Today, Annie Officiel celebrates our first ever International Women’s Day. Annie Officiel was born out of a heartfelt desire to celebrate the potential of women, to push against the confines of what women can achieve and, above all else, it is a joyful exclamation of the power of strong women being in relationship to one another. Today is a love letter to all of the women who have touched Annie Officiel, a celebration of the power of women in all their many forms and manifestations.
Today presents us with the opportunity to reflect upon what has been achieved for gender equality, and where there is still work to be done - individually and collectively. It is clear from the #metoo movement, the beginnings of Fourth Wave Feminism, and it’s introduction into mainstream culture, that strides for womens’ equality have been made in recent decades. Whilst in the early parts of the 20th century, the accomplishments of women were more overt - such as the right for women to vote being won, or the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement started by Rosa Parks - today, our modern accomplishments are harder to quantify. For some of us, the progress is palpable within a subtly pervasive sense about how we each move through the world.
“Pushing my limits, having ambitions, discipline and desire. Being in line with my beliefs, honest with myself and trusting my intuition. And to some extent, always see the positive through what life brings.” Charlotte Lansard, our Founder and Creative Director explains the subtle ways that empowerment gives us strength. Maybe, the unearthing of a new paradigm will be ushered in by celebrating the privilege of empowerment.
Today presents us with the opportunity to reflect upon what has been achieved for gender equality, and where there is still work to be done - individually and collectively. It is clear from the #metoo movement, the beginnings of Fourth Wave Feminism, and it’s introduction into mainstream culture, that strides for womens’ equality have been made in recent decades. Whilst in the early parts of the 20th century, the accomplishments of women were more overt - such as the right for women to vote being won, or the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement started by Rosa Parks - today, our modern accomplishments are harder to quantify. For some of us, the progress is palpable within a subtly pervasive sense about how we each move through the world.
“Pushing my limits, having ambitions, discipline and desire. Being in line with my beliefs, honest with myself and trusting my intuition. And to some extent, always see the positive through what life brings.” Charlotte Lansard, our Founder and Creative Director explains the subtle ways that empowerment gives us strength. Maybe, the unearthing of a new paradigm will be ushered in by celebrating the privilege of empowerment.
“For me being empowered directly translates into authenticity. Having the ability and strength to be my most authentic self is something that has come with age and experience for me. Now in my early 40’s I feel truly empowered to trust my instincts and be me, unapologetically so”.
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Sarah Benson, Annie’s Managing Director reflects. As we interrogate the meaning of female empowerment, it is clear that our relationship to it is as unique as the women we are. However, the unifying factor that we can all appreciate, is how when we feel empowered - irrespective of how it personally manifests for us - we all feel the sense of being able to step into our own strengths.
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Strength, power and drive are all words we don’t commonly associate with femininity. We are only now coming back into communion with them, once again. "For me, empowerment means being able to explore the edges of my own potential.” Haylee Campbell, our new brand and content manager describes. The power of strong women is necessary for uplifting others, living in our own truths and improving the world around us. Feminine power has a softened edge to it. Something the world undeniably needs right now.
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For others, the world is still far behind. The progress of the gender equality movement has been hard won, and unfortunately only extends to a select few. But days like International Women’s Day ask us to individually interrogate our own parts to play in the battle, and that will always progress the conversation forward.