a huge difference in the meanings of these words.  Diversity is about quantity: how many different types of people are represented? Inclusion is about quality: how do individuals from varied backgrounds feel in these environments? The question we need to be considering when trying to create inclusive fitness spaces is how do individuals feel in our spaces? Are people from all backgrounds and identities able to engage in fitness in ways that feel safe and affirming for their identity?

The work of creating inclusiveness isn’t something that happens overnight. Inclusion isn't a buzzword or a business strategy, it takes real work, a commitment to change, and a willingness to cede power. It also requires a commitment to social justice. It’s impossible to have an inclusive environment without social justice at the core of your value system. If you aren't actively demanding justice for all bodies, especially the most at risk, while simultaneously inviting individuals from all backgrounds to the leadership table, you aren't doing the work required to create inclusion.

What are your hopes for the future of the fitness industry?

My hopes for the future of fitness is that collectively, we can change the landscape of the industry. But it requires that we show up authentically and with a commitment to engaging in the work long term. The work of creating a wellness and fitness industry that is anti-racist and diverse, inclusive, and equitable isn’t business strategy. It takes real work and a commitment to actual change within the industry. However, it’s completely necessary because everyone deserves access to wellness in environments that feel welcoming and comfortable, and where they feel seen, respected, affirmed, and celebrated. 

Social justice has alway been at the core of the work I do. With degrees in both Social Welfare and Justice and Sociology, I’ve always been passionate about understanding the importance of taking an intersectional approach to the work we do, regardless of the industry.  After deciding to become a fitness professional and seeing how much the industry lacked a diverse, inclusive, and intersectional approach, I became passionate about applying a social justice lens to the wellness industry.  When I think of the work I do within the wellness industry now, it’s the perfect merger of the things I’m most passionate about— fitness and wellness and social justice, and I hope that the work I’m doing is working towards collective change. 

You can catch Chrissy King at The Bod Con on February 21st, and follow along as she changes the fitness industry here. 

Through meeting our inspirational friends Marissa Thomas and Jasmine Dionne of For the Breast of Us, we learned that while there’s been progress in the past few years— breast cancer continues to disproportionately affect women of color. Not only are Black women at greater risk of dying of the disease, but they're represented within only a small percentage of clinical trials.

Inspired by their own experiences with breast cancer, Marissa and Jasmine joined forces to build an incredible online community to not only share uplifting stories, but to provide education, resources and clinical research opportunities for women of color. Helping to dismantle barriers to quality healthcare all while providing spaces for women to reconnect with their bodies, we cannot wait for you to meet Marissa and Jasmine. 

Hey Marissa and Jasmine! Can you share a bit about your own breast cancer journeys? 

Marissa: I was diagnosed at age 35 with stage II DCIS 35% ER + breast cancer in November 2015. My treatment included a lumpectomy, chemo (A/C, Taxol) radiation and two breast reconstruction surgeries. I found the lump myself while putting on lotion after showering, and I’m currently being monitored with alternating MRI/Mammograms every 6 months and closely followed by my oncologist. I opted out of hormone therapy due to the low percentage of estrogen found in my tumor.

Jasmine: After initially being misdiagnosed at the age of 25, I was diagnosed 6 months later with stage I breast cancer at the age of 26. Staging was complicated as I had multiple multicentric tumors across 9 cm of breast tissue. In the end, I decided to forgo chemotherapy, and opted for a bi-lateral mastectomy with reconstruction, proton therapy radiation and hormone treatment for the next 10 years.

📷  : @shudluck via @forthebreastofus

What was the motivation behind starting For the Breast of Us?  

Two things come to mind when we think of the reason why. First would be the fact that when we were diagnosed, there was nothing like For the Breast of Us. It’s the first online community for women of color affected by breast cancer— a place where all women of color can bond over shared experiences and find women who look like them from previvor to metavivor and everyone in between. Like us, women wanted a place online where they could read similar experiences like theirs, in hopes it would have made us feel not so alone.

Jasmine: I was struck by the difficulty of finding imagery of women of color having undergone mastectomies or radiation. And it was equally difficult to find stories about women of color navigating the disease. To me, it just didn’t make sense for either of those things to still be an issue in 2019.

Marissa: And I was tired of seeing Black and Hispanic women whom I would meet online, being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. I thought if others could see these women and their stories, they would pay attention and realize this is an urgent issue.

Why do you think this community is so important? 

We did a lot of research about the barriers to quality healthcare for women of color before we started and we combined that with our personal experiences to determine what kind of space we wanted to create. There are a few communities struggling to be heard, but there wasn’t anything that allowed women from various minority groups to stand on the shoulders of their sisters and propel each other forward.

📷  : @_jacquelinevaughn via @forthebreastofus

The original goal of For the Breast of Us was to uplift women of color by sharing stories that educate, inspire and connect— but we do so much more than that these days. We provide a safe space for women of color to learn from each other and industry experts so they can make informed decisions about their treatment. We provide education about clinical trials and recruit women to participate in medical research so our experiences can be included in the larger breast cancer narrative. 

We also provide a close knit community for personal interaction through our private Facebook Group: Breast Cancer Baddies and host a monthly Facebook Live podcast called Baddies Talk Back that discusses real issues we’re facing like dating, mental health and grief. We want to do our part to help women of color overcome the barriers to quality healthcare. 

