It Takes a Sisterhood 

Written by Victoria Gonzalez

A conversation with the designer of the sisterhood dress. 

Shop the sisterhood dress here!

“Inspired by the spirit of connection and belonging , the Sisterhood Dress is designed to move with you, flatter everybody, and feel like an old friend from the first wear. Effortless, timeless, and yes—it has pockets.”

Just like “it takes a village to raise a child”, it takes a sisterhood to heal the deep wounds of a woman who has overcome the systems of oppression that attempted to control her. A sisterhood is a community of women linked by an unbreakable bond. It is steady, uplifting, and safety is essential for transformation. The world is held together by  the bonds formed from sisterhood. Communities and generations of women foster a spirit of security and love within each other; flowering our decaying earth with grace and kindness. 

Not I But We is composed of these kinds of women. They wholeheartedly design intentional items for other women to walk around the uncertain roads of the world surrounded by, and clothed in, confidence and love. Each piece is crafted by the hardworking hands of survivors who know what it's like to live in the darkness of dimly lit forests. Their desire is to bring forth light through their craft, bountifully planting seeds in the hearts of other women to foster fruitful gardens.   

One of the strongest sisterhoods I know is found in the workshop of Not I But We. A healing-centered work environment that is filled with belonging, prioritizing wholeness, grace, and connection. Every woman in this space holds on to the caring hand of another. The halls are filled with hard lessons taught by gentle voices, ears ready to listen with empathy and wide open space to fall down and get back up. These qualities  are palpable through the words of the women abiding in it. 

As I spoke with the designer of the sisterhood dress, I was reminded of the women in my life and how they make me feel. I have been a part of multiple sisterhoods in my life without realizing it. Mothers, daughters, sisters, friends all surround me with grace, mercy and love. I would be lost if it weren’t for the way they’ve uplifted me and guided me. Every woman needs this net of gentle hands to fall back on throughout life, the kind that Not I But We builds up piece by piece every day. 

In conversation with one our survivor leaders who designed the Sisterhood Dress

1. On the website the dress is described as “inspired by the spirit of connection and belonging.” What does connection and belonging mean to you? 

Connection for me means being seen, my voice being heard, being supported emotionally, and building strong honest relationships. Belonging for me means feeling safe and secure, valued by others and accepted. 

2. How do you want women to feel when they wear the sisterhood dress? 

When women are wearing our sisterhood dress I want them to feel: loved, united, confident, empowered, happy, proud, free, and connected. 

3. Is there a specific experience/person that inspired you to design the sisterhood dress?

My boss, Madison, and my sisters at Not I But We. 

4. How has being part of the sisterhood influenced who you are today? 

It gave me a sense of freedom, empowerment and pride. 

5. Why do you believe being part of a supportive community of women is important in today's world? 

Being a part of a supportive community of women is extremely important in today’s world. You get emotional support, you get empowered and motivated seeing how other women are succeeding. Women supporting women can help promote equality, wellness and break down society's stereotypes. 

Shop the sisterhood dress here!

The garments we wear every day are expressions of who we are and hope to be. Whether we are aware of it or not, our everyday wear is how we appear to the world and translates to how we feel on the inside. The clothing we wear inspires in us the feelings we will embody. They are channels of light, confidence, security, connection. They can empower us or diminish us. In a similar way, the bonds formed from a sisterhood, penetrate our skin and instill in us a secure identity in which we are free to be ourselves.  

The power of a sisterhood, mirrors the power of wearing clothing that inspires confidence in us. Just like putting on a dress can transform your demeanor, the love and care of women around you can transform your being from forgotten to found, helpless to supported. It is through this transformation that your spirit is restored. 

Sisterhood sets you free, like a long flowy dress you wear on a spring afternoon, frockling in a field of lilies, holding on to the hands of your girl friends. This is the effect of the sisterhood dress. As soon as it lands on your body, it will embrace all of the right places in a sweet hug, it will inspire a sense of confidence in your spirit, it will remind you you have space to grow freely, to fall down and get up, to transform. You are seen for who you are, every part of you is loved in the right way. 

Shop the sisterhood dress here!