Episode 55- Elaine Birks-Mitchell

Are you taking your bra for granted? Our guest today is Elaine Birks-Mitchell, the CEO and founder of The Bra Recycler, a social enterprise that is built around the value of giving back! They’re a social enterprise dedicated to recycling and reusing preloved bras and other lingerie. After spending over 25 years in the corporate world, Elaine felt her true calling was to make a living through giving. At first, she wasn’t sure exactly how she was going to do that, but she knew she wanted to support women and girls in need while also helping to preserve our planet for future generations. That’s why she came up with the idea of providing preloved lingerie to women and girls in need, predominantly those living in poverty, to support them on their journey back to self-sufficiency. This meant that she could also prevent underwear that’s in good, wearable condition from ending up in landfills or being burned. Since 2008, The Bra Recyclers has been giving people who are concerned about the future of the planet and the people who live on it the opportunity to take action and make change happen.

This episode, Elaine will be sharing her passion of supporting women in more ways than one. We’ll explore the business side of things, such as the differences between social enterprises and nonprofits, the power women hold as consumers, as well as a look into how the textile recycling industry works. Then, we dive into the incredible stories of real women and girls to see the function, importance, and difference the right bra can make. Listen in and find out what makes bras a girl’s best friend!