Can you tell us about the Naked Truth Project?

The Naked Truth Project is a photo gallery that not only showcases imagery of women of color affected by breast cancer, but also shares their unique perspective on their post-cancer bodies.  It was created to share photos that women of color have been desperately seeking for decades— that validates a variety of our experiences without judgement. 

We wanted to create something special where women of all ages and cancer stages could stand firm in their own strength or sorrow about the changes happening to their bodies after a breast cancer diagnosis. We always tell women to feel how they feel and that reconnecting with our bodies after a traumatic experience is an important, and often overlooked, aspect of mental health for cancer survivors. It’s not vain to care about how your body looks after treatment and “normal” is however you feel! We promise there’s someone out there who feels the exact same way. 

How can WOC get involved with For the Breast of Us?  

The easiest way women of color affected by breast cancer can get involved is following us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and reading the stories of fellow Baddies on breastofus.com.

📷  : @thriving_iv_life via @forthebreastofus

If they are looking to more closely connect with other Baddies, we invite them to join our private Facebook group, Breast Cancer Baddies. It’s more than 600 Baddies strong of various ethnicities, ages and stages.

For those ready to get involved in the larger breast cancer community, we have a Baddie Directory where women of color can express how they’d like to be engaged from interviews to research. It’s dynamic, searchable and makes it easy for people who want to be intentional about their diversity and inclusion efforts.

How has building this community helped your own wellness journey? 

For the Breast of Us has given both of us a chance to create purpose from painful experiences, allowing us to use our unique strengths and talents to help women diagnosed better navigate their journeys. Being so involved in a community that experiences constant loss has forced us to be mindful of our own personal boundaries and mental health. And because we’re always learning through advocacy and research, we’re always teaching ourselves and our community tips and tricks we learn along the way.

📷  : @breastcancertobakingcakes via @forthebreastofus

What are you both the proudest of?  

Just the way the community has grown and embraced us. We always say there’s no us without them and it’s absolutely true. Recently, we were nominated and endorsed by our community for the WeGoHealth Best Kept Secret Award. We were completely shocked that we won so early in the establishment of our business, but we are beyond blessed and thankful for every opportunity and every time someone recognizes this!

A big thank you to Jasmine and Marissa for all the work you do. Find ways to get involved with For the Breast of Us, and follow them on Instagram here. 

In every way, the Papaya Box is reflective of our longtime friendship with Sarah Nicole Landry. Not only does it contain some of Sarah’s favs and her dream Knix product, but it also includes amazingly beautiful hand-picked products from small Black-owned businesses. 

We’re so excited to introduce these brands to you, and can’t wait to continue supporting them. Next up is sustainable, reusable label brand NOMI + SIBS, created by the wonderful Courtney Stewart. Read on to learn more about what empowers Courtney, what it’s like to manage a business and kids during a global pandemic, and why the brand resonated with Sarah so much. Meet Courtney.

 📸  Erin Shea

Hi Courtney! What's it like being an entrepreneur and a mom? 

Being a mom to two young girls and being an entrepreneur are probably the two accomplishments that I am most proud of in my life. That being said, they are truly two of the hardest things I have ever done! I think that if you’ve never had your own business before, you only imagine all the good things that come with it— like the freedom of making your own hours, the flexibility to work with, where, and when you please. When in fact I have found that, while I would never give up being an entrepreneur to work for someone else again, those things that I thought would be so amazing, are in fact much harder on this side. I actually never have freedom or much flexibility, and the work never, ever ends. In these early days, you are the maker, the customer service agent, the lawyer, the accountant, and the janitor— it’s very, very hard.  

I always get people making comments like, “That is so great that you get to work from home and spend more time with your kids.” I cringe when I hear this because my husband and kids are the ones who feel the brunt of me pursuing my dreams as an entrepreneur. Everyone else gets the best of me and sadly, my family gets the rest of me— and that’s not a good thing.  

So I guess that I wish I knew this before I started— not because I wouldn’t have started this journey, but because I could have been more prepared with how this would really be, especially when starting a family at the same time. 

Did you find that there were any challenges starting your business as a woman of colour? 

This is a bit hard for me to answer! I think had this question been asked of me a year ago, I would have likely said, “Thus far, I fortunately haven’t been a victim of prejudice during this journey.” 

However, after some solicited training and personal reflection, I am more aware and feel like there likely have been instances where my skin colour played part in the manner in which I was treated as a business owner. Listen, I am not blind to the fact that, while I identify as being a Black female, I am bi-racial and many in my community would consider that to come with some level of privilege.   

That being said, I will never stop supporting the efforts and stand with my Black brothers and sisters who may experience things differently than me. I know that I am confident enough to call out actions that are not in line with promoting equality and fair treatment for all women and frankly all people of colour in business and not. In my own business, I will continue to make an intentional effort to promote racial equality, seek out more influencers of colour to work with who share our mission and goals.  

NOMI Labels are the perfect school accessory. With two little ones, how has the back to school season been for you? 

Back to school season is, of course, our busiest time of year for NOMI+SIBS. This year proved to be even more insane than before because we didn’t have employees working from our home shop and our kids were home 24/7.

