This 2024 Take Back The Night Design of the Year was designed by Savannah Zerbel and Maggie Bertrand from the University of Oregon Women’s Center.
Their inspiration:
The beautiful white flowers in the design are called Epiphyllum Oxypetalum, more popularly known as the “Queen of the Night” flower. This flower only blooms at night -- a powerful form of symbolism to align with the meaning of this incredibly transformative event. Like the Queen of the Night flower, we deserve to be able to take up space and blossom at all hours of the day, but especially the most vulnerable hours of night.
The Monarch butterflies flying around and sleeping inside the Queen of the Night flowers symbolize the hope, rebirth, and transformation of survivors, but also have traditionally been said to represent the souls of our ancestors returning to bring us love and support. Thinking about those we have lost to domestic abuse and sexual violence as if they were Monarch butterflies is but another way that this design honors survivors.
Lastly, the Monarch butterfly symbolizes Duality -- the layered and complex experiences of survivors as they experience both their rightful rage and radical joy (and any other feelings they may have in between). The Monarch butterflies are beautiful, yet they are also poisonous to their predators, which makes them a direct symbol of Duality. This theme speaks to the fact that there is no such thing as a “perfect survivor.” We can honor and respect a survivor’s journey down their path of healing regardless of what form it takes.
• 100% certified organic cotton 3/1 twill
• Fabric weight: 8 oz/yd² (272 g/m²)
• Dimensions: 16″ × 14 ½″ × 5″ (40.6 cm × 35.6 cm × 12.7 cm)
• Weight limit: 30 lbs (13.6 kg)
• 1″ (2.5 cm) wide dual straps, 24.5″ (62.2 cm) length
• Open main compartment
• Blank product components sourced from Vietnam
Their inspiration:
The beautiful white flowers in the design are called Epiphyllum Oxypetalum, more popularly known as the “Queen of the Night” flower. This flower only blooms at night -- a powerful form of symbolism to align with the meaning of this incredibly transformative event. Like the Queen of the Night flower, we deserve to be able to take up space and blossom at all hours of the day, but especially the most vulnerable hours of night.
The Monarch butterflies flying around and sleeping inside the Queen of the Night flowers symbolize the hope, rebirth, and transformation of survivors, but also have traditionally been said to represent the souls of our ancestors returning to bring us love and support. Thinking about those we have lost to domestic abuse and sexual violence as if they were Monarch butterflies is but another way that this design honors survivors.
Lastly, the Monarch butterfly symbolizes Duality -- the layered and complex experiences of survivors as they experience both their rightful rage and radical joy (and any other feelings they may have in between). The Monarch butterflies are beautiful, yet they are also poisonous to their predators, which makes them a direct symbol of Duality. This theme speaks to the fact that there is no such thing as a “perfect survivor.” We can honor and respect a survivor’s journey down their path of healing regardless of what form it takes.
• 100% certified organic cotton 3/1 twill
• Fabric weight: 8 oz/yd² (272 g/m²)
• Dimensions: 16″ × 14 ½″ × 5″ (40.6 cm × 35.6 cm × 12.7 cm)
• Weight limit: 30 lbs (13.6 kg)
• 1″ (2.5 cm) wide dual straps, 24.5″ (62.2 cm) length
• Open main compartment
• Blank product components sourced from Vietnam