How it all started …
This project started as a personal challenge. As someone who was sexually abused in my childhood, I began to feel the heavy weight of keeping everything inside — the silence, the anger, and the judgment on some behaviors that, to me, are directly correlated. Over time, I realized how much this inner turmoil was affecting me, and I knew I needed to find a way to express it.
My story was difficult to talk about, so I decided to wear it instead.
I created a sweatshirt with my message, but when I placed the order online, the website I used required a minimum order of six items. That small obstacle turned out to be the spark that ignited this project.
That’s when the idea struck me: If wearing my sweatshirt could help others feel comfortable sharing their own stories, maybe I could encourage them to take that step. So, I decided that anyone who reached out to me, moved by my message, would receive one of my extra sweatshirts as a thank you for their support.
The behind-the-scenes story …
I started with a version of the sweatshirt with a clear and direct message. One day, I challenged myself to wear it while Christmas shopping in a busy department store. I knew my move needed to be bold. Many people looked at me, then quickly looked away.
I was proud of myself for taking that step, but I also felt deeply sad as no one approached me despite the message I was wearing. It made me wonder: if 1 in 6 people are affected by Childhood Sexual Abuse, why didn’t anyone step forward? For me, the answer lay in the shame that surrounds this issue.
The very first version of the sweatshirt
After some thoughts, I realized that my goal wasn’t to add to that shame but to help people break free from it—whether they were survivors or not. So, I decided to create a softer version of the sweatshirt, one that could open the door for conversation without overwhelming anyone.
The sweatshirt now