Honestly, I am taking this one day at a time. My oldest daughter is prone to seizures when she spikes a fever, so with fever being a symptom of COVID-19 we couldn't take any chances with opening our home to people. So here we are, my husband working 12-14 hour days for his employer, and me trying to run a business while taking care of a 2 and 4 year old all day and THEN staying up until about 1 or 2 AM working through the nights to catch up.  

The advice I would offer working moms trying to juggle kids at home right now would be to lower your expectations and give yourself a break. Step outside, take a deep breath when you need to and don’t get down on yourself if you explode in front of your kids. They need to see this, it’s part of life too!

What empowers you when things feel tough?  

I love when I’m out with my family and I see a child with their sippy cup wrapped with a personalized NOMI LABEL! I just LOVE it, and it feels very rewarding. There have been a few times when people have come up to me when I have been with my family and just start telling me how much they love our labels and how they buy them for all their friends and family members. I think it’s because we are actually solving a problem for parents, so it matters to them! Hearing this kind of feedback validates all the work and makes the hardest days a little easier and of course, having my girls see and hear this means everything to me.   

Who are some of your role models? 

As an entrepreneur, I look up to so many very successful, amazing female founders like Katrina Lake, Cathy Hughes, and of course, Knix’s very own, Joanna Griffiths.  But of course, as a former college athlete myself, I look up to many female athletes who have gone on to create incredible brands like Serena Williams and Santia Deck. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention two of the most inspiring women for me personally, especially in the last 5-10 years, Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey.  Both of these women use their platforms for the betterment of others, especially for underserved groups, which is something that I would like to be able to do as well.     

So... what’s next for NOMI+SIBS?

NOMI+SIBS will definitely continue to offer sustainable, practical, reusable solutions and you can be sure that any product that we create will be one that solves a problem, is eco-friendly, and always safe for our families. Since having children, I have grown far more aware of the types of products I use and how they may impact the planet and our environment— not necessarily for our generation but for our children and grandchildren’s generation. Creating sustainable products that just make sense is important to me and will always be a primary driver of what NOMI + SIBS offers customers.

Something that is also super important to me is connecting the brand with our ‘give back’ mission and environmental waste reduction efforts. This is something I am so excited about and I hope to share more later this year or in early 2021!

Lastly, I can’t say more as to how grateful I am for Sarah, Joanna and the entire Knix team for including NOMI + SIBS in this unbelievable collaboration!  For a very small business, this type of brand visibility can change the entire landscape of the business and I am so grateful for the opportunity.

I met Sarah more than a year ago at the Atelier Conference and she was one of the only speakers who took the time to share her love for our personalized NOMI LABELS that we made for her and her kids. It has been a goal of mine to work with her since then and here we are a year later and honestly, I can’t believe this is happening. I’ve been following Joanna since seeing Knix on Dragons' Den years ago and to think that my little brand was selected to be part of this amazing collaboration is something I will be forever grateful for and will never forget. 

A quote that I like to always remind myself of is, "Empowered women, empower women", and Joanna and Sarah are prime examples of this.    

Thanks Courtney! We're so excited to start using our new labels! Looking to snag a set? Sign up to get notified for when the Papaya Box goes live on October 18th. And check out NOMI + SIBS for a sustainable (and cute) alternative to adhesive labels.

In every way, the Papaya Box is reflective of our longtime friendship with Sarah Nicole Landry. Not only does it contain some of Sarah’s favs and her dream Knix product, but it also includes amazingly beautiful hand-picked products from small Black-owned businesses. 

We’re so excited to introduce these brands to you, and can’t wait to continue supporting them. First up is TISH Jewelry by Lateisha Brown, who custom made (all by hand!) Rose Quartz earrings for the first ever Papaya Box. Read to learn more about Lateisha’s creative process, why she recently quit her full-time job, and what’s next for TISH Jewelry. Meet Lateisha.

Hi Lateisha! Tell us about yourself! 

Hi, I’m Lateisha and I am the jewelry designer and owner of TISH jewelry. I currently live in Calgary but am originally from Hamilton, Ontario. I moved to Alberta in 2015 for a job opportunity, and a year later TISH jewelry was born. I am the oldest of 3 girls, and the name TISH is a nickname given to me by my sisters.  

How did you get into crafting jewellery? 

I have always been the crafty type making friendship bracelets for friends and family. It wasn’t until I moved to Calgary, away from my family where I started to take jewelry making seriously.

It originally started as a creative outlet – where I would make jewelry for myself to wear to the office, and then people started encouraging me to sell my pieces! It grew from there and I spent countless hours attending markets as well as workshops and networking events to build my brand.

What’s your process like? 

It all starts with research. I research fashion and colour trends for the upcoming season. Next is the design part – which involves the most amount of time for sure. I sketch out designs that I think would work well with the pieces I already offer and then from there I work with my suppliers to find the perfect components to bring my designs to life. Once supplies start arriving, I design and make every piece in my home studio. I also do all of the photography for my website and social media channels. All in all, it’s a process that takes months before the pieces are available online for purchase.

Walk us through how you made the pieces for the Papaya Box!

