EXCLUSIVE: Meet DAMES, the NYC-Based Brand Merging Street Style With Street Sense
Inspired by workwear staples, built for women’s safety.
Today, women accept the feeling of being unsafe as normal – Mary Katlyn O’Malley wants to change that. The DAMES founder started her streetwear brand with one mission in mind, for young women in New York City to “be free, be cool and to not take any sh-t.”
As a domestic violence and sexual assault survivor, O’Malley found joy in creating clothes with safety features and a space for women to come when they feel unsafe or unsure. She built DAMES as a community for creativity, education and grace amidst feelings of vulnerability that, unfortunately, many women face.
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Its latest collection “SAFE SPACE” comprises reflective pieces with holographic silhouettes and stretchy fabrics, inspired by classic workwear staples to portray a feeling of safety and protection. The “PROTEK” parachute pants offer waterproof nylon comfort in vivid hues while the “NEO” long sleeve mesh dress comes with an empowered, high slit. From geometric, printed pants to body hugging dresses, DAMES provides an armor of resilience, dripping in style.
To complement its clothing, “SAFE SPACE” offers wearable, self defense charms and accessories. The DAMES Safety Kit includes a Power Puff Knuckle spike ring with brass, hyper-whistle, safety alarm, nunchucks and the Safety Spike Lipstick which hides a switch blade inside. Its ANSI SAFETY RATED REFLECTIVE GLASSES are shatterproof and motocross inspired, doubling down on protection with flare. Our personal favorite? The sleek KUBOTAN, a self-defense keychain and weapon developed by Sōke Takayuki Kubota in the late ’60s to train female officers.
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DAMES extends its mission beyond clothes and accessories by offering healing through community resources as well as free meditation guides. It’s LOVE FREQ meditation by MACHINEDRUM balances the heart chakra while calming the nervous system for peace and ease of mind.
The “SAFE SPACE” collection is now available on the brand’s website with garments starting at $45 USD and safety accessories starting at $15 USD. If you’re NYC-based, make sure to pop into DAMES’ collaborative event with Girlkell on December 19, a space centered around safety, joy and empowerment in support of victims of domestic violence with the opportunity to snag your very own DAMES Safety Kit.
