The founders of Here For You Clothing, Ellie Haney and Emma Kilbride, came to the Sacred Heart University (SHU) campus to promote mental health awareness on Sept. 28 at 12:30 p.m. at the Center for Healthcare Education.
| Instagram, @hereforyouclothing |
Haney and Kilbride gave a presentation about their mental health journeys and how their personal struggles inspired them to create a fashion advocacy brand. Students also shopped the brand’s merchandise at the event, including their new collaboration with the university featuring the SHU logo, which was released on Sept. 23.
Here For You Clothing uses fashion to promote mental health awareness and encourage people to support one another. The brand’s ambassadors help spread its message that people are not alone.
“I wanted to become an ambassador because I have seen so many people struggle with mental health and not know how to deal with it,” said junior and brand ambassador Julia Dimyan. “It can feel very isolating and feel like you are the only one experiencing it and having this happen to you.”
For Dimyan, being involved in the brand is about creating a support system she believes is significant for people experiencing mental health struggles.
“When you are struggling it is so helpful to hear that someone is here for you,” said Dimyan. “It makes you feel like you are not alone and that you are seen and heard.”
Here For You began as Haney’s creative pursuit during the COVID-19 pandemic that she later transformed into a business alongside Kilbride, her best friend and managing partner. Haney founded the brand after using clothing and design as a coping mechanism to deal with her own mental health struggles.
“I believe that if I knew people struggled like I did, I would have lived a very different life,” said Haney. “If I knew that I was not alone, I would’ve been less afraid to reach out for help.”
Haney now encourages students to utilize their own experiences as a source of creativity and motivation.
“Share your story. Share your struggle,” said Haney. “It is healing for yourself and it is healing for others and it is powerful.”
Junior Ella Nocera, who owns multiple pieces from Here For You, such as their popular hoodies and shorts, said the brand’s clothing gives students the opportunity to support mental health advocacy in an everyday way.
“It’s very important because it is a major thing in a lot of people’s daily lives,” said Nocera. “It’s important to bring awareness to mental health and to remove the negative stigma around it.”
Nocera also sees fashion as an effective way to reach younger audiences, especially college students. For her, wearing a piece of Here For You clothing can serve as a subtle but effective way to promote the brand’s message and spark conversation about mental health.
“Fashion targets a younger audience and is an unspoken advocacy,” said Nocera. “It also promotes the brand itself when people wear the clothes they buy.”
Here For You Clothing merchandise varies in price from $32 to $74 depending on what is being purchased. Students can purchase clothing from the brand’s website or storefront in Fairfield, Conn. 10% of the brand’s proceeds are donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Beyond selling clothing, Here For You shares its message by visiting college campuses, high schools and organizations across the country. Haney hopes these conversations continue beyond the clothing by helping people to feel comfortable speaking about their mental health experiences.
“The more we normalize it, the more people will feel like it’s OK to ask for help,” said Haney.
