Follow Friday: love♡bili♡nyc

Pictured: White t-shirt with black wheelchair illustration in the center of the top half of the shirt. 

We are pleased to highlight the work of sisters MaryFrances and Hannah Layden, founders of lovebili. They identify Diversability as one of their inspirations for starting their company, and we are inspired by the work that they are doing too.  #FollowFriday

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Welcome to love♡bili♡nyc! We are a New York City-based apparel company that promotes disability awareness and empowerment. At ♡bili, we take images that too often symbolize weakness and celebrate their actual function of strength. ♡bili was founded by sisters MaryFrances and Hannah Layden, who were born with an undiagnosed neuromuscular disorder which resulted in various orthopedic operations and care over the years. We were inspired by our own experiences living with a physical disability and wanted to come up with a way to help educate individuals on and celebrate all types of ability. 

Pictured: The lovebili homepage. Logo in black script with the words "love", "bili" and "nyc" separated by red hearts across the top. Below a 3 by 2 grid of their featured products- white tote bags and white t-shirts displaying functional symbols of disability: wheelchair, canes, and walker.

We created lovebili to celebrate all kinds of beauty. Through fashion, we want to represent and reaffirm the diversity of all body types and abilities that exist in our society. Now more than ever, we must discover what is beautiful in all people.

Pictured: Closeup of the two  screen printed sticks from the lovebili Sticks Shirt.

We believe that Diversability is very powerful because it confronts the stigma associated with disabilities. It inspired us to start this company and join the movement in teaching the world that people are not defined by their abilities and to show everyone the power in loving your abilities. 

Come wear your pride with style! #loveyouraBility