INDYA Hayes has turned to embroidery to show her support for the Black Lives Matter movement.<\/p>\n
As an Aboriginal, African American and Native American identifying woman, global racial injustice is a cause close to her heart.<\/p>\n
Ms Hayes decorates and sells crewneck jumpers, T-shirts and bags with slogans synonymous with the movement.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter watching the news about all the riots happening in America, I just got really upset and decided to go and buy some jumpers to embroider,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first few that I did said things like Black Lives Matter, and I Can\u2019t Breathe, which were George Floyd\u2019s last words.\u201d<\/p>\n
Once she received an overwhelmingly positive response, Ms Hayes thought to turn her designs into a small business.<\/p>\n
After creating a dedicated Instagram page for her products, calling it the minority co, she was quickly inundated with orders.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt blew up so, so fast and once I made the Instagram and Bridget Hustwaite shared it on her story, a heap of new people noticed me,\u201d Ms Hayes said.<\/p>\n
To keep up with demand she enlisted her little brother to help her wrap and pack orders and sought out some professional advice.<\/p>\n
With assistance from local business coach Celia Gercovich, Ms Hayes said the business has its own website in the works.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s 100 sweatshirts sitting there waiting to go for sale when my website goes up in a couple of weeks,\u201d Ms Hayes said.<\/p>\n
Although wearing one of her sweatshirts is one way to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement, Ms Hayes said education is the most important thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is important is to have our backs behind the scenes which means when you hear someone say something racist or prejudiced you should speak up about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s a huge thing, people should pull up their friends when they are saying rude and racist things,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
INDYA Hayes has turned to embroidery to show her support for the Black Lives Matter movement. As an Aboriginal, African American and Native American identifying woman, global racial injustice is a cause close to her heart. Ms Hayes decorates and sells crewneck jumpers, T-shirts and bags with slogans synonymous with the movement. \u201cAfter watching the […]<\/p>\n