Misery Loves Company … and T-shirts focussed on mental health awareness

Tummy Ache and Love, Kat have teamed up to create a T-shirt that speaks to the epidemic of loneliness among young people – designed to de-stigmatise the taboo of asking for help when you’re struggling. These two young designers, who are both transparent about their personal struggles with mental health online and how it impinges on their daily lives, are utlising the medium of fashion to spread the message that “Misery Loves Company,” and that when you feel like you’re alone there is always the option to call a friend, loved one, or mental health service.

This collaboration – launching June 15th – aims to foster a community of people who are open to being vulnerable, wearing their emotions on their clothing, and having vulnerable conversations with each other. The movement of people wearing emotional clothing could be radical in its power to bring people together who may be struggling, illustrating that they are not alone.

This collaboration hopes to create spaces, through the uptake and proliferation of defiant vulnerability, for emotionally honest conversations to happen online and in personal spaces.

This collaboration is thoughtfully designed and made in England from sustainably sourced organic cotton. The central design – illustrated by both Anna Morrissey (founder of Tummy Ache) and Kate Rose (founder of Love, Kat) – is embroidered using recycled thread in a solar powered factory in England. This T-shirt is an expression of care and transparency.

1 in 4 people in the UK experience mental health issues within a year. Tummy Ache and Love, Kat hope to start a sartorial revolution with this T-shirt that empowers people to reach out for help.