What's So Great about the Women's World Cup?

My inspiration for Dragonwing girlgear was sparked on the sidelines of North Carolina soccer fields, and I still watch hundreds of girls' soccer games each year. So you won't be surprised to hear that I LOVE the Women's World Cup. My reasons are personal -- the level of play is amazing and the stories of the players never fail to move me.
But the most powerful aspect of the Women's World Cup -- the part that brings a lump to my throat -- is the inspiration, hope, and role models that the players provide to millions of girls worldwide. Their commitment, perseverance, and love of the game says it all: "DREAM BIG. WORK HARD. COMPETE FIERCELY. PLAY JOYFULLY. YOU CAN DO IT!"
In addition to all the amazing soccer play (how about England's go-ahead goal versus Norway?!), there have been some perceptive and thought-provoking stories about the significance and value of the Women's World Cup. Here are a few that I've particularly enjoyed: "Why the Women's World Cup Needs You to Watch," by Peter Macia in Vogue magazine The numbers of viewers, on TV and online, are vitally important, Macia argues, to sponsors, to players, to women's sports in general, and to girls watching and playing around the world. (There's that inspiration again!) Watching the Women's Cup demonstrates that women's soccer and women's sports have value, writes Peter Macia in Vogue. "What Women's Sports Can Learn from the Colombian Women's Team," by Kate Fagan on ESPNW Given the audiences in stadiums and watching the games on screens of all kinds, there are signs of legitimacy for international women's soccer, writes Fagan. But "the final mile marker will be when everyday fans…feel comfortable offering criticism, second-guessing the coach and the choices, and putting the play itself under a microscope…. These are the conversations that fuel men's sports.
Imagine being knowledgeable enough about women's sports and knowing enough about a women's team to think you know better than the coach or a player in the game's closing minutes. Imagine knowing who else could have been the coach and which players the team might have signed. Then imagine being confident enough to actually admit you're into women's sports."
Lady Andrade, Colombia's goal "8 Reasons We Love the Women's World Cup," by SoccerGrlProbs for ESPNW World-class talent, worldwide impact, super fans and more. fifawwc

My Mother Never Ceases to Amaze Me

Let me begin by saying my mother is the coolest woman I know. She is a loyal friend, dedicated teacher, and incredible parent. One of the greatest loves of her life is running, but she wasn’t always the talented distance athlete she is now. Growing up, she was an actress, French enthusiast, and a cheerleader. When my sister and I were young, she ventured to try a running group and quickly began checking off races of shorter distances. One day, she asked to join her friends on a long run, and her dreams took off from there. She’s finished 26.2 miles through the vibrant city of Richmond, along the beaches of Wilmington, and even across the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City. This year, she completed her third Boston Marathon with courage and grace -- not to mention speed! She's wearing a hat in the photo, but underneath she was wearing a Dragonwing Racer sports bra! Celia's Mom and friend after finishing Boston Marathon 2015 I am so thankful my mom found an outlet for her powerful energy. I am also grateful she found a close circle of friends through her sport. With them, she’s completed 200-mile team relay events: the Blue Ridge Relay and Hood to Coast. Blue Ridge 200 mile relay team These women are all fantastic examples of strength, resilience, and bravery, and they support each other in running and in everything else. Celia_RunBuddies Next, my mama will lace up for the Berlin Marathon. The woman never ceases to amaze me. Celia give Mom a post-marathon hug

