Meet Julia DeNey

We recently connected with Julia DeNey and have shared our conversation below.

Julia, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I was drawn to study fashion design not for a love of runway shows but for fashion’s impact and influence on our lives. I knew I wanted to learn about that power and find a way to use it for good within society. It wasn’t until I was halfway through my degree that I discovered a way to do that that I loved. Separately from my fashion design studies, I began volunteering at a local autism preschool and resource center as the VP of Philanthropy for my sorority. While there, parents and educators shared their children’s sensory struggles with clothing. I began an independent study to research and discover resources for them. I quickly found that many people were talking about it being a problem but not offering a solution. So, for the next two years, I worked on researching and prototyping solutions alongside this school. I fell in love with the innovation and problem-solving-focused design that could improve many children’s daily lives. When I graduated, I began working in special education with autistic students, where I quickly saw the widespread need for sensory-friendly clothing and alternative sensory tool designs. I connected so closely with my students over the years. I was driven to turn my designs into a brand so they, and children like them, could have the clothing that would increase their independence, confidence, and regulation so they could be included everywhere.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

At Sense-ational You, we make adaptive apparel for autistic children who need help with sensory regulation to be successful and included anywhere they go. Sensory needs and sensory overload contribute to an inability to focus and learn in school, as well as a variety of upsetting and disruptive behaviors, including aggression towards oneself or others. Sense-ational You’s sensory clothing helps solve this problem through hidden functionality so that all children can have the confidence to be themselves. All Sense-ational You clothing is free of sensory irritants like tags and bulky seams, and many of their clothes go beyond this to become sensory tools children can wear. From compression to sound-reducing, these sensory features allow children to remain regulated no matter where they are.

Our top products:
1. Our best-selling Sound-Reducing Sensory Hoodie provides a sensory break wherever your kids are. It includes a sound-reducing hoodie and an eye mask that can be pulled down when needed.
2. Our Sensory-Friendly Hoodie has magnetic closures so children can dress and undress independently at school.
3. Our Compression Lined T-shirt provides calming input (like wearing a weighted blanket!) through a fully adjustable compression lining.
4. Our Sensory-friendly Joggers feature a built-in fidget to help children stay focused and a soft elastic waistband for independence and comfort. All the pockets are stitched down, so nothing will bunch up and become irritating.

The company was founded by Julia DeNey shortly after she graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design and minors in Business and Human Development. Julia worked as a special education para right after graduating and saw firsthand the unmet needs of her neurodivergent students. She saw their struggles with clothing and adapting to overwhelming environments and knew she could use her expertise to create a solution.

Coming soon, we have a new and improved version of our best-selling Sound-Reducing Hoodie, both in youth and adult sizes. We are also expanding our Sensory-Friendly Joggers into adult sizes as our next highly requested item!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The three most impactful qualities and skills I needed to have and be for this journey were resilience, good listening, and being outgoing. As a business owner, you must reach out blindly to experts for advice and customers for feedback, even when it’s uncomfortable. You must also attend events where you don’t know anyone and introduce yourself and your business. You must also know that failures, mistakes, and setbacks are inevitable. You must persevere through these times and be adaptable with strong problem-solving skills to make it through and change your plan when needed.
My best advice for anyone early in the entrepreneurial journey is to talk to as many other founders and experts in your space and business as possible. There is so much to learn, and many people out there who want to talk with you and offer their advice to support you, even when they don’t know you yet. These relationships will be invaluable as you grow and face new challenges. Entrepreneurship can be lonely, making it harder to be resilient and persevere. So, create your support network early.
Good listening is something you need to become great with as well. You cannot create a successful company without listening to your customers’ or potential customers’ problems and feelings. You need to learn to ask questions and engage in conversation without any preconceived ideas about their answers or the right solution. Truly listen first and then innovate.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I am looking to connect with and partner with autism and neurodivergent-focused non-profits and resource centers that support these parents and families. Sense-ational You is designed to help sensory children thrive and I would love to work together to support them! I can always be reached at [email protected] or directly on our website at https://shopsenseationalyou.com.

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