Boy Meets Girl and Strawberry Shortcake Partner on Unisex Back-to-school Collection

BOY MEETS GIRL® x Strawberry Shortcake Unveil a Limited-Edition Eco-Adaptive Varsity Vest as part of their Back-to-School collection

Exclusive 09.13.24 to WWD

This back-to-school season, BOY MEETS GIRL® is celebrating Strawberry Shortcake's 45th anniversary with an exciting and meaningful collaboration. BOY MEETS GIRL® x Strawberry Shortcake is releasing (on 09/13/24) a 13-piece back-to-school collection that features a mash-up of both brands’ logos within BOY MEETS GIRL®'s signature unisex styles, including hoodies, crew sweatshirts, tees, totes, and notebooks. For the first time, BOY MEETS GIRL® and Strawberry Shortcake are introducing a limited-edition eco-adaptive upcycled denim vest with magnetic faux leather sleeves, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity and sustainable fashion. 

“Over the past twenty + years, BOY MEETS GIRL® has been a brand that shares stories and brings people together while giving back to communities,” said Stacy Igel, Founder of BOY MEETS GIRL®. “We have always said ‘confidence and courage never go out of style’. Introducing an adaptive piece of clothing to our collection was important to carry our message even further to those with a disability.”

Owned by WildBrain, a global leader in kids’ and family entertainment, Strawberry Shortcake is one of the world’s most-adored brands. Since her creation in 1973, with the release of a simple Valentine’s Day greeting card, Strawberry Shortcake has grown and evolved with new content, toys, consumer products, and experiences for generations of fans. 

Elizabeth Litten Miller, VP of Franchise strategy at WildBrain, added: “We love collaborating with BOY MEETS GIRL® as they bring their amazing point of view to Strawberry Shortcake, capturing her sweetness, nostalgia, and kindness. Their new adaptive, upcycle denim vest, reflects our joint values of inclusivity and creativity as well as our Strawberry anthem of ‘baking the world a better place’.”

This past year, BOY MEETS GIRL® Founder Stacy Igel was a guest instructor at Columbia College in Chicago, where she once took design classes as a high school student. As part of this class, students were divided into groups and presented new concepts to Stacy, one of which included adaptive clothing. Designed to address mobility issues, sensory impairments, and disabilities, adaptive clothing is more comfortable and accessible for people who may face challenges with traditional clothing.

In true BOY MEETS GIRL® fashion of bringing people together, Stacy was so impressed with what she saw in her class at Columbia College in Chicago that she asked some recently graduated students to join her in a newly created collective, appropriately named the BOY MEETS GIRL® x Strawberry Shortcake Chicago Collective. Together, they worked to develop a limited-edition adaptive upcycled denim vest with magnetic faux leather sleeves. Stacy guided her Chicago-based team on how to source ethical production houses, what to look for in upcycled denim, and how to cast an adaptive model.

“It’s incredibly special to bring this project full circle and involve the next generation of designers from my hometown,” Igel said. “Adding Jessica Ping, a disability model we cast in our campaign, was very important so we could understand all the elements needed to empower someone with a disability. We had fittings and talked through the product together. Jessica epitomizes a confident young woman and is a perfect fit for our BMG x SSC collaboration.”

50% of the net proceeds will be donated to The National School Climate Center's Community Champions program.

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GET YOUR OWN COPY OF EMBRACING THE CALM IN THE CHAOS:

DECEMBER 12th, 2022 To read more, head to the WWD article here - by Lisa Lockwood.

Tell us a little about yourself. 

Prior to my diagnosis I was a thriving mother-2 sons, self proclaimed  athlete, wife, professional model, philanthropist, addicted to societies  accolades, insecure, zero self esteem and totally dependent on my  external beauty. 

The year before my diagnosis, I had a torn ligament in my right wrist. I  went to several doctors who all said I had to have surgery. I picked  the surgeon with the pedigree, Stanford grad. He performed the  surgery. My biggest complaint during that time was when would I get  back to yoga, by Christmas he proclaimed. 

