Rise Up, Spread Light, Share Love

Levana Bratique supports every woman. My business was founded on the idea that all women need well-fitting, supportive bras, and it's been my pleasure to serve all sorts of women for the past decade. My customers come from all religious and ethnic backgrounds. I am proud to fit women of all colors, all sexual orientations, and even all political leanings.

I was personally devastated by the results of our presidential election, not because of the political party that won but because a campaign based on hatred, division, and bully talk was allowed to gain traction. An openly racist, sexist candidate has become our president-elect, and hateful people have now been inspired to act out. There have been a rash of hate crimes both locally and nationally. In my own city, a swastika was carved in the mulch at an elementary school, an Indian man thought to be Muslim was assaulted in a bar, and Black Lives Matter signs are defaced on church property.

I don't want to sit back in fear while this is happening--I want to fight homophobia, racism, and sexism. I want to be part of the solution. I want to bear light and share love! For me, that begins with my employees. 

Everyone who works for me is a mother. As a working mom, I know the struggle of fighting for fair pay and a voice in this economy. As a small business owner in these fragile economic times, I've been afraid of offering a living wage. I was worried that doing so would make it difficult for me to actually see a profit from my business. Despite this fear, the first thing I did on November 9 was to give each of my employees a raise. 

This isn't about my profit margin. It's about doing the right thing and showing my employees that I value them as friends, as human beings, as women. 

It felt so empowering to do the right thing!

When you come in to my shop for a fitting or order from my online store, know that everyone from the person answering the phone to the person packaging your order for shipping is being paid a living wage.

I'm also helping to spread love by working with the Foster Love Project to collect placement bags for local children entering into the foster system. I have a long history of supporting nonprofit organization whose causes help women and children. There is also a classroom in my boutique where I give groups the opportunity to gather and share information, from women supporting new mothers to women advocating for healthy birth options to women selling clothing for other women to wear atop their supportive bras!

In my store, I believe in helping others to succeed. The need for a good bra is something each woman has in common, no matter what her background. My business reflects my commitment to helping all women, whether that means carrying products from women-owned businesses, sourcing bras at every price point, or carrying products that fit women with Q-cup breasts.

I'm taking a stand to rise against hate. Come join me!