Body Shaming Female Athletes Makes My Blood Boil

It's been an amazing few weeks for women's sports - from the Women's World Cup to Wimbledon. I've found myself in awe of the athleticism, teary-eyed with exhilaration and pride, and delighted with so much of the media coverage. Serena Williams, Wimbledon champion - photo by  Stefan Wermuth, Reuters But an article on the day of the Wimbledon women's finals got my blood boiling. Dan Rothenbeg, a writer for The New York Times, wrote about how top women's tennis players "balance body image with ambition." Here's my letter to the editor:
To the Editor of The New York Times: In focusing on body size and muscularity of the women playing at Wimbledon, Dan Rotherberg perpetuates the standard that female athletes need not only excel at their sport but also meet a societal standard for beauty while doing so. (“Tennis’s Top Women Balance Body Image with Ambition,” July 10) Would the Times run a story about NFL linebackers balancing their body image with their athletic ambitions? By running the article, the Times gives credence to a double standard, one that female athletes of all ages battle regularly. Simply because some women athletes or coaches make training decisions based on body size does not make it newsworthy. The US Women’s National Team’s World Cup victory inspired millions of girls worldwide. Like the women playing at Wimbledon, these athletes are role models for young girls. We owe it to young fans of every sport to highlight the discipline, commitment, hard work, and athleticism of female athletes and not the size of their forearms or thighs.
Regardless of whether my letter is published, I will continue to speak up for women and girl athletes, for their right to be taken seriously and to play fiercely. The focus on body image -- some call it "body shaming" -- is an unfair and unwanted burden on women and girls. To female athletes of all ages: When a reporter (from your school paper to the New York Times) asks a question about your appearance, change the conversation. Turn the questions around to what is important -- the high level of your play, the discipline and hard work you devote to your game, and the recognition you and your team have earned. Don't be limited by reporters who are perpetuating a limiting and oppressive paradigm for women. Join us and millions of others in a movement to empower girls and women by what they have accomplished and what they can achieve, not by how they look.
To sports girls everywhere: Be strong. Develop your body and mind to play your game to the best of your ability. Strive to be your best self. Have fun and be proud to PLAY LIKE A GIRL!

School or Team Logo? We've Got That!

Looking for girls' athletic apparel or spirit wear customized with your school or team logo? Dragonwing can help! For the Sacred Heart Middle School in Atherton, CA, we recently embroidered the school logo on an order of our Chill Weight Capri Leggings. Customized with the Gators' three-color logo, the leggings are sold on the school's athletics site by its Booster Club. custom embroidered school logo on Dragonwing girlgear capri length sports leggings tights for girls SHS student Alexa loves the leggings.
"Since the leggings have our school logo on them, they're good to wear for school events, such as pep rallies or football games. They're a perfect mix between comfort, style, and school spirit."
Alexa says her "favorite thing about these leggings is their comfort. They are so easy to move around in or even just for lounging around in. I wear my Dragonwing leggings from yoga and sports practices to just everyday wear." To learn more about our customization options for girls athletic wear, leave us a comment or send us an email.

Introducing Julia, Dragonwing Ambassador

Hi, Dragonwing girls! I'm a new ambassador, and I'd love to tell you a little bit about myself. My name is Julia, and I just graduated from eighth grade, which means I'm saying goodbye to middle school and starting high school in September. I love school because I get to see my friends, but I also enjoy studying sometimes, especially when it's math and science. Julia: lunge in fencing tournament My main passion is fencing. Fencing training and competing has taken up most of my time for the past five years, but I love to do it. I get to travel lots and meet competitors from all over the country, and now I always see familiar faces at tournaments. I have made amazing friends through the sport that I know I will keep with me for many years to come. During summer and winter breaks, I participate in sleepaway and day camps to train with new coaches and unfamiliar fencers. JuliaT_fencing_stance When I'm not fencing, I love to spend time with my friends and family. My friends and I walk practically everywhere, whether we are going to lunch or just to each other's houses. (I like to think that it keeps us active.) I also like to spend time with my family. One of our greatest passions is food. We are constantly trying new foods and restaurants. As my 16 year old brother just recently earned his learner's permit for driving, he sometimes drives us to these restaurants (making me constantly fear for my life). I hope this has helped you get a little sneak peek into the life of Julia. I can't wait to share more about myself, as well as get to know all of you more! Feel free to share this post and/or leave comments. Please subscribe to Sideline Chatter with your email so you don't miss any updates or new posts -- from me or our other Ambassadors.