This was my first time making the same piece with this large of a quantity. When it came to the piece in the box, I know that Sarah has and loves the Quartz Crystal Hoop Earrings, and because of her support— I know a lot of her followers have purchased the earrings and love them too! So I suggested making a Rose Quartz option, one which I have never offered for purchase and something a little pink, because we know Sarah loves her pink! 

I have an incredible support system behind me— my husband and I worked countless hours making the earrings (yes – he helped me make them). I also enlisted the help of my closest friends who spent hours helping. All of the earrings were made in my home – we actually set up a workstation in our second bedroom to keep everything together in one place. 

Do you have a favourite piece you’ve ever designed? 

My favourite piece that I have are definitely my tassel earrings – both the short and long option. I have had them in my collection for the longest, and they continue to be a bestseller. The thing I like about them the most is that they can jazz up any outfit – from sweats to a cocktail dress – they add the perfect pop of colour to make a statement. 

What are your biggest inspirations at the moment? 

I am inspired by the group of women that surround me in this small business community. Because of the support that I have received over time, I continue to push myself to create unique pieces of jewelry to be enjoyed by all women!

What are you the proudest of? What empowers you?  

My proudest moment thus far is that I just recently made the transition and quit my full-time day job and now work full time in my business! I am empowered and very driven by seeing my business grow. If you would have told me 5 years ago that I would be working for myself, I’d give you the strangest look. I wouldn't believe you! 

Thanks Lateisha! We're so excited to wear these. Looking to snag a pair? Sign up to get notified for when the Papaya Box goes live on October 18th. And check out TISH Jewelry for beautiful, unique and handmade pieces! 

Hi Jessie! Tell us about yourself!

I'm a Latina New Yorker (born and raised), body-positive dance instructor, educational consultant, mom, and wife. 

What inspired you to start Body Positive Dance Classes? 

I've always been told I needed to lose weight by dance teachers, school teachers, friends and family. I would get backwards compliments like "Jessie, you're such a great dancer for your weight!" and that would always rub me the wrong way. Even going to different dance or dance fitness classes in New York, I was often the only person of color or the only plus-size body there. I could see that diversity was really lacking. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jessie Diaz-Herrera (she/her) (@curveswithmoves) on Sep 27, 2020 at 1:56pm PDT

I wanted to create a space where all different types of people could come and have fun without any negativity or competition. My class is about feeling the rhythm in your body while releasing any negative connotations about your body, releasing the feeling of competing with yourself in the mirror, and releasing any assumption that you can't do certain things because of the way you look. 

What can people expect from one of your classes? 

We start unlike any dance class— with the power of discussion. We start in a circle (virtual 'circle' now online), and introduce ourselves and answer the topic question, which is usually revolved around our bodies and/or emotions. Questions like, What's your favorite body part and why? or What affirmations resonate with you the most and why?

After this we sing and stretch to our Body Love Song which is a song I made to affirm our bodies while we stretch. It's a fun call and repeat song that gets us moving and ready to dance! We then go into some follow along dance warmups, learn choreography and then perform for each other. Expect lots of cheering, lots of encouragement, and lots of dancing. 

Why do you think classes like these are important? 

Self love is so important and once we find what we truly love about ourselves, it's worth sharing with the world. For me dance has allowed me to love myself and my body. It has also kept my mind healthy and has done wonders for my confidence. I knew I wasn't the only one who needed this outlet. Once I began sharing this self love dance journey with others, it became bigger than me, it became my life's mission—  to help womxn how to love their bodies through dance. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jessie Diaz-Herrera (she/her) (@curveswithmoves) on Apr 23, 2020 at 7:39pm PDT

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned while teaching? 

I've learned the power of joy through movement. We recently added a new class to our virtual offerings called Free The Jiggle, where we PURPOSELY try and jiggle our whole bodies at certain parts of each class. We work to actively fight the urges that keep us self conscious, and rather embrace all that our bodies can do. Have you ever wiggled your whole body for even 1 minute straight? It's invigorating— try it! 

Dance and Movement is liberation, it's a political act, it's a movement that says "I don't care what society says, I chose to be happy in the skin I'm in and I'm going to celebrate me!"

Brag about yourself! What are you the proudest of? 

During the height of quarantine in NY, I offered free classes on Instagram to help those coping with being stuck inside, needing an outlet to move or just needing a reason to smile. And I really needed it to! With a preschooler, you can’t do virtual learning yet, so I’m home-schooling, while working for a school that is doing remote learning, playing nurse because my husband is in quarantine (yes, he actually had COVID-19 at one point), and worrying at night. 

It was intense for a while and took a lot of resilience both emotionally and physically. Dance is that zen moment for me. It’s my moment of calm, so for me during this time, I still loved teaching dance because that was the one normal thing for me. I’ve cried during live dance classes, I’ve shouted, I’ve laughed, I’ve gotten upset— but those raw moments felt good and being able to share that with other people was powerful. I feel proud that I was able to be an outlet for others at this time while also giving me a sense of community and space to be as well. 

And one last fun question— what are your 3 fav songs to dance to right now? 

Mamacita by Black Eyed Peas ft Ozuna

Acapella by Kelis

Worship by Lizzo

See you for a free class on Friday, October 9th at 12PM over on Knix’s Instagram Live! Also make sure to follow along with Jessie and check out her classes here. 