6 weeks later the pretty pink cast came off, his physical therapist  showed me a free exercises to start with to get movement back and I  was on my way,  

2 days later my arm ballooned with swelling and grotesque pain. I  literally could not move in bed, I laid my heavy right arm on my chest  like a mother holding an infant and shook in pain. After several hours  of icing it I called my surgeon. It was a Sunday, and I was worried that  I was disturbing him on his day off-(self-esteem issue). 

The surgeon told my I over-iced it. I believed him. One week past and  my arm was still on my chest, I was still in bed, and the swelling was  ginormous.  

I asked my husband to call the surgeon and take me to his office.  Once in the surgeons office, I could hear him but he did not see me,  his physical therapist told me I had over used it. She splinted it and  sent me home.  

One week later I called the surgeon again, my husband drove me, I  carried my arm on my chest and I was seen by the surgeon. He told  me I had this thing called RSD, it was a bummer but not to panic, I  would see his pain management doctor and we would go from there. 

He explained RSD was a misfire in your brain-basically my brain was  saying to my right arm-PAIN-SWELLING, when in fact it was fine.  

So I went to his pain management doctor, she loaded me up with  pain meds and they sent me to a physical therapist far away from  their offices.  

A month went by, and still extreme pain, I ditched the narcotics but  went to PT daily to get as much movement back in my right wrist as  possible. Christmas had come and gone and still no yoga. 

A month goes by and wrist is getting worse, I see the surgeon on  occasion and the real bullying begins. 

Long story much shorter, I finally get up enough courage, 6 months  into this arm debacle and see a second opinion (self-esteem issue). 

The new doctor took one Xray and every bone in my wrist was  broken, I had no cartilage left and within hours I was in emergency  surgery to dig out as much infection as possible. You see, the entire  time, dated back to the original day of surgery, I had an infection  brewing. It's as showing its nasty face by the pain, swelling and loss  of movement, but the doctor was ignoring all the signs. 

Ultimately, I went to NYC to HSS hospital where they excavated my  own broken wrist, replaced it with cadaver bones, cadaver bone  grafts and a cadaver Achilles tendon. My arm was now permanently  fused-handicapped and in full pain. 

6 weeks post arm fusion, I was back in NYC in a hotel with a heavy  cast on from my finger tips to my shoulder attempting to take a  shower. My heavy cast hanging out of the shower, I took the bar of  soap and brushed it over my left breast to wash it and immediately  felt a lump. 6 days later, still trying to imagine life with a fused arm,  how would I cook? Drive? Type? Take care of my kids, myself, my  husband, my modeling career? I was diagnosed with an aggressive  form of breast cancer. 41 years young, no family history of BC and  now a sickly woman needing constant care and attention.

Upon diagnosis, what was your first thought?  

I couldn’t wait to die. After the previous year of being in grotesque physical pain, to being stripped away of so much of what I loved with a freshly fused arm, to losing all that time with my children, to facing a  new trauma, and the realization that my self-esteem was so  damaged, to facing the realization that I allowed that vicious doctor to bully me for months. All cascaded in my mind, I was desperate to die, to quit, to move on to a more peaceful place and to free up the  burden of my life on the ones who loved me. Fortunately, that sentiment only lastly the firs month. That is when I began to fight for my life, my self-esteem and my worth. 

What is something that gets you through the hardest days?  

Many things. Fortunately I rebuilt my self-esteem. I replaced people  who put me down with people who wanted to cheer me on, I shut  down the negative mental thoughts that previously consumed me,  (your are not worthy, you are not beautiful, you are not capable-you  are only……). Those limited beliefs no longer paralyzed me. I also  rebuilt my life on things that could not be taken away, I knew my  beauty could be taken, my material items, the very bags I used o  covet couldn’t save me or comfort me during chemotherapy. I shred  the false Idols in my life that never filled me up, they were only  temporary. So now I live to serve, to inspire, to share hope, to use my  story of pain to make others feel less alone in their struggles. I speak vulnerably about who I was and why that life doesn’t work. So on my hardest days, I seek to serve more, I find new ways to offer hope, I  search for people who are lonely to help them because I never want  anyone to feel as bad as I have felt in my life. I also cling to God and my faith in a higher power, that cannot be taken from me. 

Who is another women who also had cancer that I admire.  

