Our Story

How We Got Started:

I have always kind of struggled with my mental health, and have never been the most outgoing person. It is hard to open up to friends and family for fear of what they will think, say or do. So instead of venting or releasing pent up emotions we sit and let them stew in turn making us more depressed, anxious, lonely, etc. 

It started as an idea in my third year of university that I wanted to create a way for people to "silently" tell others how they are doing, feeling, or struggling with. Using humor has always been a way to cope so I wanted to create lighthearted designs that not only draw attention to various Mental Health conditions, but to potentially educate others on them, and to hopefully make someone smile, giggle or lift their spirits a little in some way.

Ultimately it is about being comfortable in your strength and your softness, I want my designs to remind people that it's okay: not to be strong all the time, to not be okay, to show vulnerability, to ask for help, to ask for a hug. Strength and Softness go hand in hand, and I would like my clothing to remind you my friends of that.

Our Name:

I chose 'SoftBrick' simply because I thought it was funny contradiction that something as hard as a brick might be soft. I also thought it played well for a Mental Health Clothing Brand Name as I saw it as a type of metaphor representing the complexity of Mental Health, where again something that seems outwardly strong can sometimes hide inner softness/ vulnerability.

4 Reasons It Ties To Mental Health & Our Goals:

Strength and Vulnerability: A brick is typically a symbol of strength and resilience, but calling it "soft" acknowledges that even the strongest people have vulnerabilities. This could symbolize the duality of mental health, where someone can appear strong on the outside but might be struggling on the inside. The clothing represents the idea that it’s okay to show both sides of yourself—strength and fragility.

The Stigma: The phrase "soft brick" could challenge the traditional view of mental health, where people are often expected to "tough it out" or not show weakness. By using this metaphor, Softbrick promotes the message that it’s okay to be strong and still need support. We encourage people to embrace both their resilience and their need for care, helping to break down the stigma around showing vulnerability

Balance Between Hard and Soft: The "soft brick" could represent a balance between being tough when necessary and also being kind to oneself during hard times. It could remind people that it’s important to be resilient but also to recognize when to rest or seek help—essentially, promoting mental and emotional balance.

Comfort in Strength: The clothing could literally reflect comfort (soft fabric) with strength (sturdy designs, bold messages). This represents how mental health can be both comforting and empowering. It could emphasize that mental health care can provide both strength and softness in one's journey.