I Told You I’d Build a Village - And I Bloody Well Am

Well, well, well… would you look at that?
Dope Soul Village isn’t just surviving -  we’re thriving, shipping orders on time, actually ticking things off the to-do list, and (brace yourselves)… I’ve got a real team now. A good one. One that actually gets shit done. Miracles do happen.

Gone are the days of late-night meltdowns over bamboo fabric delays and chasing down suppliers who ghost you like a bad Tinder date. We’ve shut down pre-orders on the Sensory Smart® PJs (halle-f*cking-lujah) and it’s been the best thing I’ve done for my mental health. Honestly. No more juggling stock estimates with kids clinging to my leg -  just good old-fashioned ready-to-ship orders, and they’re flying out the door.

If you’re new here - first of all, welcome to the village. We’re small, loud, feminist as hell, and powered by caffeine and trauma.
Oh, and we make:

• 🔥 Badass feminist clothing (t-shirts, hoodies, sweaters - all ethically made and full of sarcasm)

• 🧠 Sensory Smart® PJs for kids who hate seams, zips, or wearing anything that feels like a school uniform in disguise

• 🖤 Merch with meaning - and profits go straight to Finally Free CIC

Speaking of Finally Free…

In case you missed the memo -  Finally Free CIC is the CIC, I co-founded to build no-time-limit domestic abuse shelters for women, children (yes, even teenage boys), and their pets. Because guess what? Telling a traumatised woman she’s got “12 weeks and then out you go” isn’t support. It’s a countdown.

And now, thanks to finally having the right people around me - shout out to Rachel, Faith, Jordan, and the rest of the dream team -  we’re making serious progress. The fundraising is picking up, the biker community is showing up in full force, and Ride for Sarah (our national UK-wide biker fundraiser happening 20th September) is getting BIG. Like, really big.

Fundraising, Feminism & F*ckery

So yeah, it’s summer, and while the rest of Instagram is sipping spritzers in Spain, I’m here in London working my a** off to get these shelters off the ground. Between packaging up orders, organising biker routes, pestering people to share the GoFundMe, and dodging yet another storm -  I’m not just building a business.

I’m building a village.

A real one. For women like me, for kids like mine, and for anyone who’s ever been told to “just move on” after surviving the unthinkable.

Oh, and to the haters?

Still watching?
Still hoping I’d crash and burn?
Still reading every blog post like it’s your job?

Bet this one stings.
Go ahead and grab some aloe vera, babe. You’ll need it.

Here’s How You Can Help:

• Shop the feminist drop: DopeSoulVillage.com

• Support the mission: Profits go to Finally Free CIC

• Join the ride: 20th Sept - Ride for Sarah is happening all over the UK. Get your helmet on.

• Donate to the cause: GoFundMe 

• Tag us, share us, scream about us: Every share counts. Literally.

We’re not just talking about change. We are the change.
And I’m just getting started.

Love and caffeine,
Sam x