From Toni Morrison to James Baldwin, explore how five iconic writers used personal style to express their identities, challenge expectations, and tell stories before ever putting pen to paper.

From royal purple to power dressing in black, discover how color shapes fashion, influences perception, and tells the world who we are before we say a word.

As women’s sports take center stage in Indianapolis, Fever merchandise is becoming more than game-day gear. From statement tees to player jerseys, the rise of women’s sports apparel reflects a growing culture of identity, visibility, and belonging—one outfit at a time.

From historical silhouettes to modern storytelling, theatrical costumes do more than dress a character—they bring their identities, cultures, and stories to life before a single word is spoken. Explore the artistry behind Indiana Repertory Theatre’s productions and discover how every stitch, accessory, and design choice helps create the magic of the stage.

From gold hoops and slick buns to bronzed, glowing skin, the “clean girl” aesthetic reflects beauty traditions that Black and Latina women have embraced for generations. From Cultura to Clean Girl explores how cultural styles are often criticized before becoming mainstream trends—and why recognizing the women behind them matters.

Indian craftsmanship has shaped global fashion for centuries, yet the artisans behind these traditions often go unrecognized. Through designer Mohini Mrigaya’s journey, explore the importance of cultural heritage, ethical inspiration, and giving credit to the hands and histories that make fashion timeless.

Haven Nova Swim founder Mariah Parsons is reimagining swimwear with one versatile swimsuit designed to be worn 96 different ways. Inspired by her personal journey, she explores how adaptable design can empower women to embrace confidence, comfort, and choice while rethinking sustainability and the future of fashion.

Professional drag racer Jasmine Salinas is redefining what it means to be a woman in motorsports, embracing fashion as a powerful expression of femininity, individuality, and confidence without compromising her strength on the track.

Early in my career, I served as a Financial Empowerment & Community Development Officer, where much of my time was spent delivering financial education throughout the community. If there was a group willing to learn about money—whether in a classroom, a nonprofit program, a small business workshop, or a civic organization—I was usually there. At the beginning, I thought the work was mostly about teaching financial concepts: Credit scores, budgeting, saving, and understanding

Being the eldest daughter comes with its perks and its pressures. It often feels like riding a rollercoaster where the turns are unpredictable, yet you learn early on that preparation is part of survival. Growing up in a first-generation immigrant family, I was not simply raised by my parents; in many ways, I grew alongside them. They were navigating parenthood for the first time, learning what it meant to nurture, guide, and support while adapting to a new world themselves.

Asian American Adoptees on Identity, Memory, and Belonging Adoption is not what people think it is. I feel like people want it to be simple so badly, like they need it to make sense in a clean, comforting way. A child is “saved,” placed into a better life, and grows up grateful. That’s the version that gets told, repeated, and accepted without much questioning. But that version leaves so much out. It ignores the parts that are harder to explain—the parts that don’t fit into s

When I made the decision to relocate to Indianapolis in the summer of 2021, I arrived with a mix of focused determination and an eager, open curiosity about what the city held for me. It was the quintessential fresh start. Much like countless others who arrive in a new landscape, my immediate, primary focus was directed toward establishing and building my professional career and, perhaps more abstractly, discovering where I truly fit within this new community. I threw myself

Day by day, I see the term “community” used in various ways; some loose, some more exacting, some a bit myopic, some a bit more intentional. At its most basic level, community is a group of people connected by shared place, identity, experience, or purpose. I imagine there was a time when community literally meant your neighborhood, your street, or your block, but in 2026, that isn’t the case. Even in these shared spaces and shared ideologies, there’s nuance. The monolithic n

Looking back now, I can say with certainty that I would not be here today, in the United States, pursuing an education and a dream, if not for my aunt. Her hands were roughened by work that should never have been hers. Her dreams of education were traded for a life of sacrifice. She shed her blood, sweat, and tears so my father could learn, so he could build a different future. He did just that, but unfortunately, not with her. My aunt was born five years before my father.

Theatre has a presence in our world, whether you’ve sat in a darkened room with a crowd and watched a performance or you haven’t. Movie musicals like Wicked and La La Land have gained critical acclaim and a foothold in popular culture. Hamilton was the hot topic of conversation when it first took the Broadway world by storm, and most people reading this have probably at least seen a community theatre production or attended their child’s school performance. If you’ve played im

As a photographer documenting the intersection of culture and style, I've witnessed firsthand how Black culture has shaped the fashion landscape. The contributions are endless—from the artistic explosion of the Harlem Renaissance to the bold statements of the Black Power movement, Black creativity has been a driving force behind countless innovations in style and design.

My Power Was Never Hard to Pronounce—Just Hard to Contain Growing up in a predominantly white community in Wisconsin, I was one of only three Indian students in my entire high school. For four years, I faced racism, bigotry, adversity, and xenophobia—experiences that made me acutely aware of my differences. My name, Alabhya, meaning "one who is invincible," was constantly mispronounced or reduced to nicknames for convenience. Instead of making the effort to learn my name, tea

In popular media, people’s background context is often told explicitly to help us, the audience, understand characters quickly and get focused on the storytelling. Blockbuster movies tend to quickly attribute the highest influence to those characters who have an Ivy League education or surged to success within their careers in record-breaking time. Iron Man is a great example because he’s a super genius who went to MIT, and that equates to inherent goodness as a superhero. Wh

Based in Philadelphia, Authenticity Projects is a model and media startup committed to empowering individuals of all genders and culturals.

As business owners, brands, and individuals, there’s always something nerve-wracking to scale, to grow, and even to change how we serve.