“We were loving the empowerment that was there. It wasn’t just a different philosophy of life. It was saying ‘you’re powerful, you’re strong.'” Dawson tells Pret-a-Reporter, recalling her experience of being at the City of Joy with Erwiah. “The whole thing was turning pain into power.”
After meeting with members of the community, the duo recognized what the women had to offer (“We just felt their kindred spirits,” says Dawson) and what they could give in return. Hence, it was the start of a beautiful relationship with the local creatives and the launch of their project.
The website is currently broken divided into three sections: an online magazine for showcasing African-inspired creative content; a supporting agency to help organizations with marketing and communications services; and a private fashion collection called Fashion Rising Collection, an artisan-produced label launched in support of V-Day’s One Billion Rising campaign to end violence against women.