Hoboken Teen, 13, Launches Apparel Line To Support Social Justice

HOBOKEN, NJ — Narina Girotra, 13, of Hoboken, on Tuesday sent around an ambitious letter: "The pandemic has created an opportunity to challenge social, political, and economic forces that create inequities ... Today, I launched my small business called Shop for Social Justice, a creative design company on a mission to raise awareness of social movements."

Girotra, a student at Hoboken Charter School, said she wanted to channel her interest in digital art and her community service experiences into something positive during the pandemic.

She hopes to raise awareness and support for movements like Stop AAPI Hate and Black Lives Matter.

"Being a 9-year-long participant of the Girl Scouts," she says on her new website, "my interaction and knowledge of my surroundings are extensive, spanning from picking up trash at the local park as a Daisy to working with the community center to complete my Silver Award as a Cadette. I am hard-wired with an inner desperation to help my community any way I can. Shop for Social Justice is one of many ways that I believe I can help."

Girotra explained in a release on Tuesday:

"All apparel and accessory designs are custom made and proceeds will be donated to nonprofit organizations tackling today’s biggest issues, from #BlackLivesMatter and Stop AAPI Hate to Minority Rights International and the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Relief Fund, these organizations are dedicated to advocacy and change."

She noted: "According to the Pew Research Center, Asian and Black Americans are more likely than any other group to report negative experiences because of their race or ethnicity since the COVID-19 outbreak."

“The unprecedented events of the past year have served as a major trigger that enabled social movements to advance their respective missions and mobilize the public like never before, ” she added. “It is my hope that with this business, I will be able to add my voice to these movements and support the change our society needs. ”

For more information, visit shopforsocialjustice.com or email shopforsocialjustice@gmail.com. To view more products, visit her Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/ShopForSocialJustice?ref=shop_sugg.

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