FRIENDS
and
FAMILY
Gardher connects the conversations, consciousness and curves of girls, women, and birthing people.
A LETTER TO FRIENDS & FAMILY
KENDALL GARDNER
Gardher was born from a deeply personal pain point. After my second C-section, I returned home with my three-day-old baby and found myself alone in the bathroom, trying to gather and manage my postpartum recovery essentials. Incredibly vulnerable and deeply frustrated, the recovery underwear I had simply didn’t fit. It was disheartening to navigate something so basic at a time when I needed care and ease the most.
As I began to heal, I started researching my options, only to discover there were very few—and none that felt inclusive of my body or experience. That realization was both surprising and deeply concerning. At the time, I was leading The Ararat, my nonprofit focused on holistic wellness events for adolescent girls, and I had just hosted an event in Houston with an OBGYN and nutritionist aimed at closing gaps in conversation and care around women’s health.
The more I researched, the more I uncovered a troubling reality: many of the existing solutions were not only limited, but often made with materials and practices that could be harmful to both women and young girls.
Not only do we lack products intentionally designed for us, but we also lack intergenerational conversations around our bodies and health, leaving many feeling isolated at every age and vulnerable life stage.
This intersection of personal experience and broader insight became the foundation for Gardher.
Millions of girls and women rely on products that are outdated, uncomfortable, and fundamentally misaligned with how bodies actually move and heal across menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, menopause and gynecological surgeries.
Heightened concern around chemical exposure in conventional pads and tampons, paired with their environmental cost is accelerating demand for modern, sustainable solutions built for real use and real bodies.
The market has historically treated these vulnerable stages as isolated problems, offering disposable, clinical, or ill-fitting solutions that fail to meet women’s physical, emotional, and lifestyle needs.
I am building Gardher to address these gaps, a brand that centers curvy girls and women at vulnerable life stages, allowing them to feel seen and supported during health stages that are often overlooked or underserved.
I have spent the past two years developing a product that is a thoughtfully engineered, inclusive leak protection panty that features a comfortable, layered leak protection gusset with a purposefully designed wash bag. This intentional design will support menstruating girls as young as nine and curvy women well into their golden years, honoring bodies as they change.
Our intergenerational approach addresses unmet needs across life stages, delivering reliable protection, dignity and comfort through the natural rhythms of life.
The need is significant and growing:
12.9 MILLION GIRLS
Every year, 12.9 million girls in the U.S. begin their first period, marking the start of a journey that lasts 40+ years of managing menstruation.
1 in 3 WOMEN
At the same time, nearly 1 in 3 women will experience bladder leakage due to childbirth, aging, or health conditions.
VALUED AT $15B
Valued at $15B today, the U.S. feminine hygiene market is forecast to reach $20B by 2030, driven by an aging population and increasing health awareness among younger consumers.
1 in 5 WOMEN
Nearly 1 in 5 women in the U.S. will undergo a hysterectomy, and up to 80% will develop fibroids—revealing a massive, overlooked population in need of better-designed recovery solutions.
I am asking a small group of early, strategic supporters to join me in this Friends & Family angel gift round at a pivotal moment.
I’ve reached a critical moment where I need the support of my community.
Over the next 180 days, I will be working toward a small-batch launch — if there was ever a time to support me, the time is now. I can only get there with your support. Below are the key steps I will take to bring this vision to life.
- Kendall Gardner, Founder
I’m asking for your support - an investment in me - as I continue building Gardher and bringing this vision to life. If you know me, you know I don’t do things halfway. I am committed to positioning Gardher strongly in the market, and I will need the support of my community to reach a future seed round. A gift of any size will make a meaningful difference.
- Kendall Gardner, Founder
Investment
Tiers
A gift of any size will make a meaningful difference.
Founders Circle - $2,500
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Deal toy
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Special Edition Gardher Tote Bag
Visionary - $25,000
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All Legacy benefits
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Design and Product Review Product Launch Annual Visionary Partner Strategic Planning Session
Innovation Partner - $5,000
Pinnacle - $50,000
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All Founders Circle benefits
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Limited Keepsake Album Documenting The Story Behind Gardher from concept to creation
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All Visionary benefits
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Seat on the Founders Advisory Council
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Name etched on a Founders Wall of Honor at flagship location
Legacy - $10,000
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All Innovation Partner benefits
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Invitation to exclusive launch preview event (virtual or in-person)
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Recognition on website as a Legacy Partner
Contributions can be made via Zelle or Check. If you prefer to send a wire, please contact me directly for details.
