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02:04
"Black history is absolutely black history, but I think black history is everyone's history," says Dionna Dorsey Calloway, founder of District of Clothing.
Calloway started the online apparel business in 2014, inspired by her love for the District of Columbia.
"Our role and goal is to encourage people to learn, encourage people to act, encourage people to go from dreaming to doing, encourage people to go from sidelining you, to actually being a part of the action and really to encourage self-love," Calloway said.
"And specifically here in Washington, D.C., we are very big supporters of statehood... and we just want to spread goodness in our own way."
District of Clothing played a prominent role in 2020's demonstrations against police brutality and racial injustice.
"It wasn't like something awful happened in 2020, and then we came out with a T-shirt to be a part of the movement. We've been selling 'Trust Black Women' items for a very long time," Calloway said.
"I don't call it a movement. It is a way of life. It is truth. It is justice. It is progression. It sounds like it just happened for a brief time. Like, no, this is a way of life. This is a lifestyle."
The demonstrations and activism last year drove up some of her sales, which like many businesses, had struggled during the coronavirus pandemic.
"It really meant just the absolute world to see people protesting and marching, wearing our apparel as well. Very special to see Mayor Bowzer last year wearing our 51 hat, which of course supports statehood for Washington, D.C., knowing that we receive less resources than we... would if we were if Washington, D.C. were a state."
District of Clothing has also collaborated with Planned Parenthood and the Washington Area Women's Foundation.
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