Tell us about your invention/product? What does problem does it solve?
Grace & Able makes joint support to attract compliments, not stares. Orthopedic bracing is an affordable and non-invasive treatment option for arthritic conditions, but people don’t like wearing it because it’s often ugly and uncomfortable. Our wrist brace looks more like apparel than a medical device, offering stability, support, and style.
When patients feel confident in their joint support, they wear it for longer, improving medical outcomes.
The brace contains a patented ergonomically shaped splint for a comfortable fit. It doesn’t dig into hands like metal splints do, and it’s half the weight.
It also features an easy on / easy off zipper, based on customer feedback that people hate undoing and redoing straps every time they go to the bathroom.
What was the inspiration for your invention/product?
I have rheumatoid arthritis and had been fed up for a long time with the poor quality of over-the-counter orthopedic bracing. The final straw came when I had to wear a bulky beige wrist brace at my own wedding so I could do my twirly first dance.
I customized the brace to match my dress and shared the photos with other arthritis patients online.
That’s when I discovered an underserved market of women with chronic pain, who have had enough of sweaty, scratchy, ugly braces. I joined forces with hand therapist Trevor, and we started Grace & Able.
What is the number one goal you have with regards to your invention/product?
We want to be the go-to joint support brand for women with arthritis. Our mission is to build out a full product range of orthopedic bracing and compression products to help you keep doing the things you love.
Who is your product for (target market)?
We design for and with people with arthritis. Most of our customers are women over 40, as women are significantly more prone to wrist and hand pain as we age. We have a close relationship with our customers, they’re lots of fun and we love seeing their photos and hearing their feedback. We even ran an Instagram vote to decide our last set of glove colors!
How long did your invention/prdouct take to get to this point (from the time you conceived of the idea to now)?
It’s taken five years from first idea to get to market, with two years of solid product development.
When you had your idea, what was the first thing you did?
When i first got the idea for the ergonomic perforated wrist splint, I scribbled it down on a piece of paper and then got massively overexcited and started googling for CAD designers! In hindsight, it wish I had done a little more research before diving in. I strongly recommend reading ‘Value Proposition Design’ and ‘The Materials Sourcebook’.
What has been the greatest challenge of getting your idea from your head to something tangible?
Manufacturing soft goods in the consumer medical space. I had assumed that the hardware element of our wrist braces (the splint) would be the most challenging piece, but it’s the fabric wrap that has taken the most time and effort to manufacture.
How did or are you funding the development of your invention/product?
We have been funded by our own capital (bootstrapped) and a couple of grants (shoutout to Hello Alice! https://helloalice.com/). We are a woman and disability-owned company.
How do you currently market your invention/product?
We sell via our website graceandable.com, as well as Etsy, Walmart, and Amazon. We also have some wholesale partners, via hand therapy clinics.
Tell us about your background?
I used to work in the corporate world, but had to leave because of rheumatoid arthritis. I partly started my own business so I would never have to commute again.
Who are your favorite female creators and why?
Marcy McKenna (https://www.marcymckenna.com/) is inspirational – she gives so much back to the inventing community. Diana Hall from ActivArmor (https://activarmor.com/) is a phenomenal success story, her 3D-printed casts are true industry-disrupting products.
What’s been the most surprising part of your creative journey so far?
I’m surprised that nobody else seems to be making products specifically for women living with chronic joint pain – there are millions of us!
What is a typical day like for you?
My day starts at 6am when my dogs jump on me asking for their breakfast. I usually start work at 7am, focusing on deep work until 9am, when I get into those pesky emails. It’s a rollercoaster after that! I work from home because of my disability, which has it’s pros and cons.
Who have been your role models, mentors, etc?
I have been very fortunate to have received mentorship from the WIN program at the Washington Life Sciences Institute – https://www.lswinstitute.org/programs/win/ and to participate in the M2D2 Impact program out of the University of Massachusets https://m2d2impact.com. I’ve been very grateful to our mentors and advisors for their insights and support.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
I run an online community called women with rheumatoid disease. Come and find us at facebook.com/womenwithrd
What’s the best way for the readers/audience of Inventing Women to connect with you?
Connect with us via facebook.com/graceandable or instagram.com/graceandable_official
What is the cost and how can we learn more, purchase your product?
Come over to graceandable.com. Compression gloves are $19.99, and wrist braces are $55. Sign up to our mailing list for 10% off, and product news.