In between hosting a new podcast The Root, a 5 part series that looks at how large systems of inequality impact sustainable fashion agendas— we caught up with Dominique to see how she incorporates Super Leakproof Underwear into her sustainable lifestyle, learn why she's redefining sustainability, and relearn the 4 R’s of recycling. Meet Dominique. 

Hi Dominique! You have a long-time background of environmental education and advocacy, particularly in the fashion industry. What initially drew you to this?

I grew up loving fashion! I was an avid thrift shopper, loved urban street culture and always frolicked in my mom and grandma’s closet. I grew up being an environmental nerd. I was an avid backpacker and hiker, took BIPOC youth to the outdoors on educational outdoor trips, was on a review board for outdoor recreation based nonprofits and just overall loved the wilderness.  

I’ve always been a unique individual and that includes merging my passions together (fashion & nature & youth development) to create a career that heals both myself and the planet. My path shifted a few times but my vision for this work has remained steadfast. I think the most beautiful aspect of being drawn to this work is more so believing that the work found me. It was also imperative that I put my own spice on everything I do to show that nothing about sustainability is linear nor bland.

Decolonizing environmentalism really centres your work— especially through your projects MelaninASS and Sustainable Brooklyn. Tell us a bit about these initiatives. What’s one of the biggest things you’ve learned through them? 

Environmentalism as the term has traditionally been coined— is inherently white, violent and oppressive. Having studied environmentalism in traditional education spaces opened my eyes to the detriments of these institutions along with the context that is being taught. On top of that, how sustainability is marketed and discussed in social spaces has been problematic for years especially when the global climate crisis disproportionately affects communities of color. 

For the past few years, I have been interviewing BIPOC owned brands and initiatives across sustainable fashion, natural beauty, wellness and land sovereignty via my digital space— MelaninASS (Melanin And Sustainable Style). These are the vanguards of the sustainability movements whose voices and work has been omitted and often weaponized. Also, it was important for me to celebrate folks in the spaces who come from the ancestors and elders who originally created regenerative thought and sustainability practices.

So many people in the Black community specifically had no idea that there were so many other BIPOC sustainability leaders. MelaninASS quickly became a resource for BIPOC to connect with each other and that was most important!

The first Sustainable Brooklyn Symposium in Spring 2019

Sustainable Brooklyn bridges the gaps between the mainstream sustainability space and targeted communities. My business partner Whitney McGuire and I produce holistic and eclectic symposiums and community based events that mirrors our local ecosystems while centering and elevating BIPOC voices. We work to develop projects, practices and resources that are accessible to our community— as community care is a huge part of our sustainability efforts.

With all of the work that I’m doing in this space, I believe that I have a responsibility to amplify the work of BIPOC communities who are leaders in sustainability and help be a bridge for how we understand and build sustainable economies locally and globally. 

In redefining sustainability, you reworked the traditional 4 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot). Tell us about them, and why you think they’re a necessary update. 

The traditional 4 R’s were great when they were first implemented and I’ve been reciting and using them since grade school. However, the 4 R’s only represent individual actions that are backed by a sustainability framework that omits BIPOC communities. 

The 4 R’s of sustainability that I’ve reworked are Redefine, Reclaim, Reimagine and Revolutionize. This paradigm forces us to rethink traditional systems— getting to the root of the climate crisis that will then lead to the implementation of equitable integrated circular solutions. We have to reprogram how we’ve always approached sustainability!

The update calls for unlearning and reeducation that leads to action! We have been in a state of emergency for quite a while and it’s time to step outside of the colonial conditioning system. 

Menstruation really intersects with this new framework of sustainability. What does the future of sustainable and ethical periods look like to you?

At the end of the day, periods and frameworks around them should also include discussions of womb wellness and womb protection. With people who give birth being the original stewards of the land— protection of the womb automatically translates to a necessity to protect the planet.

Are there ways you yourself make menstruation sustainable?

75% of the time I use period underwear and I love Knix Super Leakproof undies. I have completely omitted tampons and the few times that I do wear pads, it is with an eco-friendly brand. Minimizing my plastic waste while also focusing on my personal womb health have been very important elements of staying eco-friendly. In general, I find that I’m a happier person when wearing period underwear during my cycle... and happiness equals sustainability. 

Dominique in Super Leakproof Underwear

What’s one thing you wish people knew when it comes to sustainability and zero-waste movements?

That sustainability is an inherently Black and Brown Indigenous philosophy and practice!

Follow along with Dominique and shop our Super Leakproof Underwear here.

Building a brand from the ground up that represents everything I’m passionate about — disabled bodies, representation, inclusion, self-love, and boss babe vibes — has been one of the best and most rewarding things I have done in my life.

After graduating college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services, and moving to the city of Chicago to pursue a career I had always dreamed of, I was let down. I blissfully went on interview after interview, hoping to get a call back.

Unfortunately, the phone never rang.

I was left with silence, contemplating why no one would hire me and questioning my worth. Blaming it on my disability. Thinking about how I probably didn’t get hired because disability is seen as inadequate in the workplace. And in life.

My entire life, I have been trying to prove myself. Prove that my disability doesn’t make me inadequate, but it makes me an asset.

