Tour de STFU- fashion trends, street style, health & wellness, & feminism, activism

I haven't talked much about my Disco Panda, my kid's clothing line that I launched this past Fall. It's been such a huge and time consuming part of my life, which is largely why I haven't been posting here on Tour de STFU as much :'( But I have had so many exciting things happen with the line in the past few months, so...

Here, who we are, what we do, plus watch our Fall 17 RTW fashion show!

ABOUT ASH SMITH

Ash Smith’s strong belief in the power of social activism to affect change, coupled with a degree in design from FIDM, Los Angeles led her to launch her socially conscious children’s clothing line, Disco Panda, in 2016. An advocate for “style with substance,” the native Angeleno designer draws influence from street, non-conformist and gender-neutral style. Her favorite color is black.

ABOUT DISCO PANDA

Los Angeles-based Disco Panda is a modern, bespoke and hand-made children’s clothing label made with an affection for peace, kindness and unity.

With a focus on clean, playful design and a monochromatic palette, our clothing is made for kid's who fight for their rights and spread a message of inclusion and love.

Through the fusion of fashion and social activism, designer Ash Smith aims to foster and support the next generation of children and mini activists, who live in an evermore color-blind world, breaking both gender norms and stereotypes, while working towards a more peaceful, equal world for all of us.

Here at Disco Panda, we believe in raising our voices, rising to the occasion and giving back to the world in a positive way.

FALL 17: COLLECTION

An autumn picnic protest… for peace.

Armed with passion and love, our mini-activists head back-to-school to gain the knowledge they’ll need to one day change the world. They spend their waning late afternoon days in the sun dreaming of and planning for their collective future, celebrating the tapestry of their friendships and fighting for the greater good. A day at the park turns to a community gathering of great minds, radical openness and united spirits and finds these future leaders setting an example of kindness, leadership and peace.

SHOP HERE!

I #pinkout for Planned Parenthood today because #istandwithpp! Because without it, 2.5 million women wouldn’t have access to high quality, affordable healthcare. Because not having access to birth control perpetuates poverty. Because deciding to have, or not have, a child is the biggest decision a woman will ever make for their future, their education, their dreams, their financial situation. Because having access to affordable, quality health services is vital for women to achieve their full potential and optimal health. Because I am part the resistance- and the resistance is PP.

BECAUSE IT’S OUR BODY AND OUR CHOICE. BECAUSE WOMEN'S HEALTH IS JUST ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE THAT IS GENDER EQUALITY.

Skip The Skinny Jeans

Here, 10 pairs of pants to wear instead.

Happy International Women's Day and Day Without A Woman! I don't have anything red at the moment to wear in solidarity with A Day Without A Woman, but I am rocking my Feminist Tee (it's Disco Panda- and you can buy it here) so I feel like it's all good. I'm also working today even though we aren't supposed to because I'm a "girl boss", I'm in fittings all day today for my Disco Panda Fall 17 show for Style Fashion Week that I was, unfortunately, not able to make the women's march in downtown either. I am super bummed because you know I hate missing these things, but it's an important show for me and my brand so I feel okay with it.

I drove over an hour to my fittings. I cried the whole way- because you know, that's how I do. I feel moved by the energy that is circulating in the world with all the demonstrations and show of solidarity happening across the country and the globe. But I'm also so sad for women- women living on $1 a day, women hungry because they will give the only food they have to their children, women of color suffering because their children are being gunned down in the streets by police, immigrant women having their families torn apart and their children sent back to live in unsafe places, refugee women being turned away with their children in hand, women facing domestic violence, women who are victims of sexual assault being shamed with no justice in sight.

Thank you to those standing in solidarity with women and fighting for equality, justice and peace in this world. Keep fighting, keep loving, stay loud.

Ash