Why I Started REST LOUNGEWEAR

When I was recovering from surgery, I quickly realized that recovery clothing matters more than most people realize. Not just for comfort, but for dignity, confidence, and the ability to feel like yourself.

I was inspired by so many incredible clothing lines. Beautiful pieces, well-made, soft, thoughtful. But most of them weren’t designed for patients. They are made for healthy people living their "normal" lives. There were a few brands for cancer and surgical recovery, and yes, the garments helped. They were functional, they did their job. But I still felt like a patient. I wanted to be more than that.

I wanted to go to appointments, run errands, and I desperately wanted to be able to go out to dinner without people staring at my drains and tubes. I wanted to feel comfortable and normal again. I didn't want to be defined by cancer.

On top of the emotional side, there was the physical. My skin was so sensitive. The tubing from my drains would stick to me, rubbing and pulling until I developed scabs. It was painful and frustrating, and it felt like no one had thought of what someone going through recovery really needs.

The crazy thing is, I wasn’t alone. My dear friend, who was battling colon cancer at the same time, shared her own frustrations. She had tubes coming out of both sides of her groin. Every movement caused them to tug and bounce. She couldn’t even wear underwear, so she went to post-op appointments in a dress with nothing underneath. How humiliating and embarrassing!  There weren’t any  undergarments that worked for her reality.

Listening to her and living through my own experience made something click. Post-surgical recovery clothing should help patients feel like themseves again. It should give us dignity, freedom, and confidence while easing the pain of healing.

I wanted to create garments that are soft and functional while allowing patients to continue to feel like themselves. Clothes that manage drains and medical needs without screaming “medical.” Clothes that let you still feel like you.