Slick Chicks is an adaptive underwear company on a mission to empower people and give them the confidence they need to tackle any of life’s daily challenges. Slick Chicks Adaptive Underwear features side fasteners so that anyone can transition into and out of their products seamlessly and independently, regardless of their physical situation. We’re proud to sell some of their amazing undies at Aerie.com! We talked with Slick Chicks Founder, Heyla Mohammadian, to find out what inspired her to create the brand and how Slick Chicks is changing the game.
What inspired you to create Slick Chicks?
The journey started over five years ago, when my sister gave birth to my adorable nephew. Like many women often do, she had complications during labor and had to undergo an emergency C-section. The post-surgery recovery left her feeling debilitated for several weeks. Just getting out of bed was a major struggle for her. Something as personal as putting on her underwear, she couldn’t do alone. Not wanting to see my sister have such difficulty with her daily routine, I decided it was time to find a solution. Little did I realize that there was a bigger issue here. A product that I would later develop for someone like my sister has served a bigger purpose and impacted the lives of so many people around the world. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that creating this product would change my perspective on something most of us take for granted every day, and that’s getting dressed. For people with disabilities and physical constraints, it’s a problem they face every morning. We all deserve clothes that offer a sense of self, dignity, and independence. This isn’t just about a product. It’s about putting people first, showing empathy, and finding a real solution to a real problem. Our product’s impact has truly changed my life, inspired me, and made me a stronger advocate for inclusivity.
Can you share a favorite story (or 2!) of people you’ve impacted with your products?
When I first started the business, I received an email from a woman inquiring about larger sizing for her mother-in-law, who had limited mobility. At that point I was running a completely bootstrapped startup and only manufacturing a few sizes, so I told her that I didn’t have them in her size, but as soon as I did, I’d be happy to send her some. By the time I was able to send her a pair of Slick Chicks, her mother-in-law had unfortunately succumbed to cancer. She sent me the email below:
“Dear Helya,
I wrote to my mother-in-law and told her how excited I was that you reached out to me and had a sample for her. I didn’t end up hearing from her. Unfortunately, the day you reached out to me, she ended up going to hospice. She spent the last month there and passed away on the 12th. When I spoke to her in hospice, I told her about you and that you had worked up a sample for her. She was over joyed and I think knowing she would have a way to change her underwear on her own gave her some motivation to try and see if she could improve her well-being to be able to go home once they got her meds stable again. She dangled her feet off the bed to show the doctors she could sit up right. They even let her try to support herself on her own. She was working on self-supporting when the disease caused her health to take a dive. Something as small as being able to change her own undergarments was a huge motivator for her. Thank you for thinking of her. Thank you for taking the time to keep her in your mind and reaching out again to me. Your thoughtfulness will not be forgotten.”
Sincerest Regards,
Kat
Though I was overcome with sadness, receiving this email also left me feeling hopeful. The fact that Slick Chicks empowered and impacted someone the way it did erased any doubts I had about the product and only strengthened my mission to help others. To this day I read Kat’s email as a reminder of why I won’t give up the fight to make the world a more inclusive place, even with something as simple as underwear.
My biggest motivator has always been the feedback and response from our customers. It’s an amazing and diverse community of confident people, and the enthusiasm, love, and openness has truly touched me. Hearing body-positive stories and learning about how to make our world more inclusive has really become our number one goal at Slick Chicks, and we try to use that as our guiding principle.
What’s next for your brand?
We are constantly exploring innovative ways to be more inclusive in our design. Currently, we are developing products that are gender inclusive, and we have created a unisex “sister” line that we’re very excited to launch in the coming year. In addition to our amazing partnership with Aerie, we are looking to partner with other brands that align with our mission.
What makes you #AerieREAL?
Our mission is to empower people and make them feel confident regardless of their situation. For us to spread that message we try to represent many body types and believe it is important for people to embrace their bodies. And just like Aerie, we don’t believe in photoshopping and digitally retouching models. That’s why we began an ambassador program where we celebrate all types of people and encourage positive self-image. Our ambassadors have powerful voices and share in our mission of empowering others, so we want to celebrate their accomplishments. And just like Aerie does, we love to spotlight real people in their day to day lives and give them a platform to share their story and bring awareness to a cause they are advocating. That’s what makes US #AerieREAL.
Have you tried Slick Chicks’ undies? Comment below & tell us which ones are your faves!
