The idea to put our favorite statement PUSSY IS A FEELING on a T-shirt was born just before the pandemic in February 2020. Me (Monika) and Viktor (my Vogue brother) agreed that it is such a strong statement for us that we have to put it on clothes and show it to everyone. I took the initiative and ordered 50 pieces of organic cotton T-shirts branded with the Pussy Is A Feeling sign. I assumed that my friends who are interested in Voguing and Ballroom culture will buy the first half. The rest was meant to be sold at our fifth Voguing ball in Bratislava, Ball of Shame.
As you already know, the pandemic changed all my plans. But you did as well! How? Something unexpected happened. The day I got my T-shirts, I was shooting a video, and I just put one on. I took a picture behind the scenes, wearing Pussy Is A Feeling T-shirt, and that’s how it got to the internet for the first time. Well, to be honest, it was just my Instagram story.
Sold out!
Five people immediately texted me, wanting to know where I got this great T-shirt from. At first, I didn’t want to tell them, but then I revealed that it is my new merch and they can buy it. And that it will be available at Ball of Shame as well. What I didn't expect was an inbox full of T-shirt orders. I sold them all in 24 hours. I was stressed out about what to do next because the ball was around the corner, and I didn't have a single T-shirt. So I made another order that day. Double the amount, to be sure I have them at the ball. At that time, I still naively thought that we would be able to organize it...
The T-shirts were back in stock in 2-3 weeks, and I sold them all in one week. My stress level was at its highest. I already knew that the ball would not be happening in April, but we rescheduled everything for May. And again, I was out of T-shirts! And so I made a third order. Long story short, we couldn't organize anything in May, nor in September. Despite that, I made two more reprints of the T-shirts and sold them all via Instagram.
From T-shirts to a movement
In autumn, people asked me if I would make hoodies. I didn't plan on it, but I told myself, why not! For three weeks, I was trying to find the best material for the hoodies. I am hard to please when it comes to clothes. My standards are high, and I told myself that the hoodie must be comfortable, made of cotton, with a wide range of sizes and colors, not too thin or too thick. I wanted to dance, train or play sports in it, then go on a trip or to the city with friends. In the end, I managed to decide, and I found my winner.
What I didn't expect again were the reactions I got from you. You bought one hoodie and later ordered another one for your friends or for yourself in another color. You wrote to me that you love it and feel confident in it. And so the PUSSY IS A FEELING movement was born. It's a statement that means something a little different to everyone. And that's exactly what I like most about it. We are all individual identities, and we all perceive the world through our own eyes.
What it means to feel "pussy"?
I know the Pussy Is A Feeling statement from the Ballroom culture. It means "you don't need to have pussy to feel pussy". Pussy is the highest form of praise at a vogueing ball. It means you felt yourself, and we could see it and feel it, too. I like to say we saw your feelings. And that's exactly what it is. We can call it self-confidence, fearlessness, femininity, openness, playfulness, tenderness, cuntyness. Whatever it is for you! It’s something different for everyone at that moment.
And this is the feeling I want to bring to people who don't dance Vogue. To make them feel exactly like this. The 400 owners of Pussy Is A Feeling clothing proved to me that it is possible.
By wearing Pussy Is A Feeling product, you become part of a community that loves diversity, respects individuals and does not judge people by their appearance.
Your beautiful stories
I asked a few of you who already have one T-shirt or hoodie to write to me about what Pussy Is A Feeling means to you. How you like it, what do your friends say when they see you, etc. Read the stories of others, get inspired, and I will be happy if you tell me your stories as well!
“I feel empowered. One definitely needs courage to wear PUSSY IS A FEELING anywhere in the world, and even more in places where people speak English. It was super fun to go to the ATM and have everyone around me stopping to have a look. Love it!”
@veronnnie, a Slovak living in the U.S.
“It is a statement for me. I come from a family, which expects me to find a husband, have kids and be a stay-at-home mom. I haven't found the courage to wear it when I'm with the family yet, but I plan to use it to come out when the time is right. I think that this piece can help me start the conversation when they ask me: "Why the hell do you have that written on your T-shirt?" And there we go…
It might be foolish to have a piece of clothing that is so important to me, but it represents so much more than just clothes. I wear it proudly, and whenever I wear it, I don't only explain what PUSSY IS A FEELING means, but also who I am.”