Truthfully, I have many women I admire, mostly the friends who taught  me self love and stood in a space that allowed me to learn about what truly matters-not stuff-but people. They led me through the seasons of trauma in my life and assured me that once I was healthy, I would have the privilege of inspiring others. They are my heroes. In the cancer world, I have many friends and I respect all survivors, It’s a  traumatic road for us all. I was diagnosed with stage 2 level 3 Her 2 positive breast cancer October 1, 2012.

Support System? 

I would say my support system has historically been my female  relationships. I could even say that back in high school. I am a strong  believer in women standing together, not standing alone. I have great  parents who also have helped me along my path. My support system  now would include people I have met through what I do, my modeling  career, my speaking career, the non-profit boards I sit on and even  some long time followers on socials. I have been lucky enough or  courageous enough or maybe crazy enough to be very honest about  my story, and because of that, I have an astounding amount of  people who cheer me on, I am ridiculously grateful for that.  

Resources for other women? 

I wish the resources for women going through breast cancer were  more widely known. For example, when I was going through active  chemotherapy in 2012-2013, there was not a support group at the  hospital I was being treated. I think since then, there are, but those are few and far between. I believe socials can help, following  survivors or organizations is important BUT I truly believe we need to  be seen, heard and touched. SO that means in person. I get to speak  to lots of organizations so I meet survivors and become an ear for  others, but one complaint I hear about is this lack of nationwide  support. We need more. The walks and activities around cancer are  great if you are able to participate because you can meet people  there. Doing this type of campaign and sharing real stories is critical for others going through cancer, nobody wants to feel alone in their diagnosis.  

What society gets wrong about young women battling breast cancer and cancer in general?

I wish I could shout this answer from the rooftops. Society is  mistaken about the perception that when women complete active  treatment, the story and the battle over. Too often, survivors have only  begun. There is what I call-FOR-Fear of Reoccurrence that paralyzes  so many. That alone should be talked about. Next, there are  emotional as well as physical side effects to treatment AFTER  treatment is over, there are too many to list. For me personally, I have  heart damage from one of the chemo’s I endured, I have liver damage  also from the chemo, I had an almost fatal MRSA infection in 2020  from the implant I had put in after my mastectomies, the lists go on  and on. Just two weeks ago, I had PET scan, which is an invasive  test to rule out cancer. So often cancer survivors go through ‘scares’  and tests for years and decades after. Post care, compassion and  connection are crucial. Let's start talking more about this. I heard a  statistic one time about the number of women who take their life  during or after treatment. Cancer can be a very lonely disease. it  doesn’t havre to take money to help someone, it just take awareness.  Check in with someone who has been diagnosed, send a text, give  them a call and if you don’t know what to say, say that. Say, “I don’t  know what to say but I want you to know I care.”  

Advice for someone newly diagnosed?  

Be kind and gentle with yourself and your emotions. It is a gigantic roller coaster, the less you try to control the better. Let go of pride, my insecurity and lack of self esteem got me stuck in  a mindset that it was shameful to ask for help. That is pride. Let that  shit go, ask for help-you will need it and people WANT to help. Work on your inner self not just outer self. When we have a low self esteem we make marginal decisions. During my 15 months of  chemotherapy, there were plenty of days I was laying on the bathroom floor in between vomiting, I was on that floor doing  introspective work. I was not meditating on self pity, I was ruminating  on ways to chance negative self talk. There are many moments after  diagnosis that fears can grip you, the more you work on self love and  self care, the less that fear can keep you stuck. Lastly, a diagnosis can be an opportunity, to show courage, to teach others around what it looks like to be brave and scared at the same time. You deserve time, and attention-ask for it and give it to yourself.  

The last song I listened to……  

Pachelbels Cannon in D-mostly because I want to get married again. So I am manifesting love. Which is funny because I don’t even have a boyfriend? To be continued…… 

Photographer @sophieelgort⁠

Creative Director @stacyigel⁠

Chair Creator @thevaleriestarart ⁠

Hair & Makeup @thevaleriestar⁠

Location c/o @jimmycrystalny ⁠

To read more, head to the WWD article here - by Lisa Lockwood.

This week, our Founder/CCO, STACY IGEL, launched the pre-order of her book, Embracing the Calm in the Chaos under Harper Collins! We are so excited.

