Cori James works to empower women through apparel

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What was the inspiration behind this kit?Honestly, when a man who openly bragged about assaulting women was elected president of the United States, I was enraged … but also inspired — inspired to try and do something. If one good thing has come out of all this mess, it’s that it’s really lit a fire under my ass to try and make a difference — to be active in the community and to try and at least be a small, positive light. I don’t want this kit to be seen as “anti” anyone or anything, though. I just want it to be seen as pro-women, pro-positivity and pro-empowerment. It feels really important to me for women to feel strong and be proud of that strength. But that doesn’t mean it’s for women only. I think it’s so important for men to openly show support for the powerful women in their lives, too, so I specifically designed it with the hope of appealing to both women and men.I also knew as soon as I got the inspiration to design the kit that I wanted to donate any and all proceeds to a good cause, and I knew I wanted that cause to be working to fight sexual violence. That’s why I chose the Georgia Network to End Sexual Assault. They are fighting to end the normalization of sexual assault while supporting survivors and making sure perpetrators are held accountable by the criminal justice system.What was the design process like?When I decided I wanted to combine my love of art and triathlon/cycling by designing a kit, I really had no idea where to start. I’ve designed a whole bunch of tattoos but nothing like this. Crazy enough, I knew the color palette right off the bat. I knew I didn’t want the colors that have been deemed “feminine.” I wanted colors men and women could both get down on. I couldn’t help thinking of ’80s and ’90s skateboard vibes, with the bright colors and the sharp edges. I wanted it to kind of have that aesthetic but with an updated and cleaner look. I started the process the day after the election, actually. I grabbed paper and a pencil and just started sketching ideas: the logo with the lightning bolt, different shapes in the sleeves. … Some cycling stuff is so wild with crazy patterns and 18 colors, and that’s just not my bag. Simple is just more aesthetically pleasing to me.Has designing this kit been therapeutic?

Absolutely. Ever since I became involved with triathlon I fell in love with it. Getting an opportunity to combine my love of art and design, my tattoo life, with my triathlon life has been so exciting. Triathlon is more than just an outlet for my overly competitive nature. It’s a form of self-love for me. I struggled with body image my entire life, which eventually led to an eating disorder. Even when I was at my thinnest, I never felt beautiful or good enough in comparison to society’s standards for women. Triathlon and being active in general has taught me that being a woman is a gift and being strong and happy in my skin is far more important than a number on a scale. That’s one of the reasons I chose “Girl Power.” I have never felt more beautiful than when I cross a finish line, covered in sweat. I’ve never felt more powerful. Being active feels dope, and I hope this kit inspires at least a few people, women especially, to get out there on a bike for the first time and show their girl power.

Pre-order the kit and learn more at all3sports.com/collections/girl-power.