Travis Iverson is the founder of Iver Fashion, Canada's designer brand of unique clothing with adaptive features and accessories. Together with him is a previous guest on I'm a Millionaire! So Now What?, Tyler LeBlanc. Tyler is the Director and co-founder of cannabis business Apollo Green, but he’s also part of this innovative and inspiring young company. They share the story of how Travis started Iver Fashion and why it’s different to anything else out there.
On July 13th, 2003, Travis suffered a life-altering spinal cord injury from diving that took the use of his arms and legs. Despite months of rehabilitation, a code white emergency tracheotomy, numerous surgeries and endless bed rest, Travis adapted to his new life by maintaining a “Never Give Up” mindset. “With the love of so many people it was my turn to give back and pay it forward.” Tyler related how Travis just wanted to change people's lives. “I don't want anyone else to go through the pain and suffering I've been through.”
The idea for Iver Fashion was born when Travis was getting dressed for a friend’s party. “I had bought a new outfit and was super excited to wear it the next day. But it didn’t fit, and the caregiver was struggling to get it on. It was terribly taxing for her, and she was getting sweaty trying just to get the shorts on right. A clothing line I loved and wore before my injury was no longer an option. I was so disappointed and frustrated with the lack of fashionable clothing available for my new reality that I decided then and there to design and create my own clothing line”, Travis shared on the show.
A few months later, he sent his work to his mentor, who submitted it to the Algonquin Applied Research & Innovation Project (ARIP). Travis would pitch his venture idea to help other mobility impaired people look and feel good.
Out of 30 other pitches, Travis “was the last to present and first to win!”
A partnership was born
A fellow student at Algonquin College, Tyler became interested in what Travis was doing “because the materials and technology he was using was visionary. With the right funding and the right partners, and the right people, I thought, we can bring this stuff to market.”
Some of this was medical devices that could become standardized. For example, Tyler shared that Travis suffered a major setback when his air cushion went flat and he developed a stage 4 pressure ulcer. This gave Travis the idea to develop a simple sensor in your wheelchair seat. These smart cushions will be able to tell you in real-time (via smartphone, PC or tablet) how much air pressure is in the air cushion. The two partners are also working on odour resistant, washable, and stylish urine bag/tube covers.
Fashion meets function
Travis designs clothing that’s fashionable and functional. Tyler related how Travis has created dress shirts that come out in an A-frame to allow people in a wheelchair who slouch to look and feel great. He designs to allow for adaptive features that suit specific needs, such as casual shorts with longer inseams to allow for catheters and by choosing materials that foster skin integrity.
One of his products is a “dress shirt for everyone” (able-bodied or not) using temperature regulated Coolmax fabric “as most people with spinal injuries – myself included – can’t regulate their body temperature!”. These stylish shirts feature magnetic buttons that look like normal shirt buttons, but are easy to clip on, so they can be taken on and off easily.
Iver Fashion also sells able-bodied Spring/Summer, Fall/Winter and even Youth collections that help raise funds for the accessible pieces, which are available on pre-order. And of course, the classic ‘Never Give Up’ cap, there to inspire everyone to “get through the Coronavirus, get through your injuries, your struggles at work, your family issues… everybody has a bit of a struggle, so we just thought it was really fitting for the times,” Tyler shared.
Fun, frank advice?
“Never give up”, Travis shared. “There’s nothing in the world that can stop you if you keep that mindset to say, ‘I'm going to do this no matter what and I'm not going to give up until it's done’.”
Have a listen!
Visit the website to learn more about Iver Fashion. If you’d like to be part of this exciting initiative, you can also buy a hat, shop for able-bodied and accessible clothes, donate or get on board as an investor.
You can also connect with Tyler and Travis on LinkedIn.
If you have something to share with the Self-made Nation, do reach out and connect with me. I’d love to hear your story, whether you’re at the helm of a thriving business or startup, looking to exit, or simply want to recommend yourself or someone else as a guest.