By: Amanda Reseburg
According to a recent report from Forbes, 30% of working women work remotely from home. Whether they own their own business or work from home for a company, women are helping change the face of the workplace.
Today’s working world is about flexibility and comfortable working conditions. The rise in remote work has changed work clothing styles as well. Business casual has morphed into business very casual, with comfy loungewear becoming perfectly acceptable for the work-from-home queen.
The growing acceptance of ultra-comfortable work wear has coincided with an idea sparked by pandemic-era creativity and a desire to help others. Stephanie Devli, creator of The Happy Camp3r, is jumping on the loungewear trend and offering a company that seeks to bring not only comfort into people’s lives but also happiness and caring.
A Desire to Help
Devli always knew that no matter what career she pursued, she wanted to help others. She earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Psychology from NYU and had plans to become a Ph.D. and, eventually, a therapist. However, much like many others who experienced the life-changing impact of COVID-19, the year 2020 altered her course.
“I started my business in my parent’s garage during the early days of the pandemic shutdown,” Devli recalls. Wanting to stave off boredom and get creative, she hopped on a tie-dye trend that was making the rounds and soon found herself churning out dozens of tie-dyed creations. “It started as a hobby, but I soon had a vision. I knew I could turn it into something more meaningful,” she says.
Not long after, Devli abandoned the tie-dye and decided to go in a more comfort-driven route in more ways than one. “The focus on mental health was at an all-time high,” she says. “Having grappled with anxiety myself, I knew I could bring some care, comfort wear, and understanding to people who were struggling.”
Comfort for Your Mental Health
Even though broader acceptance of work flexibility has been one of the silver linings of the global shutdown that accompanied the Covid pandemic, people still struggled with mental health issues that could be directly tied to work stress. “Many people hide from these internal struggles, especially women, which can bring about unfortunate outcomes,” says Devli.
The Happy Camp3r is built around themes of comfort, effortless style, and supportive messaging. The combination approach aims to soothe anxiety and other mental health concerns from both a practical level — through cozy clothes — and an emotional level, through messages that offer support, love, and commiseration.
The loose-fitting henleys, sweatshirts, and pajama sets made from soft materials can offer relief from feelings of tension and sensory overload. High-stress work situations can happen even when working from home, but having something comfortable and unrestrictive to wear can help one weather those tough work days.
The inspirational messaging emblazoned on The Happy Camp3r’s clothes serves as affirmation for those who may need a daily boost to get going in the morning. Messages such as “I’ll Always Love You” or “The Art of Letting Go” seek to encourage and inspire. A newly dropped item shows the “Road to Success,” and other items come in delicate, calming flower patterns or even have cheeky calls-to-actions such as “Call Me When You See This.”
The Happy Camp3r’s entire collection has been designed to suggest warm, snuggly comfort along with meaningful mental health support.
Creating Boss Babe Essentials
The growth of women-owned businesses during and immediately following Covid was notable. Like Devli, many women decided to get creative and bring something to the market they felt was missing. With The Happy Camp3r, Devli offers a timely product that speaks to today’s female entrepreneurs who are throwing off the stuffy business suits and seeking softer, more gentle workwear.
Thus far, Devli has leveraged the power of social media and influencers to get the word out about her comfort wear. Celebrities such as Taylor Lautner and Reece James have even taken a liking to The Happy Camp3r’s comfy duds. “It’s been very rewarding to see the clothes get recognition,” says Devli.
Recently, Devli took the business to the MAGIC New York Convention, a place for new designers to showcase their forward-thinking fashion. The unique mix of advocacy and comfortable fashion was a hit with convention-goers, and Devli received the “Fan Favorite” award. “It was such an amazing experience, and we were able to meet so many people who supported our mission,” says Devli.
Devli is not only making working from home more comfortable for people; she is making a difference in the mental health space with The Happy Camp3r. To date, she has raised thousands for organizations such as The Trevor Project, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, and NAMI.
With the changing working world comes a change in style, ushering in a new age of comfort wear. Working from home is here to stay, as studies show that remote jobs will likely rise by 25% by 2030. Through The Happy Camp3r, Devli has created a way to support remote workers with physical comfort and emotional outreach.
Published by: Nelly Chavez
