#SmallBizSpotlight Featured Member: Liz Emery

A life-changing experience and an enduring love of family led Liz Emery to start her clothing line, Liz & Ett.  While caring for her grandmothers and watching their dignity wither away with physical challenges, Liz decided to bring style to women with limited mobility. She learned the ropes of the clothing design business, with the good fortune of being in the heart of New York City's Garment District as her playground. Today, Liz & Ett brings stylish clothing choices to mothers and grandmothers and anyone with limited mobility, with her smartly designed SmockFrock™ , a chic version of an adult bib for those who are prone to messes at mealtime, the hair salon, and even during painting class in a retirement home. With a new line of designs on the horizon, a SmockFrock™ for men, Liz is busier than ever. But with a business that comes from the heart, there is no end to this labor of love!

We chatted with Liz about how she started her business:

What inspired you to get started?
After being a caregiver for my grandmothers, I saw so many ways in which we could have improved the caregiving experience.  It was life-changing for me, and the indignities that I witnessed while doing hands-on care stuck with me long after my grandmothers passed away.  I was inspired to start designing and the rest is history!   

What was your background? Was it in what you are doing now?
I was on a completely different path before starting my business!  I studied microbiology in undergrad, did my master’s in public health, and then went on to med school.  My plan was to specialize in Infectious Disease and then work for the CDC investigating disease outbreaks.  I had always wanted to be part of the Epidemic Intelligence Service!  But life had a different plan for me.  Being a caregiver was a life-changing experience and set me on a different trajectory.     

What challenge have you had to face that led to a big growth for your company?
One of the biggest challenges for me has been learning how to take a design from idea to reality.  The services available in the NY Garment Center have been instrumental in allowing me to get my business off the ground.  I utilized the Garment Industry Development Corporation (GIDC) consulting services and local sourcing showcases through FIT and the Save the Garment Center (STGC) movement to find the right manufacturers, and source my materials.  This is a steep learning curve for me, but being able to be here in NYC and manage operations hands-on, make adjustments to my designs with the pattern makers in person, etc. has made it all possible.    

What do you have going on in your business right now that you're excited about?
We’re about to launch a new design – our first design for men!  It’s a masculine version of the SmockFrock, made of techy material, and it is designed to look like a vest. 

The SmockFrock™ is fashionable and functional, it’s perfect for the woman who has everything, who has downsized, or who is facing a health challenge.  It’s something she can use daily and be reminded of how much she is loved.

Where would you love to see your business in 5 years?
I’d love to see my designs in large high end retail stores so that caregivers have access to quality, dignified products.  This niche market is so neglected – once you reach a certain age or need help with certain activities of daily living, you fall off into the land of the bland and generic.  Right now, there are more sophisticated options out there for babies and pets than there are for those with limited mobility!  My ultimate goal is for Liz & Ett to be a lifestyle brand that makes caregiving more palatable for all involved – for aging loved ones, patients in the hospital, on hospice, etc. and their families/caregivers – so that this ‘labor of love’ can be a much more dignified experience.  I want to transform the industry!