A popular trend that now graces the halls of Blue Valley Southwest is giving back. Rubber bracelets with slogans, shoes named after people and shirts saying To Write Love On Her Arms. All of these clothes and accessories are for more than show — students use fashion to support their causes.
Boobies Bracelets
Save the boobies, folks. They are dying out. “I heart boobies bracelets” are on the wrists of many students. While some may not understand the intentions of these rubber accessories, others can easily explain their benefits. The Keep-A-Breast-Foundation, whose goal is to eradicate breast cancer through informing young people about prevention, creates different art pieces that are available for purchase. Many students can be seen sporting the rubber bracelets with the simple slogan: “I love boobies!” The bracelets are available in a variety of colors and slogans such as “Glamour Kills” and “Check Yourself”.
Freshman Morgan Cowles supports the cause with four bracelets.
“ I have two with black bands with pink writing that says ‘check yourself!!’, and two more that say “I heart boobies!” — one in black and white, and one in green and white,” Cowles said.
It’s not just the Keep-A-Breast Foundation that benefits from the Southwest student body — many more brand-name products can thank Southwest students for doing their little part in helping others out.
Toms Shoes
Freshman Lauren Henke’s feet trod through the halls in checkered black and white moccasins, the heel bearing the label Toms. Toms shoes are spotted among many student’s sneakers. They are moccasin-like shoes that are available in all colors of the rainbow. With the motto “One for one,” Toms donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair purchased.
“Buy the shoes, and give one for a person in need — one for one,” Henke said.
A lack of shoes can lead to soil-transmitted disease or cuts and sores on the feet from exposure. Not only does Toms sell shoes, but they also sell necklaces, T-shirts, hoodies, stickers and flags. Toms shoes are donated to children across the world in the United States, Argentina, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti and South America.
“They give shoes to kids in places like Argentina,” said Henke. “I support it.”
To Write Love On Her Arms
Alongside worldwide charities, other small-scale foundations can be found closer to home. Freshman Kaitlin Looney wears a black tee shirt with multicolored circles flaunting the slogan: To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA).TWLOHA is a non-profit organization which aims to present hope for people struggling with addiction, depression, self-injury and thoughts of suicide. The concept began when a close friend of the founder, Jamie Tworkowski, was suffering from substance abuse and attempted suicide multiple times.
“I had a friend who almost killed herself, but she found TWLOHA just in time,” Looney said.
The company sells merchandise to help connect people to treatment centers, websites, support groups and other resources. They encourage people to be open with others about their feelings and to seek help for their conditions.
“I helped friends who cut themselves and I got them to stop by writing ‘love’ on their arms,” Looney said. “I even stopped a few of my friends from committing suicide.”
Having so many students represent their beliefs through dress shows diversity as a student body. Wearing spirit wear to represent the Timberwolves may be one thing, but to represent something that people across the country and throughout the world are affected by, can be completely different.
“I support the [breast cancer awareness] cause and wanted to show it,” Cowles said. “And you can represent [it] in a trendy way.”