While job searching, I quickly spiralled into a very toxic mindset that was hard to dig myself out of.

I decided I needed an outlet to express myself. That’s why I started sharing my life on Instagram on @thewheelchair_rapunzel. I quickly found that I had an uncanny ability to story-tell and use the platform to give a voice to myself and my disability. Then something funny started happening: as my following grew, so did my voice and my message of self-love. I not only learned to be unapologetic in my messaging, but in my life and advocacy work as well.  

So I thought— why not make a career out of it? After all, I saw a bunch of other influencers doing it, many of whom were not disabled. Why not me?

After I hit around 7,000 followers, I launched my first product through WheelchairRapunzel & Co. From there, my (once little) shop has grown to have over 30 products that were all designed by me (and a helpful artsy friend behind the scenes). My apparel is worn all over the world by people who celebrate and share my love for inclusion, representation, self-love, and disability.

View this post on Instagram

Accessibility is a human right, not a privilege. “I am black disabled woman and ALL of me matters! I am strong but i am tired....” T-shirt: wheelchairrapunzel.com

A post shared by WheelchairRapunzel & Co. (@wheelchairrapunzel.co) on Jul 26, 2020 at 4:58pm PDT

Hi Chantal! Why did you start Love & Nudes?   

While working as a wardrobe stylist in fashion I was motivated by the glaring absence and misrepresentation of everyday products for women of color. Nude was only defined as beige in the fashion and beauty industries. I knew this wasn’t true, but it seemed like it was just accepted as fact because no one was making fashion based on darker skin tone colors. I saw how Black and dark-skinned models didn’t have nude undergarments they were expected to have for photoshoots! I too longed to wear my own nude in undergarments and clothing —  to wear fashion without compromise. 

In order for me to achieve the looks I wanted,  I had to paint a bra and panty to match in my own skin tone color. I thought, no one should have to go through this. So I developed Love & Nudes with love for my melanin sisters. I wanted them to know that they mattered and they are valid regardless of their skin color. I am proud to say that we are the 1st in Canada to produce a diverse nude intimates line.

What was it like to start your business as a Black entrepreneur? 

There was a lot of doubt, wondering why such a simple idea was not readily available and who was I to actually do this? However, I couldn’t let this misrepresentation continue! Believing in the viability of my product and wanting to bring it to market beyond a local target market, I pitched my plan to an investor — who happened to be a white man. He told me that my product line wasn't practical because the 4 skin tone colors that I wanted to produce would be just too much for a store to carry. 

I was dumbfounded at his statement and I felt like I was being told that there wasn’t a need and that my life didn't matter. But this only fuelled my passion to continue making something to respond to the needs of melanated women. I crowdfunded to raise money to develop the first Canadian line of nude bras and panties for my melanated sisters and went to market with it. I refused to let the views of that man decide that our Black culture and our needs are illegitimate — which is part of the power of White privilege. This is only one example. 

A few years ago I reached out to Joanna Griffiths, the founder of Knix, and got help and advice around starting up my nude product line of intimates. I’m a believer in women helping other women, so I was thankful for the guidance. Being new to the category it was helpful to get insight from someone within the industry. Recently Knix launched a nude line too. While I’m happy to have the needs of Black women finally starting to be recognized, ultimately I wish that the investment community would support Black owned businesses from the jump, so we can create and scale these products ourselves. 

Love & Nudes is super community focused, down to the members of your supply chain. Can you share a bit about the women you work with and the importance of why you do? 

I’m proud to produce my bras and panties in a woman-owned, woman-lead facility in South America. They are conscious women who are also all about empowering their communities by providing fair wages and working with studios that employ single mothers, giving them a chance to support their families in just working conditions. I was so excited to find women with the same fashion sense and philosophy as me—  I knew the connection was meant to be.

Most of the businesses I partner with are also women-owned and Black and women of color owned. I believe it is so important to support businesses of marginalized communities and of people who aren’t given the same opportunities as white males. I want to show leadership and integrity in everything I do.

Love & Nudes is a celebration. Tell us about how #OwnYourTone is part of that. 

It is a celebration of who we are, our voices and our experience as Black women and women of color. Love & Nudes Own Your Tone Series is about owning your voice, your story and cherishing your skin tone whatever the shade! We are celebrating, connecting and empowering women of color by sharing various women's stories, information and experiences. I want to encourage and inspire women especially Black women and women of color  to see what's possible for us all regardless of our experiences and our skin tone. We post this on our website and social media as a way of connecting and inspiring women to live to their fullest potential. 

Who is your biggest inspiration right now?

My biggest inspiration is former politician and MP Celina Ceaser-Chavannes, who I am so in love with. She is a strong and BEAUTIFUL Black woman who stands up for the Black community and fairness for all people. She is willing to stand alone for her beliefs, even when it isn’t the popular thing to do. She struggles with mental illness, as I do, and had the courage to speak about it openly. She made me feel less alone and less ashamed for my struggles with this. The world needs more people like her in our societies. I know she is going to even bigger places and will help to make things better for the Black community, people of color and ultimately all people. 

Our voices need to be amplified and she is just the person for that. When she wore her hair in cornrows at Parliament Hill I got down on my knees and thanked God for her, as I know that could not have been easy to do and argue about amongst a majority of older white male politicians.

