Where did the idea for Pigtail Pals come from? Is this all you?

Yes, it is all me. And I am very proud of what I have built. (Except the artwork, that is my mom and another artist, also named Melissa). The idea came to me while watching my daughter play during playgroup when she was 10 months old. The other moms were talking about Disney Princesses, and the wheels inside my feminist head started turning. I asked aloud “Why do we teach girls to wish upon a star for a prince. We should be teaching them to get in a rocket ship and get to that star on their own. I’d like to see that on a shirt for a girl.” I was met with blank stares. I raced home and filled an entire notebook with ideas.

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So what is the whole Redefine Girly thing about?

Redefine Girly is the mission of Pigtail Pals. It means that girls will define for themselves who they will be in this world, and not buy into the very narrow stereotypes and hypersexualization being marketed to them. It means girls will show the world that they can be smart, daring, and adventurous. And that when they smart, daring, and adventurous, they are being girly.

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I am the parent of a young daughter, and I have so many questions about raising her to be confident? Not sexualized? Not stereotyped because of her gender? To have a healthy body image? Can you help?

Y-E-S. Yes. That is what we are all about. There is no one way, no one answer to these questions, but I’ll certainly answer them to the best of my ability, and when I’m unsure about something, we’ll call in the experts with years under their belt helping families. I’ve built strong connections with the experts in the field, and we’ll call them in when needed. I’m a parent, just like you, and just like you I get frustrated. We’ve created an amazing community of parents who support and learn from each other every day.

I’m also fast and furiously writing a book to help answer all the questions and concerns you guys email me. We know what the problems facing girls are. Now we need to do something about it. We’ll get there together, and our girls will be better for it.

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Are your shirts made in the USA?

Nope. We offer tees from two different vendors with exceptional quality, sweatshop free manufacturing, and ethical marketing practices. Buying garments made outside of the USA gives those workers, mostly women, a safe place to earn a fair living doing a skilled trade and keeps them from having to resort to the sex trade/traffiking industry or manual labor. I chose ethics over geography.

 Whenever possible we try to use local/USA vendors for our other supplies and services. All of the silkscreening, imprinting, and pressing of our designs and logos is done in the United States.

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I have a great story I’d like to share, can I tell you about it? Can I make a suggestion for a design?

Yep. Have a story? Have strong feelings on the “so sexy so soon” tend? Let’s hear it! Email: info (at) pigtailpals (dot) com

Design idea? Great! I’ve got one rule: no design will show a kid holding weapons. I realize this excludes hunters and Vikings. I wish you all the best. Otherwise, use the email above!

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Sometimes you sound really sarcastic, do you mean to be?

I’m a momprenuer – that means I have a 5 year old and a 3 year old for co-workers. I do not have a nanny. I get very little sleep and I spend my day talking to parents about thongs and push-up bikini tops marketed to tweens and little girls singing lyrics about threesomes and pink purses with plastic lipstick and credit cards being sold to babies. I drink sarcasm for breakfast. It helps me stay sane. And, so darn sweet.

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