It's hard to believe that Double Undies is officially one year old.
Sometimes I'll be sitting at my desk, packing orders, printing shipping labels, answering customer emails, and I find myself having a quiet laugh.
Never in a million years did I think I'd own an underwear company.
If you'd told me a few years ago that I'd be spending my days talking about pelvic floors, absorbency, leaks, gusset designs and women's confidence, I would have thought you were joking.
Yet here I am.
And honestly, it's crazy where life takes you.
When I look back over the past year, I feel an overwhelming mix of emotions. Pride. Gratitude. Exhaustion. Excitement. Relief. Hope.
Because while this journey has been one of the most rewarding things I've ever done, it's also been one of the hardest.
Like many people, I saw a problem that needed solving.
I knew firsthand how frustrating and embarrassing leaks during exercise could be. I knew how many women were quietly managing the same issue. I knew there had to be a better option.
What I didn't realise was how much work would go into bringing that solution to life.
The journey from idea to launch took around eighteen months. There were countless samples, design tweaks, factory discussions, testing, setbacks, and moments where I wondered if we'd ever get to the finish line.
Then finally, on 12th April 2025, Double Undies launched.
I remember feeling excited, nervous and hopeful all at once.
What I couldn't have imagined was what the following twelve months would bring.
There have been incredible highs.
Moments where women have stopped me at events and told me they're already wearing Double Undies.
Messages from customers saying our product has changed their life.
Women telling me they've started running again, jumping again, training again, because they're no longer worried about leaking.
Reviews that have genuinely brought tears to my eyes.
Partnerships with organisations like Wellington Phoenix and Canterbury Rugby that, if I'm being honest, still feel surreal.
Seeing elite female athletes embrace the product and support our mission has been something I'm incredibly proud of.
We've also expanded beyond New Zealand, with customers across Australia, plans for the UK, and opportunities opening up in other parts of the world.
There have been radio interviews, newspaper articles, events, collaborations and opportunities that I never saw coming.
Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself just how much has happened in twelve short months.
But there have also been plenty of challenges.
There have been production issues, factory frustrations, delays, mistakes, cash flow pressures and countless lessons learned along the way.
There have been moments where I've felt completely overwhelmed.
Moments where I've questioned decisions.
Moments where I've wondered if everyone else running a business secretly knows something I don't.
Because the truth is, every new stage brings a new challenge.
Just when you solve one problem, another appears.
And while I thought that after a year I'd be reaping the rewards financially, the reality has been different.
The rewards have shown up in ways I wasn't expecting.
They've come through the women who have trusted us.
The women who have shared deeply personal stories.
The women who have told me that Double Undies has given them confidence they haven't felt in years.
The women who no longer plan workouts around where the nearest toilet is.
The women who don't have to leave the gym feeling embarrassed.
The women who simply feel like themselves again.
Those are the moments that remind me why this matters.
Because what I've learned over the last year is that Double Undies isn't really about underwear.
It's about confidence.
It's about freedom.
It's about helping women keep doing the things they love.
It's about breaking a taboo that has kept too many women silent for too long.
One of the things I'm most proud of is that we're helping start those conversations.
I've spoken openly about my own experiences.
I've shared things online that most people would never talk about.
I've joked about peeing myself on the internet more times than I can count.
Not because it's glamorous, but because if we don't talk about it, nothing changes.
Every conversation helps normalise what so many women experience.
Every conversation helps another woman realise she's not alone.
And every conversation creates an opportunity for someone to seek support, understand their body better, and feel less embarrassed about something that is incredibly common.
Throughout all of this, I couldn't have done it alone.
My husband has been my biggest supporter, often reminding me to step away from the computer, go for a walk, get some fresh air and remember that not every problem needs solving immediately.
My family and friends have been there through every high and every low.
And then there are our customers.
Every order.
Every review.
Every social media comment.
Every email.
Every recommendation to a friend.
Every repeat purchase.
I genuinely don't think you'll ever understand how much those things mean to a small business owner.
Because behind every order is a person choosing to trust us.
And for that, I am incredibly grateful.
As I look ahead to the next year, I'm excited.
We have new products coming.
New opportunities.
New partnerships.
New challenges, no doubt.
But the mission remains exactly the same as it was on day one.
To help women feel confident.
To break the stigma around leaks.
To encourage women to seek support when they need it.
And to ensure that no woman feels she has to stop doing what she loves because she's worried about leaking.
This first year has been far from perfect.
It's been messy, challenging, emotional and at times exhausting.
But it's also been one of the most meaningful years of my life.
And if this is what the first year looks like, I can't wait to see what comes next.