What are you proudest of? 

I am proud that I challenged how nude is being defined (as exclusively as beige). I’m proud that this challenge helped me to develop the 1st Canadian line of nude intimates for Black women and women of color. I’m so proud to have taken the measures to help put an end to systemic racism that has plagued the fashion industry and our society.

What do you hope for the future of representation in fashion, especially the intimates industry? 

My hope is an end to the systemic racism that stifles the economic growth and fashion needs of the Black community. We are the original influencers and  fashion trendsetters in pop culture, along with being one of the biggest spenders (trillions) in fashion and beauty. 

Recently Justin Bieber openly acknowledged that his fashion sense is influenced by Blacks. Yet we are typically shut out from behind the scenes and from the business side of fashion. Big name brands and businesses have always excluded us in the making of everyday products we need. Anything that was nude, like  bandaids, intimates, makeup, and shoes were exclusively defined as beige and for white skin. This is very personal for me, and the crucial reason I started Love & Nudes, to challenge this non-inclusive definition. 

The solution I dreamt up is now being offered by white big brands who couldn’t see nude beyond the color beige, as an opportunity to market specifically to Black people and people of color. This is the same idea investors and bankers didn’t see merit in when it came from me, a Black woman. Our businesses must be represented in the market to serve our community and the world, especially when it is products that specifically meet our needs. We need loans, investors and funding for our businesses, which is typically a challenge for the Black community.

Also, Black designers and brands must be included in retailers product offering. As designer Aurora James said, we should be stocking retail stores with 15% of products and fashion from Black vendors. My hope for Black entrepreneurs and people of color in fashion is an easier ability to gain access to funding, and the same opportunities as our white counterparts so we can successfully grow our businesses to become billion-dollar companies as well. 

Why is it important for us to support Black-owned businesses? Besides Love & Nudes (of course!) are there any others that should be on our radar? 

Again, to end systemic racism overall. It is vital for people to spend with Black businesses everyday, to help overcome systemic racism. In this COVID pandemic, Black businesses are especially vulnerable. When many people consciously spend with Black-owned businesses in lieu of spending with only big brands, it will spread the economic wealth and close the gap between white and black communities. This will also hold larger businesses accountable to hire more Black people and diverse workforces. I believe this will allow our society to thrive. If we all had the same opportunities our society would benefit exponentially with new ideas, innovation, creativity and economically. Here are links to 2 Black directories to find Black owned businesses in Canada: Afrobiz and By Blacks. 

Here is a list of Black owned businesses led by AMAZING women you could help to support now:

Zade Jones Studio — Lifestyle and resort wear 

Sade Baron — Vegan beauty products 

Sugar Plum Scrubs — Skin and body scrubs 

Kinky Curly Yaki — Human hair extensions 

Diva Creations — Body and hair products 

Jodianne Beckford — Photography portraits 

Godzpeed Communications — Communications Consulting Agency 

Bonafide Organizing  — Personal Organizing and Home Improvement 

Elleverity Wealth — Financial Advising 

Kids Swag Co — Mindful Kids Retailer 

Monique Bryan — Personal Branding 

Thanks Chantal. Support Love & Nudes and follow along with their journey here!

Like the rest of Canada, we’ve been huge fans of Jillian since she popped onto our screens more than 10 years ago. Confident, charming, and LOL funny, it’s been impossible not to love her and her honesty. Her incredibly genuine nature has made us super proud to consider her part of the Knix family. 

In 2019, Knix in partnership with Carriage House Birth, launched the Life After Birth Project— a travelling photo gallery highlighting women’s postpartum journeys, alongside stories that honor their transformative birthing experiences. Hundreds of new parents submitted pictures and reflections of these intimate moments, and we were honored to receive and read all of them. One of these was from Jillian Harris, who provided a realistic snapshot of her life after giving birth to her baby boy Leo. 

“I look back at this picture and remember it being one of the best moments of my life. I’ve never felt so content with my body, my relationship and my life. I think about how full my heart was that day. How hard I worked growing the baby, carrying the baby, then delivering our sweet Leo. Luckily, with that pregnancy and delivery everything was perfect. Fast forward a few years and my pregnancy with Annie couldn’t have been more different. I had debilitating exhaustion, feelings of depression and a lack of interest in almost everything. I just wanted the pregnancy to be over. Motherhood can be a roller coaster of emotions. Every morning you wake up with a bursting feeling of love and appreciation, but by 10 a.m. you’re on a caffeine overdrive with nothing in your stomach and ready to run for the hills!”

Jillian has been integral to Knix’s journey exploring postpartum life, and also joined us in Vancouver for the first Life After Birth Panel last year. Baring it all alongside Knix CEO & Founder Joanna Griffiths and Knix’s resident BFF Sarah Nicole Landry (@thebirdspapaya), Jillian chatted about intimacy, self-love and everything in between. Her honesty in front of a packed theatre was exactly the kind of brave sincerity we love so much at Knix. 

At Knix, we’re so inspired by Jillian, so it was a huge honor to be part of The Jilly Box this month. We were thrilled to have a new secret color of our Essential Bikini underwear included in this month’s subscription box.  While this round of The Jilly Box is sold out, you should definitely hop on the waitlist (fingers crossed).  Were you able to snag The Jilly Box that included special limited edition Knix? Shout us out on Instagram @Knixwear. We would love to see them! 

