We’re so excited to introduce our new collection designed in collaboration with Gold Medal Gymnast and #AerieREAL Role Model, Aly Raisman! Each piece in the collection of sports bras, tops & bottoms is inspired by strength, wellness and mindful living. We’re proud to donate 15% of all sales from the collection (up to $75K) to Darkness To Light, a non-profit committed to empowering adults to prevent child sexual abuse. We talked with Aly about the inspiration behind each item, her favorite pieces and more about her partnership with Darkness to Light. Read on to see more from Aly!
What inspired you while helping to design these pieces?
I’m really inspired by nature. Last summer, I fell in love with gardening, which is the inspiration for the blue leggings and blue/green sports bra. The blue leggings say “In the Moment,” because I think it’s so important for us all to find things to help us stay present. For me, one of those things is gardening—it helps me feel really happy and relaxed.
What’s your favorite item from the collection? Why?
It is so hard to decide what my favorite piece of the collection is– every day I change my mind because of what each piece represents to me. So for today, my favorite piece is the “Unapologetically Me” red sports bra. I always loved competing in red, because it is such a fierce and strong color. Red is definitely a statement and I want every girl and woman to feel fierce and powerful when they wear my collection! I hope it’s a reminder to be yourself and that each and every single one of us is enough. There is nothing better than being unapologetically who you are. It is such a good feeling.
15% of all sales from the collection (up to $75K) will be donated to Darkness2Light. Can you tell us more about your partnership with the non-profit and why it’s important to you to give back?
I work with Darkness to Light, the leading non-profit in the prevention of child sexual abuse, to raise awareness for the education needed to help prevent this horrible problem. We created #FlipTheSwitch to provide the educational course for free, as I didn’t want the cost to deter anyone from taking the course– just type in the code #FlipTheSwitch. It means so much to me that Aerie is supportive of this important initiative and also willing to help financially because it will provide more free training for adults who want to become educated on prevention. I hope that every adult who is ever around children takes the course as it provides a better understanding of the warning signs of an abuser, how to handle certain situations, how to protect children around you, and so much more.
Check out the entire Aerie x Aly Raisman Collection here.