During the pandemic, I had time to think and time to binge watch television shows which intersected in an interesting way. As I binged watch Project Runway, I learned that fashion is an art and an incredibly powerful one if done well. I also learned that it's basically unforgivable to not finish a hem or give a woman's body some type of shape. As I was falling in unrequited love with Tim Gunn, I started doing research into the fashion industry. I knew I bought a lot of clothes, but I didn't know just how much of the fashion industry was male dominated. Despite more women attending fashion school than men and women's apparel being well over a 1.5 billion dollar business, approximately 14%of major fashion brands are owned by a woman. The stunning statistic does explain why women can't gain or lose 4 lbs without switching to a new size but men can manage a 10 to 15 lb gain or loss and still fit just fine in their clothes.
There is this dangerous myth that it just takes one person to shatter a glass ceiling, and in terms of seeing women in leadership roles, we're nowhere close to a place of equity. Because there are so few women at the top of any industry, society has the very awful tendency to pit women against each other. I don't want to continue to allow myself to be a part of that narrative. I do not become any less intelligent if I acknowledge another woman's intelligence. I don't want to compete with other women. I want to succeed with other women. With that in mind, I knew I wanted to start a store that catered to small brands owned by women. I want to be able to tell their stories. I want to start a conversation about donating clothes rather than throwing them away. I want to use eco-friendly shipping materials. Ultimately, I want to be a part of the solution rather than a part of the problem.
It feels like International Women's Day is the right day to welcome everyone to Preppy With A Boho Streak! This little passion project has been about a year in the making. While I definitely want to write more about everything that has gone into making this store in the future, for today, I just want to thank the women owned brands who have trusted me to tell their stories and sell their products.