Stacy Igel walks you through her journey of creating a thriving business while raising a family and conquering the challenges that women entrepreneurs face daily. The book is a memoir business book that describes the journey of building our brand, BOY MEETS GIRL®, from the ground up.

Stacy is passionate about helping budding entrepreneurs follow their passions and gain success while balancing family life and cannot wait for you all to read this book.

LEARN HOW YOU CAN PRE-ORDER STACY'S BOOK IN NOVEMBER TO GET A FREE GIFT!

GET THIS FREE BOY MEETS GIRL® ETCITC UNISEX TEE!

Learn how you can get this tee here.

By holding this NFT you will get access to all VIPS events that happen in '23 for Stacy's book launch. You do not want to miss out!

Learn how you can get this NFT here. 

Blog Features:

Amri Kibbler

Denise Albert

Mercedes Wilson

Alina Pimkina Mehrle

Jamie Pleva Nickerson

Christine Hardy

Kyla Rayne Phillips

This collection is dedicated to our dear friend Kristen Martinez 1974-2010. Together BOY MEETS GIRL® founder Stacy Igel & PinkCans4Cancer co-founder William Anthony Dean are coming together to honor Kristen. “We met over a decade ago when Stacy along with Kristen were co-chairing the In Living Pink Gala under the Young Survival Coalition for Breast Cancer. We instantly became friends and had a mutual love for our friend Kristen. A decade later we came together to honor Kristen’s legacy and continue to advocate to help survivors of cancer.” Check out the latest article in Insider about this collaboration here.

Tell us a little about you.

I’m the co-founder and Chief Community Officer of a mission-driven tech start-up in the motherhood community space, HeyMama. I have two girls aged 6 + 10 and I live in the Lower Hudson Valley with my husband, 2 daughter, dog Sparkles and by the time this comes out we’ll have a new puppy, and 10 chickens. We like to garden and grow loads of veggies to jar and enjoy doing all the outdoor activities. 

"For the past eight years, she has led the community focus by spearheading the membership team and all event programming. A born connector, Amri has used her innate talents for creativity and curation to bring together an energetic team dedicated to building meaningful connections and collaborations with mothers at every stage of their personal and professional lives. Prior to founding HeyMama, she spent more than ten years creating content for major publications like Glamour Magazine and Cosmopolitan as an editor and stylist. The AdWeek Trailblazer has also appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Forbes, Entrepreneur, on the Today Show, and she has graced the cover of Parents Magazine. Throughout all her innovative endeavors, Amri seeks to use empathy and spirituality to spread happiness and joy by helping other mothers develop their self-worth."

Upon diagnosis, what was your first thought?

A tiny voice inside me said we knew it all along…over the course of the last year 2020 during Covid I have struggled with so many symptoms and had been through test after test changing doctors until finally one of them recommended that I get a colonoscopy and was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer. I had googled my symptoms (ugh) over and over again during the year and even though cancer was a total match I allowed myself to be persuaded by the doctor that continued to downplay what I as going through and site the pandemic and the stress that women were under as a major cause of my symptoms. It went so far as for me to be sent to a GI specialist who without examining me said “I looked fine” and wasn’t in need of a colonoscopy even though it stands to recommend the test for every woman over the age of 45 and I was 45.

Sometimes it’s hard to “thrive,” we all have days where we are just trying to survive. What is something that gets you through on the hardest days?

That is very true, there are hard days. I found it really hard to acclimate back to reality after treatment and the pandemic and deal with other stressor of day to day life - like kids screaming at each other or conflicts that came up at work. My reservoir of whatever you have that allows you to handle stress was completely empty. For a while I could kind of do nothing but survive, definitely not thrive. I also found it challenging as the founder of a mission driven organization where lots of people didn’t realize I was sick of shouldering the expectation that people had for what I should be doing during this time. I was truly exhausted. I just wanted to curl up on a ball. The thing that has really helped me to reset was developing a meditation practice. I work with an incredible coach. He’s part healer, part spiritual guide, part meditation teacher and he taught me to bring myself to a place of peace. Outside of that I do have a lot of mindfulness practice. I do find that just getting outside and really looking at nature plants - the sky is super helpful. It helps me to track the bigness that's out there in a good way..

Who is another woman you have admired on this journey that has shared a similar experience with breast cancer/cancer (please type what type of cancer you had/have)? 

