Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Harvey.
Brittany, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Being an oncology nurse for the last six years, fighting alongside amazing men and women battling cancer has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It gives me a sense of fulfillment to be able to help them navigate a new scary diagnosis and through the treatment process. A year and a half ago, I was working in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I had a woman come in that was bundled in tons of jackets, but when she unzipped her coat she just had a tiny t-shirt on. At first, I was very confused because it was so cold outside. I had asked her why she was wearing a thin V-neck shirt instead of a thermal. She said, “This is the only shirt that I have that allows you easy access to my port”. For those of you who are non-medical, a port-a-cath or “port” for short is a medical central line placed under the skin, most commonly in the upper chest. The “port” allows medical professionals to give infusion treatments there limiting the chances of damaging veins from the multiple treatments.
After hearing what the patient told me, I started to become frustrated with the fashion industry. Why hadn’t someone created clothing that would allow easy access to people’s upper chest so they could get their treatments easier and not wear clothes that were low cut and flimsy. Something that a person wears and feels comfortable and confident in. One of my other major beliefs is that when you have something going on with your health, it is your right to have privacy and discretion. I wanted women to have a top that was stylish and comfortable that could transition from work to treatment to everyday life. So, I went home, and with the help of my handy sewing machine- I created the first prototype of our tops!
From there, my husband and I moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles so we could work with an American based company to get our pattern made and produce our first line of clothing. What a cool process- going to the garment district in LA and getting to pick out the fabric, buttons, zippers, and tags for each of our shirts! Once our line was created we moved to San Diego! We are so excited to have our shirts in gift shops in California as well as in some online stores in different parts of the nation!
Our next moves will be to expand the sizing options of our current line, as well as opening up a Men’s and a Children’s line. We are especially excited to get the kids line in the process because it will be Super Hero Themed-with there very own port access top with matching cape and mask! We believe every child has the right to be a superhero, especially on infusion days. We want them to feel empowered and special when they go in for their treatment. We believe that real superheroes live in the little hearts of small children fighting big battles.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Haha, the road has not been smooth! While being an entrepreneur is very exciting, it can be really hard to navigate how to become “successful”. I am so thankful for the community of women who have come up alongside me to help show me how to avoid some of the frustrations they experienced. It has been so helpful to find strong female mentors who can show you the ropes and pat you on the back when you’re feeling down.
To those who are starting your journey, learn as much about the industry you’re working to enter and make bold moves. Many times people have an amazing idea but they over analyze it for years and never get started. Find a supportive community and start creating some buzz about whatever you’re working on and make it happen!
Definitely one of our biggest challenges is getting the funding to continue our expansion. Chemotherapy is not cheap. We understand that cost is a major issue. Up to this point, funding has come out of our personal savings account which has prevented us from placing larger orders to reduce product cost. We are looking to partner with major gift shops and local non-profits to find a way to juristically reduce the cost of our tops and even continue our efforts in donating and giving away top to people in need.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Yellow Threads Co. – what should we know?
At this time, the line is primarily women’s clothing, though we do have some men’s and children’s shirts in the works. I am most excited to offer women soft, comfortable, stylish clothing that are also port-a-cath accessible. Our goal is to create a functional fashion. When a woman goes into her treatment, we want her to be able to rest comfortably, but also wear something that makes them feel feminine and beautiful. With all the major changes that come to a person’s body during treatment, we aim to help people define their life by what they decide, not their diagnosis.
As an organization, our goal is to be a resource for anyone going through chemotherapy treatment. The Yellowthreadsco Instagram is filled with little tips and tricks to help make treatment go smoothly. These are all things that patients have said worked for them. I post different ways to decrease the side effects of treatment and help maintain as much normalcy as possible.
Being a small business sets us apart from a lot of the other people in the medically functional clothing. Yellow Threads Co’s two employees are myself and my husband, Ashton, who has been so incredibly supportive. When someone messages into our company- you will always get a Harvey answering the phone. We are strong believers in giving back and with each shirt purchased, a portion goes back to Cancer Research.
We are constantly looking for people who want to get involved and help give back to the cancer community. When we first started our company, we were able to give away 100 shirts to women going through treatment by our “Donate One” program. Every time a donation is made, we are able to send a shirt at no cost to the person receiving treatment because of someone’s generosity! It is the most amazing thing to see a woman’s face light up with the excitement of receiving fashionable clothing that will help make their treatment day a little easier!
Which women have inspired you in your life?
First, I would have to say, my Mother. She has been a nurse for 40 years (don’t tell her I told you), and she is the first person I had ever met who absolutely loved her job. She taught me how to have compassion for others and how to care for each patient that comes through the door like they were family. She is the kind of nurse that will go in and teach her patients how to knit because they are on bed rest for three weeks waiting to deliver their baby safely. She taught me that hard work and creativity can go a long way. When I decided to become a nurse, her biggest piece of advice was “be a blessing to someone every day”.
The second woman that has most recently been extremely influential and inspiring is Dana Donofree who created Ana Ono Intimates- a company that offers fashionable and comfortable post-mastectomy wear. Her constant encouragement and realistic look at business has been invaluable. Her ability to take her own experience with cancer and create it into this encouraging and loving community for women is amazing. Whenever I am trying to figure out what my next move for business is, I run it by Dana because she has been around this field for quite some time and can help me move forward to serve more people.
The third person that is inspirational is Ellen DeGeneres. She has cultivated an environment that is positive and kind. She continually works to bring positivity to the world and has helped many people in tough times. She also motivates me to work toward having lofty goals of giving away thousands of shirts to people all across the globe because of her generosity.
Pricing:
- Blue Striped Port Long Sleeve Cold Shoulder is $59.99
- Dark Raisin Port Access- Long Sleeve Zipped Shirt is $59.99
- Black Port Access- Long Sleeve Zipped Shirt is $59.99
- Donate One Program for Women is $45
Contact Info:
- Website: www.YellowThreadsCo.com
- Email: Brittany@YellowThreadsCo.com
- Instagram: yellowthreadsco
- Facebook: @yellowthreadsco
Image Credit:
Ashton Harvey
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