2020 is about to be a super exciting year. Our lips are sealed, but we absolutely cannot wait to spend more time with Jillian. Stay tuned!  

Back to the scales...where I actually smashed 10 scales...with a sledge hammer. True story.

It was planned as part of a fitness photoshoot. I wanted to capture the exact moment I’d never let the scale define me again. It was a bold move. A fitness photoshoot?! I’m just a wife and working mom of a young girl. Who did I think I was capturing imagery like this?!

Photo by: West Studio

I set aside my negative thoughts and imposter syndrome to step outside my comfort zone. Maybe, just maybe I’d inspire just 1 person with my rebellious act of rejecting the societal norm of weighing myself every day.  

I was DONE with weight defining my value. I no longer wanted that tiny number, my relationship with gravity, to determine my happiness, confidence, mood or potential. I also didn’t want to pass along this habit to my daughter. For her to believe this act was part of getting ready in the morning. The very idea hurt my heart.  

So I smashed scales with a sledge hammer to energetically cut ties with this toxic behaviour and lay a new path forward for me, for her and for anyone else who needed this message. 

Since then, I went back to school to become an Eating Psychology Coach and founded Inspired Diaries. My mission is to help women rewrite their relationship with food and themselves. 

If you’re a woman reading this...you probably relate. Getting up each day to step on that tiny all powerful (inaccurate) box to determine whether we should be in a good mood, proud of ourselves, sexy, confident, skinny enough to wear that perfect outfit or *gasp*  wear a bikini on a beach or a sports bra at the gym. Every day managing between the shame of our shape and the tasks for the day. 

I’ve been there.

The endless diets. 

Negative self talk. 

Buying into all the marketing scams. 

Punishment mentality at the gym. 

Comparing bodies to friends and the famous. 

Never being small enough or light enough to be accepted.  

But here’s the thing about smashing scales. Unless you do the work to change your mindset, there’s a million scales waiting for your purchase and delivery to replace the smashed one. 

I remember being 10 or so. Back then I was constantly bullied for my overly feminine body at my age. Read: I had quickly developed large breasts before my entire class. This led to endless bullying. It made me feel small and worthless. After a while I believed the negativity and shut down my self confidence.

My mom saw this. And one day she sat me down in front of my bedroom mirror. She explained that I set the tone for how others treat me. Whatever I believe about myself is the truth whether it’s good or bad messages it’s the truth. That only I have the power to love myself and she could help me learn how but ultimately it was up to me. 

She asked me to look in the mirror and share something I loved about myself. I couldn’t. I just couldn’t share anything I liked let alone loved about myself. I was living in a dark hole, it was lonely and negative down there. So many of us live there. 

She left me there for a while to think. To look at myself. I probably sat there for almost an hour criticizing every aspect of my face, body and personality. But then I saw myself. Like actually saw myself, a glimpse of who I *really* was. I loved my eyes. Their shape and colour were so unique. They were kind eyes that observed the good in others. I found something. It was that moment that laid the foundation for me to begin to like myself.  It’s been a hard journey one filled with ups and downs as you might guess. 

But when I became a mom 20 years later I knew I needed to set an example stronger than the media and society to counter balance all that negativity. Everyone needs this support and it’s become part of my mission to show my child and the world that self acceptance is the path towards success and love in life. Like our Knix bras that support my ‘girls’ I want to support my girl in everything.  

Photo by: LivePixels

So...

Do the work you’ll never regret. 

Be brave, dare to fall in love or at least don’t hate your body. 

Discover the uniqueness of you. 

Accept the beauty of YOU. 

See yourself as more than a number. 

So you can impact your life and the world around you. 

This work is the stuff that lasts a lifetime. 

This is the work that becomes the foundation for so many new possibilities that are completely unknown today. 

Smashing scales today might mean smashing glass ceilings tomorrow.

After all...we’re limitless when we choose to be. Think about that. 

For me most recently it presented the opportunity to model for Knixwear. But the opportunity came with an ask to model a thong. Oh em gee. My bare bum for the world to see...I’m not sure they’re ready. Maybe I wasn’t ready. 

But I was so excited that I said yes without any limitations to the invitation. I said yes for all the reasons why I smashed scales in the first place. Because whether it’s a scale or a thong...I have an opportunity to continue to do for my daughter and other women what my mom did for me. 

Follow along with Jordanna's journey @jordannanativ and learn more about her work here!

Not only is Amy Nelson the Founder and CEO of the multi-city, co-working space The Riveter, but she's also a mother of four. So it goes without saying that we were super lucky to snag her for a sit down with Knix to talk motherhood, inclusivity in the work place, and the ever- evolving concept of the "working woman".

 

Can you tell us why female-centric workspaces are necessary?

A pillar of The Riveter is that “conversations lead to collective action”. What conversations aren’t we having that you’d like to see take place?

How are you actively building a more inclusive and accessible workspace?

How is the concept of the “working woman” changing? Have you seen it change since building The Riveter?

Can you speak to how The Riveter and motherhood go hand in hand?

What would the world look like if it reflected The Riveter?