Keira Kotler was shocked when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 40 years old, and she is grateful to have survived the often fatal disease. Kotler, a San Francisco-based visual artist and marketing professional, underwent a bilateral mastectomy followed by implant reconstruction. She was shocked to discover one of her greatest challenges was finding comfortable and beautiful garments to wear throughout the healing process.
After six months and over 200 bras, she began talking to other survivors about their shopping experiences and discovered she was not alone. Keira found the disconnect between fit, comfort, and beauty in the lingerie industry was universal and left women feeling more like a patient than a person. As she overcame that barrier to psychological and emotional healing, she resolved to make a difference. Two years later, she launched Everviolet as an intimate apparel and loungewear collection designed to nurture a woman’s body and her sense of herself following treatment for breast cancer and other meaningful life events, including other types of cancer, surgeries, post-pregnancy, menopause, and even puberty.
We asked Keira Kotler about her business and her experience of having, and living after, breast cancer.
Grit Daily: Can you share your own breast cancer experience?
Keira Kotler: I was diagnosed with breast cancer on a routine mammogram at age 40. With no family history or known risk factors, it was shocking to say the least. But ultimately, I was one of the lucky ones, as what my surgeon thought would be an invasive diagnosis turned out to be early stage. I underwent a bilateral mastectomy followed by implant reconstruction and navigated those surgeries as well as could be expected. Imagine my surprise, then, when getting dressed in the morning became one of my greatest challenges. My old lingerie no longer fit, and garments designed for after surgery were synthetic, scratchy, industrial, and quite frankly, ugly. Wearing them felt like adding insult to injury. After suffering in silence for a while, I finally started speaking with other women – only to discover that this issue was both universal and a barrier to healing on emotional and psychological levels. So, I founded Everviolet with the mission to help women reclaim and redefine a sense of self and femininity following change, helping them feel like people first and patients last.
Grit Daily: What advice would you give other women that are going through a similar situation?
Keira Kotler: One of the strongest memories I can recall from early on in my journey was desperately wanting to get treatment over with – to get the cancer out of my body as quickly as possible. But I will pass along the advice that my amazing surgeon, Dr. Laura Esserman, gave me – You have time. Take the time to do your research, understand your options and deeply feel into which choices feel the truest to who you are and what you want your life to look like.
Also, know that this experience, while immensely challenging, will also show you colors in your personal rainbow that you didn’t know you possessed. It will elicit more strength and grace that you think you have, and reveal amazing love in your life from your circle of family and friends.
Grit Daily: Please tell us a bit more about the brand.
Keira Kotler: Everviolet creates comfortable, adaptive and beautiful intimate apparel for women who are facing body changes due to cancer, illness, surgery, pregnancy, menopause and other physical challenges. As a brand, we are on a mission to help women in all stages and phases of life feel their best and most confident.
Our collection is ethically made with certified sustainable jersey and ultra-soft lace, and we are committed to being environmentally and socially responsible in all aspects of the business. Our mantra is #beautyofchange, because we believe that true beauty shines from the inside out, and that body imperfections are not flaws, but rather badges of courage, strength and pride.
Grit Daily: What sets you apart from your competitors?
Keira Kotler: At Everviolet, we identify with the Slow Fashion movement, which means that we believe in creating quality garments that endure the test of time. At times more expensive than our competition, our pieces last, wash after wash, for many years – meaning that our customers ultimately spend less. Our fabrics and trims are of the highest quality, and we differentiate through our beautiful colorways. As an artist and painter whose work focuses on how color influences our mood and state of health, each color in our collection is thoughtfully selected based on impact, not trends. We have a strong eco-mission as well – focusing on being a brand that is both good for the body and the planet.
Grit Daily: Describe your ideal customer?
Keira Kotler: Our ideal customer is any woman who is seeking wireless, sustainable intimate apparel that is both comfortable and beautiful. *Many women assume that wireless lingerie is not supportive, but when the right technical design elements are in place, it is.
Our collection includes functionality for many special needs as well. First and foremost are women after breast, thoracic or GYN surgeries, including Cesarean section pregnancies. Those with skin sensitivities and skin allergies love our products because of how clean the jersey is, and anyone with limited arm mobility will love our front closure bras. If you’re going through cancer surgery or treatment, including radiation and chemotherapy, you’ll adore our camisoles and post-operative wear, as well as the fact that our bras help prevent lymphedema and avoid sensitive scar, nerve damage and port placement sites. If you have a condition that causes the body to retain or lose fluid, or suffer from swelling or weight gain or loss, the adaptability of our stretch jersey will promote the utmost in comfort. There’s lots more as well, so if you’re curious, feel free to reach out to our Customer Care team at [email protected].
Grit Daily: Are you launching a new collection soon?
Keira Kotler: We currently have several new styles in development and plans to expand into new product categories and physical needs. Launch dates have not been released as of yet, but if you subscribe to our newsletter via this link, you’ll be the first to know about new product releases. Stay tuned!!
Grit Daily: What’s next for the brand?
Keira Kotler: I’m thrilled to announce that we will soon be launching our Philanthropy Program and donating a portion of sales to select breast cancer research and prevention organizations. Giving back has been a goal of mine since founding Everviolet, along with the intent of having increased social impact on the lives of current thrivers and those who have yet to be diagnosed.
