Cuerd@s

Founder, Megan Burke, developed Cuerd@s (pronounced coo-wear-dose) out of a deep love for her sibling and a passion for clothing. She began in a college dorm room, embroidering textures onto a simple white t-shirt with the hope that it would provide her sibling with a sense of comfort and love in the midst of ongoing mental health challenges. We hand-embroider tactile patches in strategic places on recycled clothing to guide the wearer into self-soothing positions in support of their mental health. We fulfill custom orders and donate clothing to hospitals, mental health outpatient programs, substance abuse recovery programs, behavioral health programs, schools, and more! We lead embroidery workshops to unite communities and empower them to learn a self-soothing technique that they can employ in their everyday lives. We name ourselves “Cuerd@s” because in Spanish, cuerdo means sane. We poke fun at the inconsequentiality of the socially defined differences between “sane” and “insane” as those labels have been used historically to weaponize identities that do not fit into the hegemonic ideals of the time. The @ in our name is used to disrupt the gender binary and show our love for the LGBTQIA community. We support your mental health by providing material resources AND by accepting & loving you for being your most authentic self. We believe “every stitch is proof of connection” and every member of our community is an essential stitch in our shared human tapestry. You are loved here. You are safe here. We need you here. Keep going. Follow us on Instagram at @wearecuerdos