Millie Haywood is the founder of Mentallyunstitched – a clothing brand that prioritises mental wellbeing and comfort. Creating anxiety-relieving and sensory-friendly fashion for people with mental health struggles, sensory sensitivities, neurodivergence or anyone seeking clothing that feels safe, soft and grounding.
After spending over 10 years battling with her mental health, Millie pursued an autism diagnosis at 21. This allowed her to truly accept herself and start to pull away from the mask she had always hidden behind, which then inspired her to create something where people like her could feel seen and understood. Something that would help to change the stigmas around neurodivergence and mental health. And this was when Mentallyunstitched was created.
For most of my life, I felt like I was trying to survive in a world that wasn’t built for people like me. I struggled with anxiety, overwhelm and the constant pressure to appear “normal.” Like many neurodivergent people, I became very good at masking — hiding my discomfort, forcing myself through situations that drained me, and trying to fit into expectations that never truly felt natural.
For years, I didn’t understand why everyday things felt so difficult. Loud environments, uncomfortable clothing, social situations and constant overstimulation left me exhausted. I thought I was simply “too sensitive.” It wasn’t until I pursued an autism diagnosis at 21 that things finally started to make sense.
Receiving that diagnosis changed my life. It gave me permission to stop fighting against myself and start understanding myself instead. I began to realise that there was nothing wrong with the way my brain worked — I had simply spent years trying to exist in spaces that didn’t accommodate neurodivergence. Slowly, I started unmasking and allowing myself to embrace the parts of me I had hidden for so long.
Read: Neurodivergent Inclusion: The Need To Rethink Safety Designs
That journey inspired the creation of Mentallyunstitched
I wanted to build something that felt safe. Not just physically safe through comfortable clothing, but emotionally safe too. A brand where people who struggle with anxiety, sensory sensitivities, autism, ADHD or mental health challenges could feel seen and understood without needing to explain themselves.
Clothing has always had a huge impact on how I feel. Certain fabrics, tight fits or irritating seams could completely overwhelm my nervous system and affect my entire day. Yet sensory-friendly fashion often felt clinical or lacked personality. I wanted to create clothing that was both comforting and expressive — pieces that people could genuinely connect with while also supporting their wellbeing.
Mentallyunstitched focuses on soft, grounding and anxiety-relieving clothing designed with comfort at the centre. Every piece is created with the understanding that what we wear can deeply affect our emotional state. Sometimes comfort is more than comfort — sometimes it’s regulation, safety and relief.
Read: Inclusive Fashion For Wheelchair Users: Designing With Empathy, Functionality, And Purpose
But beyond the clothing itself – Mentallyunstitched is about community
So many neurodivergent people grow up feeling isolated or misunderstood. We are often taught to suppress our needs, minimise our struggles or hide parts of ourselves to make others comfortable. That can become incredibly lonely. I wanted this brand to challenge those stigmas and create conversations around mental health and neurodivergence that feel honest and compassionate.
The response has been incredibly emotional for me. I’ve had messages from people saying they finally feel represented by a brand, or that wearing comfortable clothing helps them feel calmer during difficult days. Others have shared their own diagnosis journeys, experiences with masking or struggles with anxiety. Those conversations remind me exactly why I started this.
Mentallyunstitched isn’t about perfection. It’s about embracing the messy, complicated and deeply human parts of ourselves that society often tells us to hide. It’s about recognising that sensitivity is not weakness, and that needing comfort does not make you difficult.
For anyone currently struggling with their mental health or navigating life as a neurodivergent person, I want you to know this: you are not broken, and you are certainly not alone!
Creating Mentallyunstitched has become part of my own healing journey. What started as an idea born from years of struggle has grown into something that connects people through honesty, vulnerability and shared experiences. Seeing others feel safe enough to unmask, even a little, means everything to me.
At its core, Mentallyunstitched is more than a clothing brand. It’s a reminder that comfort matters, mental wellbeing matters, and neurodivergent people deserve spaces — and clothing — that truly support them.
Most importantly, it’s a reminder that we deserve to exist exactly as we are.
Visit the Mentallyunstitched shop website and follow Mentallyunstitched on TikTok and Instagram to be a part of the community.
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