To all of my rainbow friends living in a world of black and white, this one's for you.
Every year I design a new rainbow print celebrating pride. Because, first, Yoga Democracy wouldn't be what it is today without the incredible hard work and dedication from people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. And also, one of my main missions with Yoga Democracy from the start was to create clothes for people who dare to live life as their most authentic, true selves. My hope is that our designs can be worn as a tool for people to ignite their self-expression. The amazing people that are being honored this month have captured just that, and it is such a privilege to create clothing that celebrates them.
This year, I wanted to create an art piece that had a deeper meaning beyond an aesthetic, colorful rainbow. I wanted the design to encompass the many facets of what pride represents. I did this by asking and learning about what Pride meant to my friends and coworkers, as well as taking a closer look at what Pride means to me, as an ally to them.
In this piece, the rainbow dynamically moves back and forth with the body. This is not only representative of the fluidity of love, sexuality, and gender, but it is also emblematic of the dualism of the good and hard times of finding one's pride. It is an ode to the difficult road to self-discovery, self-acceptance, and self-love as well as the hope to be seen, loved, and validated without judgment.
I decided that rather than choosing another bright celebratory color, to instead incorporate the contrast of the nearly black background with the vibrant rainbow. This is to recognize and celebrate the people I am so lucky to have in my life. It is a metaphor for those who have lived with the feeling of being “othered” and their amazing audacity and triumph to live their truth: as a rainbow in a black and white world.
To make this launch even more special, we will be donating 1% of the proceeds from each purchase to the Pride 2022 Coalition! Because we know that Pride Month is so much more than just rainbows. We are committed to supporting the efforts of the LGBTQ+ community not only with inclusivity, but also with justice and opportunity. For the month of June, in partnership with @ShoppingGives, we’re giving back to @outrightintl, @itgetsbetter and @translifeline with every purchase.
I hope that when you wear Double Rainbow, you can fearlessly express your humanity and your pride. Because you deserve the unconditional and irrevocable freedom to be seen, loved and heard just as you are. No exceptions. ❤️ 🌈