I had rectal cancer and I actually didn’t have another woman to lean on who had the same type of cancer so I really try to give advice and support as much as possible to anyone that reaches out to me. The journey was really isolating for me. I did connect with a few men that had been through the experience but I would have really appreciated having a woman to talk to.

We all need a good support system; who makes up yours? 

My husband is my ace of spades. I was sick at the height of covid so there was no physical support during that time. He really had to do everything. No one could help watch our kids, babysit, drop off food, help drive me to my appointments etc. We were really in it together and the experience made us even closer.

I had a lot of moral support from my family and friends. My parents are incredible and as soon as the lockdown was lifted a bit, they  have been taking the girls for some 1:1 time where they live down in Florida

My HeyMama community is always my go to for support on anything. I know I can rely on this incredible support system for anything from business to health to parenting through thick and thin.

Through your journey, what are some resources you have found that would be helpful to other women? 

I was treated at MSK and they have great resources both for patients and for just anyone on their website.

I met the founder of Alula which make the best recommendations for products you might need in a chic lifestyle way that’s appealing. Everything they list is a highly recommended product.

What is something society gets wrong about young women battling breast cancer and cancer in general? 

Breast cancer is much more common and in the public eye than colorectal cancer in younger patients but the numbers of colorectal cancer in those without any risk factor and at a younger age is skyrocketing. People think colorectal cancer is older than older people.  I never considered this type of cancer to be a danger to me until I was diagnosed and I was shocked but the numbers! I would encourage any woman over 45 to get a colonoscopy as this is the recommended age and it's covered by insurance. It's actually super easy you just take a nap and wake up and it's done.

You come across another woman who has just received her diagnosis. What is one piece of advice you’d have for them at that moment?

People want to help but they really don’t know what to do so if you have a list of the things you actually need help with, the ready friends will appreciate being able to support and you will get actual help. If you can, before you start treatment, assign specific tasks to your support system so you don’t have to worry about who is taking the kids to dance or soccer practice.  Try not to make plans you will feel guilty canceling but give yourself the option to join when you are feeling good. I found I struggled emotionally because I felt like I was letting my kids down all the time. I was so zapped for energy and would try to stretch myself to do things and then wind up feeling terrible.

Because we have to (we love music here) - what’s the last song you listened to? 

Marshmallow and Khalid “Numb” because it seems to be the song of the summer and my kids have it on repeat over and over again.

Photographer @sophieelgort⁠

Creative Director @stacyigel⁠

Chair Creator @thevaleriestarart ⁠

Hair & Makeup @thevaleriestar⁠

Location c/o @jimmycrystalny ⁠

Tell us a little about you.

I am a designer from a family of artists who moved to the US for love and became an entrepreneur.  My first company is the NYC-based award-winning architectural design studio Asthetique.  My second company Ameōn is a skincare company born after my recovery from breast cancer.

Upon diagnosis, what was your first thought?

It was so shocking when the doctor called that I was numb and couldn’t process it at first.  Breast cancer isn’t something I thought was even a remote possibility so I hadn’t given it anything thought before my diagnosis and wasn’t ready to understand what it meant.  The cancer was aggressive so we had to start treatment right away which meant there wasn’t much time to overthink things.  Once treatment started I just listened to my doctors, took strength from the support of my husband, and put one foot in front of the other. 

Sometimes it’s hard to “thrive,” we all have days where we are just trying to survive. What is something that gets you through on the hardest days?

First and foremost, I am grateful to be alive.  Not many years ago my cancer diagnosis would have been a death sentence.  Willie Nelson has a song with a great lyric that my father-in-law loves to quote, “I woke up still not dead again today.”  Willie’s right!  The gift of life is the most precious gift we have.  That’s why I’m so passionate about supporting breast cancer research.  Also, when I’m feeling down I really look to my husband to cheer me up. He’s my rock. 

Who is another woman you have admired on this journey that has shared a similar experience with breast cancer/cancer (please type what type of cancer you had/have)?

I had the great pleasure of meeting Kinga Lampert, Co-chair of the Board of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).  Her grace, intelligence, compassion, and dedication just blew me away.  I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 30 and Kinga at 31.  After her recovery, Kinga dedicated her life to working with BCRF.  I found that so inspiring, and BCRF is such a wonderful organization, that my skincare company Ameōn partnered with BCRF to help find a cure.

