Partners For Change, Our Changewear® Story

Michelle Judson

 

"Consider your next purchase and how it impacts someone else,

Give First To Receive"

Michelle Judson, Changewear Founder

 

Michelle Judson, founder of Changewear, knows about hard times.  Six years ago she found a lump in her breast while nursing her youngest daughter.   Michelle was diagnosed with stage-3 breast cancer and a BRAC 1 mutation. Just two years later, she found herself a single mom with her life taking a completely different path. Her family struggled through an economically difficult separation and divorce for four years. As the turbulent times dragged on, her savings were consumed by on-going court costs and legal fees. Money became increasingly tighter.  Michelle relied on the Portland Public Schools PTA Clothing center to provide free used clothing for her three children.

Despite all of this, Michelle was not defeated. In 2016, she took a leap of faith, starting her own company as a way to be able to someday support her family and give back to her community.  Changewear was born, a bra company that allows users to change the colorful inserts and straps in their bras, giving women an opportunity to style, dress and feel unique each day. The average woman owns 9-12 bras and really only wears 3-4!  Imagine owning products that provide more value and features than any other intimates in the market. Rather than buying a new bra that may be yet another addition to a drawer full of unworn intimates, the Changewear system gives customers the opportunity to create a new, well-fitting bra every day!

Michelle was inspired to start a business that changes the way companies think about profit margins and community impact. She created Changewear to be a mission-based company that gives back to nonprofits by both giving products and sharing profits with organizations helping their communities.

Changewear provides new bras to the Portland Public Schools clothing closet for teens, changing how students feel about wearing donated clothing. The Portland Public clothing center helps dress nearly 2,000 students annually. However, intimates are rarely donated, making it difficult to fully cloth teen girls. Changewear has committed to donating and partnering with non-profits for change! 

"No one in this industry is donating new bras in a BUY/GIVE model and yet they're a daily staple," says Judson, now 45. "Plus, a young girl can change a bra size in the course of one year, and that can be expensive."

"I understand what it's like to take my teenager [to the Clothing Center]," she continues. "We can send a deeper message to young girls that they matter, and that they don't have to wear something used against the most intimate part of their body."

Changewear is piloting this new Buy/Give program to hopefully expand their program and increase their impact. Please reach out to Michelle to learn more or become a "Partner For Change". Email inquires to info@changewear.com

LOVE,

MICHELLE