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Zelle: kendall@gardher.com
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Check:
Kendall Gardner
1415 S. Voss Road
Ste. 110-206, Houston, TX 77057
Laundry
Bag
Leak-Protection
Panty
Packaging
Panty
Prototype
Our History: 26 Months
Early Development & Strategic Shift
The idea began with a personal pain point: I couldn’t find postpartum underwear that truly fit or
supported my needs. That experience led me to seek something better. At the time, I was running The Ararat, a nonprofit focused on wellness events for adolescent girls. This moment sparked a broader vision—what began as community-based work evolved into product development, expanding the mission to support women across life stages. During this transition, I brought on a marketing team to define the brand and lay the foundation for a scalable, product-driven
business.
Research & Foundation Building
I then immersed myself in product development research, gaining a deeper understanding of the space, including the nuanced language and needs surrounding postpartum and menstruation. As I refined the problem and clarified what was required to move forward, I attended a lecture that helped crystallize my next step: hiring a technical designer as the first key role. I connected with a friend to help map out next steps in the product development process and identify the path ahead.
Product Development & Prototyping
With a technical designer in place, we developed the initial tech pack to translate the concept into detailed specifications. We then partnered with a sample maker and moved through multiple rounds of sampling and iteration, refining fit, function, and construction. This process resulted in a finalized prototype and pattern, establishing the foundation for production.
Expert Guidance, Sourcing & Infrastructure
After developing the prototype, I engaged product development experts to guide next steps toward production. I began evaluating manufacturing partners and connecting with founders in the intimate apparel space for insight and mentorship. In parallel, I initiated trademark and IP processes and brought on a raw material specialist to support sourcing and material decisions.
THE GARDHER TRIBE
Kendall Gardner
FOUNDER & CEO
Gardher
Krista Bacchioni
TECHNICAL DESIGN
Former, Senior Technical Designer at Lane Bryant and Victoria’s Secret
Ursula Todaro
RAW MATERIAL SPECIALIST
Former, Assistant Vice President, Design Innovation at Victoria’s Secret, Founder/CEO Undercover Innovations Inc.
Kara Sax
FOUNDING PARTNER & CEO
The Sax Agency
THE GARDHER TRIBE
The Gardher tribe serves as a trusted network of specialized consultants supporting Gardher’s product development and production. This collective includes experts in sample making, technical design, pattern making, intimate apparel design, raw materials, marketing, startup operations and AI ethics, bringing deep craftsmanship and industry expertise. Their collaborative approach ensures precision in design execution, material selection, and manufacturing readiness, enabling us to translate the vision into high-quality, thoughtfully constructed products.
Our Advisory Board
Gardher’s advisory board continues to grow, bringing together advisors with expertise in finance, women’s health, technical design, marketing, and strategic operations—collectively representing over 96 years of experience across these disciplines.
Kendall Gardner
Founder & CEO, Gardher
Sharon Benton
Care Delivery Strategy
Associate Vice President Primary Care Organization at Humana
Kecia Patton
Finance & Strategy
Vice President & CFO, Global Pharmaceuticals Company
Krista Bacchioni
Technical Design & Product Development
Former, Senior Technical Designer at Lane Bryant and Victoria’s Secret
Erin Chaney
Global Brand & Consumer Marketing
Senior Vice President of eCommerce at Adidas North America
Tracey Sylvester, M.D.
Women’s Health & Clinical Care
OBGYN, Kaiser Permanente
Over The Next 180 Days
Gardher will transition into manufacturing and production, beginning with an initial small-batch run. This phase includes comprehensive third-party testing to validate durability, performance, and material safety, and to establish care and usage guidelines. In parallel, a consumer insights expert will lead market research to ensure the product resonates with adolescent girls and reflects how they engaged, discover and shop.
Our Path Forward
Following multiple rounds of testing and refinement, our fourth prototype is finalized. The focus is now on material selection, manufacturing strategy, and building the infrastructure needed to scale responsibly. At the same time, we are advancing intellectual property strategy, including patent product and protection, to safeguard innovation as we move toward market. Our goal is to build a strong production foundation for long-term growth and expand the leak protection category to include incontience, serving a broader, intergenerational customer base.
Now is the Time
I invite you to stand with me at the forefront of transforming access to dignified, inclusive care for millions of curvy girls and women. I welcome a gift of any amount, and am open to your questions, insights, and any resources you’re willing to share. Please join me.
Our Founder's Story
2024 OUR GENESIS
During those early postpartum months, I create Gardher - a love letter to women and birthing people at their most vulnerable health stages. An impactful intersection of my heart’s desires: to create streamlined solutions that ensure readiness and empowered well-being across generations.
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