Jane xx
It's hard to believe that Double Undies is officially one year old.
Sometimes I'll be sitting at my desk, packing orders, printing shipping labels, answering customer emails, and I find myself having a quiet laugh.
Never in a million years did I think I'd own an underwear company.
If you'd told me a few years ago that I'd be spending my days talking about pelvic floors, absorbency, leaks, gusset designs and women's confidence, I would have thought you were joking.
Yet here I am.
And honestly, it's crazy where life takes you.
When I look back over the past year, I feel an overwhelming mix of emotions. Pride. Gratitude. Exhaustion. Excitement. Relief. Hope.
Because while this journey has been one of the most rewarding things I've ever done, it's also been one of the hardest.
Like many people, I saw a problem that needed solving.
I knew firsthand how frustrating and embarrassing leaks during exercise could be. I knew how many women were quietly managing the same issue. I knew there had to be a better option.
What I didn't realise was how much work would go into bringing that solution to life.
The journey from idea to launch took around eighteen months. There were countless samples, design tweaks, factory discussions, testing, setbacks, and moments where I wondered if we'd ever get to the finish line.
Then finally, on 12th April 2025, Double Undies launched.
I remember feeling excited, nervous and hopeful all at once.
What I couldn't have imagined was what the following twelve months would bring.
There have been incredible highs.
Moments where women have stopped me at events and told me they're already wearing Double Undies.
Messages from customers saying our product has changed their life.
Women telling me they've started running again, jumping again, training again, because they're no longer worried about leaking.
Reviews that have genuinely brought tears to my eyes.
Partnerships with organisations like Wellington Phoenix and Canterbury Rugby that, if I'm being honest, still feel surreal.
Seeing elite female athletes embrace the product and support our mission has been something I'm incredibly proud of.
We've also expanded beyond New Zealand, with customers across Australia, plans for the UK, and opportunities opening up in other parts of the world.
There have been radio interviews, newspaper articles, events, collaborations and opportunities that I never saw coming.
Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself just how much has happened in twelve short months.
But there have also been plenty of challenges.
There have been production issues, factory frustrations, delays, mistakes, cash flow pressures and countless lessons learned along the way.
There have been moments where I've felt completely overwhelmed.
Moments where I've questioned decisions.
Moments where I've wondered if everyone else running a business secretly knows something I don't.
Because the truth is, every new stage brings a new challenge.
Just when you solve one problem, another appears.
And while I thought that after a year I'd be reaping the rewards financially, the reality has been different.
The rewards have shown up in ways I wasn't expecting.
They've come through the women who have trusted us.
The women who have shared deeply personal stories.
The women who have told me that Double Undies has given them confidence they haven't felt in years.
The women who no longer plan workouts around where the nearest toilet is.
The women who don't have to leave the gym feeling embarrassed.
The women who simply feel like themselves again.
Those are the moments that remind me why this matters.
Because what I've learned over the last year is that Double Undies isn't really about underwear.
It's about confidence.
It's about freedom.
It's about helping women keep doing the things they love.
It's about breaking a taboo that has kept too many women silent for too long.
One of the things I'm most proud of is that we're helping start those conversations.
I've spoken openly about my own experiences.
I've shared things online that most people would never talk about.
I've joked about peeing myself on the internet more times than I can count.
Not because it's glamorous, but because if we don't talk about it, nothing changes.
Every conversation helps normalise what so many women experience.
Every conversation helps another woman realise she's not alone.
And every conversation creates an opportunity for someone to seek support, understand their body better, and feel less embarrassed about something that is incredibly common.
Throughout all of this, I couldn't have done it alone.
My husband has been my biggest supporter, often reminding me to step away from the computer, go for a walk, get some fresh air and remember that not every problem needs solving immediately.
My family and friends have been there through every high and every low.
And then there are our customers.
Every order.
Every review.
Every social media comment.
Every email.
Every recommendation to a friend.
Every repeat purchase.
I genuinely don't think you'll ever understand how much those things mean to a small business owner.
Because behind every order is a person choosing to trust us.
And for that, I am incredibly grateful.
As I look ahead to the next year, I'm excited.
We have new products coming.
New opportunities.
New partnerships.
New challenges, no doubt.
But the mission remains exactly the same as it was on day one.
To help women feel confident.
To break the stigma around leaks.
To encourage women to seek support when they need it.
And to ensure that no woman feels she has to stop doing what she loves because she's worried about leaking.
This first year has been far from perfect.
It's been messy, challenging, emotional and at times exhausting.
But it's also been one of the most meaningful years of my life.
And if this is what the first year looks like, I can't wait to see what comes next.
Jane xx