Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Holland.
Hi Kimberly, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I never imagined I’d become an entrepreneur. I have always worked in education, but five years ago, life threw me a curveball. I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and what followed was a journey of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, radiation, multiple reconstruction surgeries, and more time recovering than I ever could have imagined. Throughout that process, I realized something. There was so much focus on the medical side of recovery, but very little attention was given to how women actually feel living day to day after surgery.
One of the biggest challenges I had was managing surgical drains. It’s not talked about very often, but living for weeks with drains is incredibly uncomfortable. I wanted to leave the house, go to appointments, or just feel like myself again, but I struggled to find anything that could comfortably and discreetly support my drains. Everything I found felt purely medical, with little regard for comfort or the emotional side of recovery. At a time when I desperately wanted a sense of normalcy, I couldn’t find clothing that helped me feel comfortable or confident when I was already scared and barely recognized myself.
Because of this experience the idea of REST LOUNGEWEAR began to take shape. I started REST because I wanted to solve a problem I had personally lived through. During this time, I met so many women who were going through the exact same thing. They all seemed to be struggling with recovery the same way I was. After encouragement from my friends and famly, I began researching fabrics, refining designs, and testing ideas to create undergarments that would securely hold surgical drains and could be worn under my regular clothes while looking and feeling like everyday loungewear instead of a medical garment.
Today, REST LOUNGEWEAR is dedicated to helping women recover with greater comfort, dignity, and confidence. My hope is that when someone puts on one of our garments, they don’t just feel physically supported, they feel a little more like themselves during one of the hardest seasons of their lives.
Looking back, breast cancer changed the direction of my life in ways I never expected. While I would never have chosen that journey, I’m grateful it led me to create something that can make recovery a little easier for someone else.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, but I have learned so much along the way.
Coming from a background in education, I knew absolutely nothing about designing apparel or starting a business. There were so many moments when I felt like I was learning a completely new language. I had to figure out fabrics, product development, manufacturing, branding, marketing, websites, shipping, and so much more. It was overwhelming, but I just kept taking it one step at a time.
I have made plenty of mistakes, changed directions more than once, and spent countless hours researching and asking questions. There were times when I wondered if I was in over my head, but I truly believed in the problem I was trying to solve, and that kept me moving forward.
One thing I did not expect was how much work it would take to simply raise awareness. Most people have never thought about surgical drains until they, or someone they love, experiences them. Sometimes I feel like I spend just as much time educating people about the recovery process as I do talking about the products themselves.
The most rewarding part has been hearing from women who tell me they finally felt comfortable enough to go out to dinner, attend a child’s sporting event, or simply leave the house without worrying about their drains. Those moments remind me why I started REST in the first place, and they make every challenge worth it.
As you know, we’re big fans of REST LOUNGEWEAR. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
REST LOUNGEWEAR was created with one goal in mind: helping women feel more comfortable, confident, and like themselves during recovery after surgery.
Our recovery undergarments are thoughtfully designed with discreet drain pockets that securely support surgical drains and can be worn under regular clothing while looking and feeling like soft, everyday loungewear. Every detail, from the placement of the pockets to the choice of our bamboo fabric, was carefully considered because it was inspired by the real life experiences of women recovering from surgery.
What makes REST different is that it was created by asking, “What would have made my own recovery easier?” That perspective continues to guide everything we do.
One thing I’m especially proud of is that our products are about much more than managing drains. They’re about helping women regain a sense of normalcy during a time when life feels anything but normal. If someone feels comfortable enough to leave the house, have dinner with friends, attend a family event, or simply feel more like themselves while healing, then we’ve accomplished what we set out to do.
As REST LOUNGEWEAR continues to grow, my hope is to keep creating products that support women through recovery with comfort, dignity, and compassion because healing is about so much more than the physical process.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I don’t think finding a mentor always has to mean finding one specific person. For me, it’s been about learning from many different people along the way.
Whether it was talking to family and friends, manufacturers, connecting with other small business owners, listening to healthcare professionals, or simply learning from women who had experienced surgery themselves, every conversation taught me something valuable.
If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be to ask questions and not be afraid to admit what you don’t know. There is so much knowledge out there, and I’ve found that most people are incredibly willing to help when they see that you’re genuinely trying to learn.
Networking, to me, isn’t only about making sales. It’s about building real relationships with people who share your values and can help you grow. Some of the best opportunities and friendships have come from simply being authentic, listening, and showing up with a willingness to learn.
Pricing:
- REST Recovery Tank: $78
- REST Recovery Boyshorts: $64
Contact Info:
- Website: https://restloungewear.shop
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rest_loungewear/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restloungewear/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-holland-904875417/
- Other: kimberly.holland@restloungewear.shop
