Is there a market for that?’

I’ve been travelling for the last few weeks for my job (not for iAM just yet), always with my iAM tote and clutch.

While being introduced to colleagues I was asked for a ‘fun fact’, so I shared that I also design handbags which give back to charities supporting women escaping domestic violence. Colleagues were encouraged to come and talk to me about the bags and if they had any ideas to help with my website.

A young man came over to chat and after going into some more detail about iAM bags, the cause and the charities, he asked ‘is there a market for that?’

It never fails to amaze me how ignorant we are both locally and globally to how women have to manage their environments daily to stay safe and yet the most dangerous place a woman can be is in her own home.

 

1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.

1 woman is killed every 4 days in Australia, by an intimate partner or family member.

1 in 3 men have just admitted to using intimate partner violence.

 

Stats like these mean that it is more likely that not that you have experienced domestic violence or you know a perpetrator of domestic violence.

I thought as an educated, well-travelled woman it couldn’t happen to me and I’ll never forget the day I finally understood what was happening as I read the definition of domestic violence on the Victoria Justice and Community Safety website.

If it took me that long to realise what was actually happening to me, is it any wonder that there is a basic ignorance across the male population given we are all brought up to treat women as second-class citizens.

iAM are not just bags, iAM is changing the narrative of how we think of ourselves as women and how society views women across the world.       

I hope you take the time to appreciate yourself every day this week.

Much love,

Ilana and the iAM team
—supporting self-worth, one bag at a time.