A post by Jeanette Knittel, founder of of alvoru:
The middle of the night and I woke up wondering if I was swimming! Seriously, how could I be soaked? The sheets, mattress pad, me—everything was screaming wet! I thought for sure I would find a pool of water under the bed!
Maybe it was a freak incident? But wait this happened the next night, and the next, and the next! Welcome to my beginning of peri-menopause and night sweats.
While I knew that night sweats and hot flashes are a part of the aging process, I was so unprepared for the misery that would be a part of my life for years. After months of the same scenario, night after night, I decided to go online and look for sleepwear to help with the night sweats. What I found was a number of companies with wicking fabric but OMG…no way at 46 was I ready to be wearing granny gowns for the rest of my days! So much for any sex appeal in my bedroom! Still, I desperately needed sleep so I bought the best-looking option out there. Lo and behold, it helped, yet it wasn’t at all what I wanted in appearance, performance, and function.
After letting the idea percolate for a number of years (along with continued pool parties!) I decided to look into creating a line of clothing of women that would help them feel sexy, cool, confident and comfortable while struggling with hot flashes and/or night sweats. Nearly 10 years later, I launched alvöru and I’m thrilled to share my passion for my product with other women who suffer like I did (and still do!).
My brand, alvöru, is an apparel line designed for women who want FEMININE, CLASSIC, and COMFORTABLE clothes to balance career and casual while dealing with hormonal fluctuations that cause hot flashes and night sweats. Aside from menopause, many women face challenges due to increased body temperature occurring in pregnancy, chemotherapy, various medications and other illness or disease.
avöru utilizes the technology that went into space gloves used by NASA to regulate astronauts body temperature using what’s called PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS. Imagine ice cubes in a drink; as the ice cube changes from solid to liquid, it absorbs heat and cools the drink, keeping your drink at the desired temperature for longer. Our clothing works the same way – as the skin gets hot, the heat is absorbed, and as it cools, that heat is released.
The alvöru collection is created using a blend of fabric that feels great against your skin. Current designs are made from a jersey knit of supima cotton, viscose and spandex. All of these components bring you the comfort of that old worn T-shirt but in a STYLISH and CLASSY design that works whether under your business suit, with jeans or even to sleep in. And, everything about our product is proudly Made in America.
Being COOL, COMFORTABLE and CONFIDENT throughout your day is so easy with alvöru.
Giveaway: Jeanette is giving away a tank (above) to one lucky Friend for the Ride reader. Here’s the description:
For a chance to win, please enter a comment by June 10. Thanks!
About Jeanette: Jeanette Knittel never knew after graduating from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, AR with a B.S. in Home Economics/Child Development & Psychology, decades later that education would be integral when starting alvöru clothing.
Prior to alvöru, Jeanette worked 10 years in the computer graphics industry owning Computer Images of Wichita and Kansas City with such clients as Pizza Hut, Inc. Sprint, AMC Theaters, and Boeing. Upon selling, Jeanette took her talents of relationship building to various sales careers – in computer-related industries and her last employment with the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.
With acceptance in 2012 into UMKC’s Entrepreneurship Scholars Program, the decision to turn a dream into a business became reality.
What a wonderful idea, perfect for summer
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Beth, it’s a great geographical product too! I wear in winter to help keep me warm…summer to cool and then always for my personal summers! 😉
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I’m from Wichita and am familiar with all the businesses she worked for! It’s gotta be a great product!
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Woo Hoo Vickie from Wichita! I’m originally from Hillsboro, KS and Wichita still holds a great place in my heart. In KC since 1990!
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I have been struggling with this! Thank you for working on products to help ease this soggy part of life.
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I know the feeling Jenny!!!! I’ve been on this ride for well over 10 years!
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Great looking tank, and it eases our discomfort….love it!
Please enter me too!
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Thanks Diane! Please share my business with any of the hot women in your life! It’s the only way I’m going to get my business to take off and help lots of women like us! 😉
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Perfect for any season of the year!
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Exactly Sandy! Since starting alvöru, my focus has sort of shifted as a ‘cooler’ product for any season and/or need.
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This is ideal! living in Florida, this would be perfect for our summers!
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