Karolína, Czech Republic
“I wear it when I dance, when I teach, and even when I go out - with a skirt or with jeans. Wherever, whenever. I wear it with pride, and I am excited to be a part of the movement.”
“Whenever I feel like I don't have anything to wear, I choose PUSSY IS A FEELING!”
Sima S., Slovakia
“It means confidence to me. Moreover, whenever I see someone wearing the T-shirt, I know that they are a good person! PUSSY to me is power, determination, fearlessness, even immortality.
“I was wearing the PUSSY IS A FEELING hoodie when having a coffee in Brno, and a woman in the queue immediately recognized it and started chatting with me. So cool!”
“I'll give the T-shirt to my boyfriend as a gift for his work on his self-discovery, self-exploration and self-acceptance. PUSSY IS A FEELING will be an award!”
Luki, Czech Republic
“People are always surprised that I'm wearing such a T-shirt or a hoodie, and they are curious what the hell it means. They are then in for a half-hour long lecture about Ballroom.”
“I always wear the PUSSY T-shirt when I go out for a date. I want to feel sexy, but whenever I wear something fitted with a cleavage, nobody looks me in the eyes. It helps me bring their attention to what I'm actually talking about!”
“Whenever I wear the hoodie, I feel right at home - not because of the material or the cut, but because of PUSSY IS A FEELING. I can't even list all of the inner meanings that this has for me, that I discovered for myself. It also connects me to Vogue, which I value and respect. It describes me, and I found myself in it. I'm so thankful!”
“When I wear PUSSY IS A FEELING, I feel like any odd day becomes a party.”
“I wear the T-shirt with pride! Whenever I see someone in a PUSSY IS A FEELING T-shirt or hoodie, I automatically assume that we will get along. They can't be a bad person!”
“I love the material of the hoodie and love to wear it basically wherever I go. Unfortunately, I encountered some misunderstandings when wearing the PUSSY IS A FEELING hoodie, mainly with older people - though when my friends saw it, they laughed and liked the idea.”
“I wore the PUSSY IS A FEELING T-shirt to a Christmas party with my friends' group. Four of us have one now.”
“Self-confidence.”
“PUSSY IS A FEELING expresses my understanding of sensuality and sexuality in all aspects of my life, without fear or shame.”
“It means the courage for everyone to be unapologetically themselves, with all their feelings, and understanding that each and every one of us is unique. Societal norms and generalizations are just abstract terms for me. PUSSY IS A FEELING means that there are no norms, just YOU!”
“It means to feel fabulous, hot, sexy. It boosts my self-confidence, self-love and the will to be unapologetically myself. PUSSY means the feeling when I step on the stage, I look divine, and everyone applauds me.”
“Me and my significant other feel that PUSSY IS A FEELING helps everyone to be whoever they want to be, to never be ashamed of themselves, and to support everyone around them to be like that as well. It also shows people around us not to be afraid to be themselves when they’re with us.”
“Femininity and masculinity are about the inner feeling, not about what we show to the outside world. Sometimes, I feel more feminine, sometimes more masculine. Each one of us has both of these sides inside them, and we shouldn't be afraid and suppress one or the other.”
“It means to allow myself to be a woman in all of her glory - gentle and yet strong, loving, but fearless, naive, but not stupid. Simply put, it means to be in harmony with yourself. If PUSSY IS A FEELING is worn by a man, I consider it to be an act of support for women and feminism.”
“When I wear PUSSY IS A FEELING, I feel like I can do anything. That I am absolutely honest, and I can act like that in any situation - whatever my pussy feels like! Doesn't matter if it's a superwoman, a sexy Amazonian, or a crying mess.”
And what is YOUR story?
Send me your stories, too! Have you met anyone in Pussy Is A Feeling T-shirt, sweatshirt or hoodie? How did you react to each other? Write to me on Instagram @monnush or directly on @identitiesbrand. If you have a longer story, send it to me at monika@identitiesbrand.com.
I look forward to meeting you on the streets! :)
- Monika
