💬 Read Our Story

It started with a moment between mother and daughter.

One day, my daughter looked at me and said, “I don’t like hugs.”
Not because she didn’t love people—because they made her feel overwhelmed, anxious, and unheard.
She didn’t know how to say that without feeling “rude.”
And as I listened to her… I realized I had felt the same way for most of my life.
I just never had the words.

That’s when I said,
“It’s okay to like handshakes instead.”
And something shifted. For her. For me.
That simple phrase gave us both permission to set boundaries, to honor our feelings, and to be who we are—without shame.

From that moment, I Like Handshakes was born.

This brand isn’t just clothing. It’s a voice for the voiceless.
It’s for the people who’ve been through trauma, mental health battles, overstimulation, and silencing.
It’s for the survivors, the healers, and the people still finding their strength.
It’s for their families and allies too—the ones who stand beside them with empathy, not pressure.

Every item we make is a tool for empowerment.
A soft shield. A wearable reminder that you don’t have to be okay with everything just to be accepted.

We are here to say:
You are safe here.
You are seen.
And you are allowed to choose a handshake over a hug.