How This Entrepreneur Is Making The Undergarment Industry More Inclusive

Helya Mohammadian, the founder of Slick Chicks, is on a mission to make the undergarment industry more inclusive for individuals with disabilities. Her company bridges the gap between fashion and function by making underwear conducive for females of all types, sizes and handicaps. Instead of having to pull the underwear up over the knees, Slick Chicks fastens on the side.

The idea behind Slick Chicks stemmed from Mohammadian’s personal experience. “A couple of years ago, my sister gave birth to my nephew," says Mohammadian.  "She had a complicated labor. The post-recovery was very hard for her. Changing and holding the baby and using the bathroom or taking a shower was difficult. She did not feel like herself. She had limited mobility. Her husband was helping her. One specific incident was that he had to help her change her underwear.”

At that moment Mohammadian began researching and questioning if there was a product out on the market that was an alternative to adult diapers. She was in search of something more adaptive her sister could use.

During her quest, she found companies that were very medical and geriatric. Disappointed with the options, and having a background in fashion, she strategized how she could design her own pair of underwear.

“I'm just going to make a pair of underwear for you,” Mohammadian told her sister. “See if they work. I actually took an old pair of underwear and redesigned them.  I had no idea what I was doing. I just went into it completely naive. The first one was really bad. I kept trying. I finally ended up coming up with what I thought was a great product.”

Mohammadian’s journey as an entrepreneur began in retail. “When I was in fashion and working at a retail store, I really didn't see the light at the end of the tunnel," she says. "So, I had to create that for myself. When this came about, it was a challenge, but it was an exciting challenge. It was one that I wanted to take on. In hindsight, I wish I could have enjoyed it more because the beginning is what's so exciting, and that's what I tell people now. It’s scary, but it’s the most exciting part of it.”

Her passion and determination inspired her to keep working on her concept. Through all of her mistakes, she remembers why she started: to make fashion inclusive for everyone.

“I didn't go to school for business,” Mohammadian explains. “I didn't go to an Ivy League [school]. I had no idea what a start-up was. I taught myself pretty much everything. I still make a lot of mistakes, but I feel like that transition from what I was doing to jumping into a completely foreign territory made me a stronger person. I would do it all over again.”

Although Mohammadian started the company because of her sister, she sees the bigger picture; she understands the larger impact her company can have.

“I made the prototype and hired a professional to make the underwear,” she says. “I paid for 50 samples and started giving them out to people. I launched a Kick Starter campaign. I received good feedback. Our first customers were friends and family. A lot of the customers were wheelchair users and women with chronic illnesses.”

Just as Mohammadian pivoted within her career, she also pivoted Slick Chicks. Initially, the company started out as strictly an underwear company that aimed to be functional.

Now, they are also empowering women and serving as a platform for women with disabilities to have a voice. “The product hasn't changed,” she explains. “Our branding, content, and marketing have changed. The way that we portray ourselves is completely different than when I set out.”

The biggest change Slick Chicks has gone through from prelaunch to where they are now is featuring women from all over the world regardless of their chronic illness.

“I have a woman with a disability who writes our blogs,” she happily states. “She hasn't had a job in five years. She finds other people who are breaking barriers in their communities and who are advocating for others. That's who we feature. I surround myself with people who can teach me, and who I can learn from. It’s been very challenging but it has come with many rewards.”

As Mohammadian continues to expand and develop Slick Chicks, she shares three essential steps to successfully pivoting:

• Research is key. If you don't do your research, you can spend a lot of money for no reason. Also, you don't want to miss out on any opportunities. Look up other companies who are doing it right.
• Learn and understand how you can do it better. This is an opportunity to find your niche. Find a way to break in the market and do it better.
• Develop a solid support system. Pivoting is scary but with a good team to support you it makes the process more manageable.

“It’s the simplest things that make the biggest impact and the biggest difference," Mohammadian says. "The first thing I thought about was when people say we all put our pants on one leg at a time. No. That doesn't apply to everyone. The world is changing and we have to change with it. We have to encourage people and support people if we want to grow.”