Hey, awesome people.
In our last vocabulary lesson, we talked about the Bourgeoisie—the “Plastics” of our society who own the means of production and decide the rules of the game. It’s easy to feel small when you’re looking up at a system that feels designed to keep us divided. But here’s the secret the bourgeoisie doesn’t want you to know: The power they have is actually ours. They just “borrow” it through our labor.
So, how do we take it back? We tie the knot of solidarity. We unionize.
Organizing: The Primary School of the Movement
In the socialist and communist tradition, unions aren’t just about getting a better dental plan (though, let’s be real, we deserve that too). Unions are the “primary school” of the movement. It’s the first place where we stop seeing our coworkers as competition and start seeing them as comrades.
Capitalism thrives on the “scarcity mindset”—the idea that there isn’t enough to go around, so you better fight your neighbor for the crumbs. Organizing flips the script. It proves that when we act as a single, unified force, we don’t have to beg for crumbs. We can own the whole bakery.
Solidarity is Intersectional
When we look at the heartbreak in Minneapolis—the abductions and the systemic violence—it can feel separate from “workplace issues.” But they are two sides of the same coin. A unionized working class has the political leverage to demand safety, dignity, and an end to state-sponsored harm. Organizing isn’t just about wages; it’s about having the collective power to say “No” to injustice and actually be heard.
The Aesthetic of Resistance: The Unionize Bow Line
I wanted this week’s designs to reflect that strength. I’ve been obsessed with the “coquette” aesthetic lately, but I wanted to give it some teeth.
The Unionize Bow Minimalist line uses that soft, delicate bow to represent being “tied together.” It’s a subversion—taking something traditionally “soft” and using it to deliver a hard-hitting message of labor solidarity.
- The Baby Tee: For that Y2K, coquette-meets-comrade vibe.
- The B+C3001 T-Shirt: The softest staple for the picket line or the grocery run.
- The Gildan 18000 Sweatshirt: Cozy enough for late-night organizing meetings in the Michigan winter.
- The Canvas Tote Bag: Perfect for carrying your “Union Yes!” flyers, local theory books, or just your knitting project.
Tie the Knot
“The People are Rising” isn’t just a cool slogan for a shirt or a blog title. It’s a practice. Whether you’re signing a union card, supporting a strike, or just educating yourself on the history of the movement, you are part of the rising tide.
Check out the new Unionize Bow line in the Etsy shop and let’s keep organizing. Because a single thread is easy to break, but when we’re tied together? We’re unbreakable.
Stay sparkly (and radical).