Founded by 22-year-old Ella Cunningham, Els Lovers has reimagined the everyday heat pack, transforming it into a wearable act of self-care to support those living with endometriosis and chronic pain.
Ella studied Sustainable Fashion Design at Whitecliffe, graduating in 2023 and in February 2024, she was diagnosed with endometriosis via laparoscopic surgery.
“I was starting my first year of full-time work while recovering and in more pain post-surgery. I couldn’t find a product on the market that met both my needs and my values, so I put my sewing skills and fashion design knowledge to work and created a heat pack for myself, one that could provide relief exactly where I needed it,” she said.
“After surgery, I was in more pain than I had been before. I was using two traditional wheat bags on my front just to get enough coverage on my belly, and I constantly had to swap them to my back. I scoured the internet, desperately looking for a product that could meet my needs.”
Designing the heatpack became a creative way to transform her pain into purpose. By creating something both functional and aesthetically pleasing, she found a sense of beauty and healing in what had once brought her discomfort.
“I wanted it to feel natural, sustainable, and refined, so I avoided synthetic materials and trims wherever possible. My background allowed me to develop ideas quickly and effectively, drawing on a solid foundation of knowledge to understand what would work and what wouldn’t.”
Ella researched a variety of materials for use in heat packs and ultimately selected rice for its small grain size, neutral scent, and ability to retain heat longer. Fabric was equally important, as it needed to feel soft, integrate well with the rice, and be structurally strong enough to support the ties and ruffles.
She mentioned that the wearable aspect of the heat packs was the most challenging part of the design. While she had the base size, shape, and design early on, she spent a lot of time perfecting the ties.
“My main goals were to make them wearable, aesthetically pleasing, and sustainable. I’m so happy with the result: the ties look adorable when worn, are cutely tied together when not in use, are strong and comfortable, and are made from cotton so that they can return to the earth at the end of their life.”
Sustainability is woven into every aspect at Els Lovers, from pattern layouts when cutting to eco-conscious packaging, and Ella hoped people would feel a sense of relief when using Els Lovers heatpacks.
She said that building a space that raises awareness and opens conversations about women’s health struggles is both powerful and meaningful. Mental health and chronic pain often go hand in hand, and she added that the community helps people feel less alone and more able to speak up about their challenges.
Since launching Els Lovers, Ella has had the privilege of working closely with many people navigating their own health journeys. She is excited about the future and was grateful for the love and support the community has shown.
Els Lovers will be stocked at Crushes, Karangahape Road, before Christmas, and Ella will be exploring collaborations, stockists, and new products, while prioritising alignment and sustainability.