We all need a good support system; who makes up yours? 

My husband, mother and grandmother, in-laws, and our dog Boris are my foundation.  I’m also blessed to have two wonderful business partners, Julien in Asthetique and Roman in Ameōn. 

Through your journey, what are some resources you have found that would be helpful to other women? 

It is critically important to have a good connection with your doctors.  That includes your oncologist, surgeon, and plastic surgeon.  The relationship with your oncologist is the most important because you’ll be together for years so find someone who you feel comfortable with and who you know cares deeply about you as a person.  I’ve been blessed to have that and it’s made all the difference in the world.  It also really helps to get involved to make a positive impact.  Supporting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation has helped me heal. 

What is something society gets wrong about young women battling breast cancer and cancer in general? 

There’s an idea that if you’re diagnosed with breast cancer young you must have the BRCA gene.  I was diagnosed at 30 and don’t have it.  1 in 8 women in the US will develop breast cancer during their lifetime.  That’s a mind-blowing statistic and it means that every woman needs to take her breast health seriously. Do self-exams regularly and go to the doctor regularly. If something doesn’t feel right always ask a medical professional because the sooner you start treatment the better your prognosis. 

You come across another woman who has just received her diagnosis. What is one piece of advice you’d have for them at that moment?

Take a deep breath, bring your loved ones close and take it one step at a time. You can do this.

Because we have to (we love music here) - what’s the last song you listened to? 

Sebastien Tellier – Roche

Photographer @sophieelgort⁠

Creative Director @stacyigel⁠

Chair Creator @thevaleriestarart ⁠

Hair & Makeup @thevaleriestar⁠

Location c/o @jimmycrystalny ⁠

Tell us a little about you.

I am a high honor roll, rising senior from Washington DC. I am a competitive swimmer for, the top-ranked swim club in the country. I have competed on my school’s varsity swim team throughout high school where I am a record holder on the 200 and 400 Free Style Relay teams. My dedication to swimming inspired me to launch a business as a youth swim instructor where I am passionate about teaching Black and Brown children to swim and about water safety while reducing stereotypes. Since the second grade, I have wanted to become a doctor so that I can “help people” in communities where quality health care is not easily accessible. I aspire to pursue my M.D., MPH and dedicate my life to addressing health disparities at the local, national and global levels.

Upon diagnosis, what was your first thought?

I was in disbelief. I could not believe what was happening.

Sometimes it’s hard to “thrive,” we all have days where we are just trying to survive. What is something that gets you through on the hardest days?

My faith in God and prayer. I am fortunate to have great friends and a strong community. Some of my friends have been friends since I was a baby. That has been helpful for me.

Who is another woman you have admired on this journey that has shared a similar experience with breast cancer/cancer (please type what type of cancer you had/have)? 

I am surrounded by supportive and strong women in my life who I admire and who have been there for me on my journey. I am blessed and fortunate to not have anyone else I know share a similar experience or diagnosed with myxoid liposarcoma. 

We all need a good support system; who makes up yours? 

My friends, my family. I am lucky to be a part of a “village” where my friends are more like cousins. My parents have been amazing and strong while helping me find my voice.

Through your journey, what are some resources you have found that would be helpful to other women?

Because I was so young and because I have never met anyone else with the same experience, I was grateful to have a wonderful team of doctors that took the time to explain things to me. 

What is something society gets wrong about young women battling breast cancer and cancer in general?

I think that society may not know the severity and the impact that going through something like this has on any person no matter the age. It is very hard and scary for a child to go through this journey.

You come across another woman who has just received her diagnosis. What is one piece of advice you’d have for them at that moment?

Surround yourself with supportive people whether they are friends, family or others who can be there. Keep the faith. Prayer worked for me.

Because we have to (we love music here) - what’s the last song you listened to?

Say My Name by Destiny’s Child.

Photographer @sophieelgort⁠

Creative Director @stacyigel⁠

Chair Creator @thevaleriestarart ⁠

Hair & Makeup @thevaleriestar⁠

Location c/o @jimmycrystalny ⁠