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Lori Caden, one of the co-founders of Belly Bandit, a brand dedicated to helping women look and feel their best before, during and after pregnancy, had recently given birth and was struggling to regain her confidence. Armed with an abundance of empathy, sisters Jodi and Kari joined her in seeking a solution to her postpartum body blues. In 2008, their research, perseverance and sisterly support resulted in the creation of Belly Bandit and the postpartum Belly Wrap. Doctor-recommended and mom-endorsed, Belly Wraps modernized the ancient practice of belly binding and turned Belly Bandit into a new mom must-have.
3 Sisters Empower Women Through Their Products
JODI:
We had previous business success before founding our first firm together. I operated a custom kitchen design firm, and Lori founded (and still runs!) a promotional branding company, so we had some experience before collaborating. We founded Proof to address a prevalent women's issue: leaks. Women are no strangers to leaks. Your menstruation begins in your adolescent years - or younger! Then there are bladder leaks, in-between spotting, and whatever else comes up. We sought an all-in-one answer for everything that women deal with 'down there', from the ages of 9 to 90.
Since its launch, the company has seen tremendous growth. It has evolved from its signature product, the Belly Bandit Belly Wrap, and expanded to include maternity wear, nursing bras, athleisure and a complete line of compression shapewear with the Mother Tucker Collection. In 2020, the sister-preneurs launched Proof, a female empowerment company that delivers meticulously designed and expertly constructed leak-proof underwear for women ages nine to ninety. With a history of disrupting and revolutionizing the market, the sisters and co-founders of Belly Bandit and Proof are on a mission to create products that empower women and allow them to live life worry-free.
LORI:
When we founded Belly Bandit (our first brand), I was unhappy with my postpartum physique. I had recently had my kid, and a guy at Target volunteered to fetch something from a high shelf for me since I was'so pregnant.' I was humiliated since I had already had my baby! I wanted to feel more secure in my physique, so I looked into compressive belly wraps as a means to recover and'snap back.' An idea was formed!
In that spirit of female empowerment, Proof recently announced its official 2021 partnership with the Miss America Organization to celebrate Miss America’s centennial and cultural evolution. In a nod to Proof and Miss America’s shared commitment to championing and educating women nationwide, Proof will help fund college and post-graduate scholarships for Miss America candidates in all 50 States and Washington D.C.
KARI:
When one sister needs help, the rest of us pitch in. So we all rallied behind Lori to design and discover Belly Bandit as a solution to her post-baby body troubles. Then, few years later, I had a son, and inspiration hit again. Because I had heavy bleeding after delivery despite having a c-section, we began to plan, and Proof leak-proof underwear was created!
The best part about Proof is that all other leak remedies have significant drawbacks. Pads, for example, shift, tampons may cause disease, disposable underwear feels like a diaper, and they are bulky when worn underneath clothes. All of the options generate a significant amount of plastic garbage. We built Proof as a solution that cures everything.
In addition to delivering products consumers believe in and partnerships that inspire them, the Caden sisters’ brands have benefited from positive media and celebrity buzz. Authentically appreciative testimonials from numerous celebrities have helped elevate the status of their companies, but youngest sister Kari says, “Women truly love to share products they love. We deliver best-in-class products. We listen to every customer and support women in every product. There’s no fooling women into brand loyalty.”
The Caden sisters also lean on their happy memories of growing up in the Detroit area and credit their parents for instilling in them the importance of family, work and striving towards goals. “As best friends, we always dreamed of working together. Every day, we share and support each other in the ups and downs and decisions,” Lori explains. “Entrepreneurship is a challenge and we’re so fortunate that one of us is always there to pick the others up.