Stock up on Summer Camp Essentials

Summer Camp Essentials to Pack for Active Girl Is your sports girl heading off to camp this summer? Dragonwing makes packing for summer camp easy! Stock up on essential base layers that will keep her comfortable, cool, and confident all summer long. • four-way stretch, moisture-wicking fabric for a cool, perfect fit • anti-microbial & odor resistant even in hot, humid weather • tag-free design and flat seams for chafe-free comfort • smooth, light support shorts & leggings with a wedgie-free fit • fun, stylish, age-appropriate designs for girls, ages 8-17 Whether she's at day camp, a week-long sports camp, or overnight camp for a month (or more!), Dragonwing will provide comfort, coverage (especially helpful for changing in cabins or locker room), and style. Some of our favorites with tweens and teens: HALF-TEE SPORTS TOP: ideal for girls who comfort and coverage, the Half-Tee great under tees, tank tops, and jerseys every day. Half Tee Sports Top for girls great first bra RACER SPORTS BRA: our best-selling girls' sports bra, the Racer's super fine yarn and double-layered coverage ensures support, comfort, and coverage. Racer sports bra for teen, tween girl UN-DEE LIGHT COMPRESSION SPANDEX SHORTS: super comfortable with a wedgie-free fit, the Un-Dee comes in three styles: low-rise, mini (3" inseam), and regular (5.5" inseam). Lots of great colors, too! Un-Dee compression Spandex shorts for girls in 3 styles

Introducing Madi, Dragonwing Ambassador

Hi Dragonwing girls! I'm Madi, a new Dragonwing girlgear ambassador. Let me tell you about myself! Dragonwing girlgear ambassador Madi First off all, I'm currently in the 7th grade and am heading into 8th. One of my favorite subjects is social studies. I feel this is an odd subject to like because most people say it's boring, but it's just so interesting to me. While school is important, many other things are important to me, such as rock climbing. Rock climbing is my passion and I know I will never give it up. Rock climbing is my passion Another thing I do is snowboard and ski in the winter time. I've tried both and like them just the same. A funny story with skiing is the first time I tried (3 months ago), I cried the whole way down the bunny hill! But after that I became better than my mom. Since my family and I live in Colorado, winter is pretty intense for us and most everybody. That means skiing and snowboarding is what my weekend consists of for about 4 months. When summer rolls around, when my dog Roosevelt and I run around the neighborhood like crazy. Roosevelt is a Black Lab and about 6 years old. He is literally the best dog in the world to me. My family and I love to go camping, but sadly our dog is a little too wild to come with us. But it's still super fun. In the summer, I also ride my horse Sugar, who's 10 years old. In the future, I hope we get to know each other more, but this is just a snippet of my life as an introduction. If you have any questions or ideas, leave a comment. And if you don't want to miss any future Sideline Chatter updates, subscribe by entering your email on the right.

Meet Celia, Dragonwing intern extraordinaire

Dragonwing Ladies, I'm Celia and am happily running the Dragonwing Instagram account, hosting some Trunk Shows, and working with the other ambassadors to this fantastic, girl-centered company this summer. Meet Celia, Dragonwing summer intern A little bit about myself: I’m excited to begin a new adventure as a Cameron Crazie at Duke University this fall. Right now, I live in North Carolina with my wonderfully complex family, which includes my mom, sister, grandparents (Nanny and Fody), and two doggies. Though I was always picked last in gym class and have never played any sports, I do love to move. I practice modern dance (as well as silly dancing in my room) and Ashtanga yoga, and I find joy in doing all things outdoors from hammocking to swimming and hiking. Celia performing modern dance Two of my favorite things in the world are live music and great views. Some of my favorite spots in NC are the peak of Hanging Rock, Eno River, and Jordan Lake, especially at sunset. Celia in hammock suspended between trees In my free time, I write for my own blog, eat at least one avocado per day, take board and card games with my family way too seriously, and read anything I can get my hands on. My favorite book right now is Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan. I follow several newspapers and creative projects, particularly Humans of New York by photojournalist Brandon Stanton, with devotion. I’m an Orange is the New Black, Modern Family, and everything-by-Shonda-Rhimes addict, a lover of baby animal videos, and the #1 fan girl of my friends at their sporting events and musicals. Finally, I’m proud of my roles as a camp counselor, dance teacher, nanny, and pal to the awesome kids I’m lucky to hang out with all the time. Up next from me is a post about running for non-runners, as I (sort of) prepare to run (or jog or walk) the Komen NC Triangle Race for the Cure 5K this Saturday (6/13). Follow @dragonwinggirl and tag us in your beautiful photographs, because I will be delighted to share them. Warmly, Celia

We Love Girls on the Run!

