Pigtails Pals was launched almost three years ago with the idea that girls needed to be presented with more positive imagery and messages on apparel. I wanted images showing girls doing smart, daring, and adventurous things. With close to 25 girl-empowerment designs that have gone viral and been shipped all over the world, I feel really good about accomplishing what I set out to do. There is always room to do more….
I introduce today a new design that I’m really proud of. This design was created by our facebook community when I asked the question, “Tell me ALL of the different ways your daughter is a girl.” I took notes on all the descriptions given by our amazing parents — sports and dance and various shoe styles and artistic interests and messy hair and fancy pigtails and love of color. This design is YOUR girls, because my Pigtail community knows there are so many, SO MANY, amazing ways to be a girl.
You can purchase these tees HERE.
Every single detail in this design (illustrated by my wonderful artist Katie) represents a girl in our Pigtail Pals community. There is no limit to who our girls can become, and having a girlhood rich in diverse experiences and friendships will show our daughters just how incredible this world is, and how much is out there waiting for them.
During the discussion, the idea was suggested that “little girls are made of sugar and spice and everything Full of Awesome”. One mom even posted a photo of her daughter, looking like a true Pigtail Pal: colorful outfit, hair messed from a hard day of play, and a big smile on her face. (Thank you, Penny Collins, I’ll be sending your little lady a gift tee!) I liked that phrase so much, I added it as a second option for this design!
I have more designs and some surprises coming out during our Birthday Week beginning May 6th, but I just couldn’t wait on these!
I hope you love them just as much as I do! And a huge thank you to Katie, my artist, for turning all of my notes and scratches into something beautiful for our girls!
You can purchase these tees HERE.
As always, these designs are offered in sizes Toddlers – Ladies, with fourteen color choices. Enjoy!!
























I love this design–not only because it’s gorgeous, but because of the diversity balance–with the Girls of Color front and center, and a good balance of typically and atypically “feminine” interests and clothing choices. Do you make them in adult sizes? =)
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melissa Reply:
April 23rd, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Thank you, Jess! And you bet I do! These come in Toddler to Ladies 3XL, 14 colors.
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Jess Faraday Reply:
April 23rd, 2012 at 4:46 pm
FULL OF AWESOME!
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Stacey Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 8:52 am
I am buying one of these for myself, definitely!!!! & my girls, too. LOVE!
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melissa Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 9:17 am
I’m so glad you like the design Stacey!
As always, LOVE YOUR WORK!!! Sending girl power love to you all the way from New Zealand
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melissa Reply:
April 23rd, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Thank you, Rachel!! I can feel it
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Love the design and the story behind it. What a great idea to get contributions from your Facebook fans!
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melissa Reply:
April 23rd, 2012 at 6:09 pm
Thank you, Crystal. Our Facebook group is a fabulous bunch!
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What a fabulous design, Melissa! I love how you embrace everyone in your designs. I’ll share these with my friends & send them your way!
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melissa Reply:
April 23rd, 2012 at 6:09 pm
Thanks Lady!
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I absolutely LOVE this! Great job! I see my sweet girl in this and can’t wait to order one for her!
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Generally, I think it’s great! My only comment would be that, too bad girls with disabilities may feel excluded by this design. If there was a girl on a wheel-chair as well it would be perfect!
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melissa Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 9:13 am
Hi Maria -
It was on our list, but made the design too wide to fit on shirts for smaller kids. We just couldn’t fit an 8th girl in this design. Our plan is to do a second design incorporating that idea. Thanks for your support, and stay tuned!
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I love this but I just wish all the girls weren’t skinny. Some girls are not quite so slim, yet just as healthy and vibrant.
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melissa Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 9:22 am
Hi Taylor -
You are absolutely right! We tried to make a couple of the girls have a fuller figure. Sometimes I feel like I can’t win in this area, because if I make the girls thin I get asked about body diversity, if I make one or two girls with larger or even heavy-set frames, I get accused of promoting childhood obesity. We tried to make something that was a little bit of everything, to please the biggest number of people.
If you were to compare the softball player to the equestrian rider, their bodies are not the same.
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Just brilliant, keep it up Melissa, my daughters need you
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melissa Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 9:17 am
Thank you Tabi!
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Love the design!! Will check with my DD to see if she would wear it. You mention working on another design. Well, my DD and many of her friends love to wear mismatched socks….just a thought.
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melissa Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
LOL The Original Pigtail Pal *insists* on mismatched socks. Actually, nothing the OPP wears matches…..
I will add that to the list for a follow-up design!
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I love it!! I’d like to see a girl with her nose in a book cuz that was me! But, wonderful wonderful shirt and thank you!!!!
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Love your work and all you do to encourage kids to explore ALL their options. Can’t wait to see what’s being revealed on May 6th! Happy early birthday
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melissa Reply:
April 26th, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Thank you, Hillary! I think you will really love what I have coming down the pipe!
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Love to see a girl with very short hair (aka Shiloh Pitt)
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