Founders Story: How Libre Clothing for Chemotherapy & Dialysis Was Born

In January of 2008, Megan’s mom, Teresa, was diagnosed with kidney failure and had to begin dialysis treatment, which she endured several times a week for up to four hours at a time. Teresa was frustrated from ruining perfectly good clothes trying to stay warm and comfortable during dialysis. Megan saw this need and had an idea to create clothing that would help dialysis patients get through treatment more comfortably. 

Megan and Libre’s other Co-Founders (Mandy Eckman, Tess Schuster and Bethany Skaff) designed the clothing line for dialysis & infusion patients while attending Miami University’s Page Center for Entrepreneurship. Each felt a special connection through their relatives’ experiences with dialysis, chemotherapy, or other infusion treatments. Tess’ grandfather was also a dialysis patient, which gave her a better understanding of how beneficial this type of clothing could be to not only dialysis patients, but other patients as well.

The team designed several garments with dialysis patients in mind that had openings in the arm, chest, or leg so dialysis and other infusion patients could easily access their treatment site and remain comfortable. We worked on the plan for a year, surveyed hundreds of dialysis patients about designs, and had prototypes tested during dialysis treatments to make sure we had the best design possible.

Libre was launched in March of 2009 with only two items and traveled throughout the country to dialysis centers, hospitals, and conferences promoting our line. We made sure to gather plenty of feedback from dialysis and infusion patients, their nurses, and their loved ones or caregivers. We are dedicated to providing comfortable, functional clothing for dialysis and infusion patients. Libre’s clothing is developed with the customer in mind as we strive to ease the burden of dialysis & other infusion treatment days. 

So, why choose the name Libre? Many languages use the word libre to mean “open” or “free”.  We chose Libre to refer to the openings in our clothing, as well as the way dialysis, chemotherapy, and other infusion patients feel while wearing our clothes!  They have the freedom to wear what they want any time of the day without letting treatment hold them back from their daily activities.  

Today, Libre is more than a clothing line.  We strive to ease the burden of helping our customers remain comfortable during dialysis and other infusion treatments. We are committed to working with organizations that share that goal by giving back to different foundations that work to bring ease to dialysis and other patients’ lives.

Our goal is to make each dialysis, chemotherapy, and infusion patient's life a little more "Libre"!

Team Libre

      Megan, Tess, Bethany, & Mandy