One of the great joys of growing Dragonwing girlgear is the opportunity to connect with other girl-focused business and organizations. Girls on the Run, a fabulous organization that shares our mission of empowering girls through sports and an active lifestyle, is a perfect example. GOTR's mission is to "inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running." Girls on the Run: empower girls through sports We're proud sponsors of GOTR of the Triangle's 5K Race next weekend, just down the road in Durham, NC. We're looking forward to meeting lots of active girls, their volunteer coaches, and family members at the post-race Family Festival. When girls and parents visit our booths at tournaments and races, we learn firsthand about their needs and wishes for athletic undergarments and sports wear -- features that we put into every item we sell: - fabrics that are truly wicking and designed for the sports girls play; - comfort, fit, and styles made just for tween and teen girls; - bras that fit snugly and don't bind or ride up; - wedgie-free compression shorts that are perfect under uniforms. If you're at the GOTR 5K race on Saturday, April 11, please stop by our booth -- right next to the flag pole -- and say hello! Visit Dragonwing girlgear at GOTR 5K run in Durham

Donate a Sports Bra to Goals for Girls

In response to our campaign to raise $25,000 for breast cancer research, members of the Dragonwing community asked if they could donate one of our Limited Edition pink/white Racer Sports Bras to a girl in need. We're delighted to announce that we've partnered with U.S. soccer great Cindy Parlow Cone and her nonprofit, Goals for Girls, an international initiative of girls helping girls through soccer, to fulfill this vital need. Sports bras are the most-requested item by the girls she works with worldwide. Cindy is planning a trip to India soon, and thanks to the generosity of the Dragonwing family, she'll be taking Racer Seamless Sports Bras to girls there. It's not too late to donate! Simply CLICK HERE to purchase a special edition Racer Sports Bra, select a size, and select "Yes" in the Donation field. It's a win-win! Your purchase brings us $10 closer to our goal of $25,000 for breast cancer research AND helps a girl in need. Since 2007, Goals for Girls has helped disadvantaged girls across the globe by providing access to health and education programs taught through the game of soccer. It gives girls an opportunity to break down cultural and socio-economic barriers to create change through addressing common challenges.

This Dragonwing girl is a Winner!

We asked our Instagram followers to post and tag us (@dragonwinggirl) in their throwback sports photos. We reposted every one and followers voted with their "likes." Our winner is Dorrit E., a terrific all-around athlete who specializes in soccer, rock-climbing, and pretty much every other activity you can imagine! Her photo received more than 200 votes! Dorrit has won a Racer Seamless Sports Bra, designed just for girls. Made in the USA of high performance yarn for super softness, this tween sports bra is anti-microbial and moisture-wicking. Seamless and tag-free to eliminate chafing, the Racer has a wide bottom band that doesn't ride up so girls can run, move, and climb with confidence. Don't miss our next contest! Follow us @dragonwinggirl now.

Dragonwing® girlgear Selected for Startup Mentoring Program

We're proud and excited to announce that Soar Triangle, a Google for Entrepreneurs-backed initiative to prepare female entrepreneurs in the Triangle region for success, has selected Dragonwing girlgear and MaryAnne Gucciardi, founder and CEO, for its active mentoring program.

Soar supports promising female entrepreneurs, providing the resources needed to reach their next milestone and secure investment funding. Launched early in 2014, Soar was awarded funds and program support from Google for Entrepreneur as a part of the #40Forward challenge to increase participation in startups by women by 25% this year.

Dragonwing girlgear, a manufacturer of sports undergarments and base-layer designed for pre-teen and teen girls, was one of four promising women-owned businesses selected for active mentoring via Soar’s highly competitive process.

Dragonwing makes high performance, superior fitting, age and sport-specific sports undergarments for girls ages 8-17. Our mission is to give girls an advantage on and off the playing field (or court or track) by providing clothing -- sports bras, compression shorts, sports camis, and base layers -- that gives them the freedom to move and play with confidence. Instead of worrying about their changing bodies or being distracted by poorly fitting clothes, they can enjoy playing and competing. Dragonwing girlgear is a member of the Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network and was a finalist in the 2013 Urban Rebound Raleigh Durham small business pitch competition for women.