Founder’s Story: From an Ambulance to a Startup Launch 🚀

Life doesn’t always unfold as planned. In late August—just before beginning her MBA journey at Kellogg—Grace found herself in an ambulance after an unexpected e-bike accident in the Great Smoky Mountains. One moment she was laughing with friends; the next, her arm was immobilized in a sling and her face streaked with dirt.

After X-rays, the ER doctor delivered difficult news: her elbow was fractured and displaced, requiring immediate surgery. To accommodate the bulky cast, the medical team changed her into a thin hospital gown. Wearing that same gown, Grace boarded a flight home from Knoxville to Chicago—drawing curious glances from airport security who half-jokingly asked if she had escaped from the hospital.

The surgery went smoothly, but recovery was anything but easy. Everyday tasks turned into challenges—especially getting dressed. Each sleeve, button, and zipper required strategy and endurance. The clothes she once loved became daily reminders of discomfort and limitation.

It was during those quiet, frustrating moments that a new idea began to form:

✨ What if clothing could adapt to the body, not the other way around?

✨ What if recovery could be comfortable, confident, and even stylish?

That question became the seed for Fracture Club—an adaptive design apparel brand founded by Grace to support individuals with limited range of motion, from fractures to chronic conditions. Fracture Club aims to bring comfort, dignity, and style to recovery—transforming what is often a painful, isolating experience into one of empowerment and ease.

For Grace, this journey is more than just a business or an MBA project—it’s a story of resilience, empathy, and purpose. What began as a personal injury has grown into a mission to help others heal with confidence.

Fracture Club continues to evolve with that same spirit: turning moments of hardship into opportunities for connection, care, and design that truly fits life in motion. 💚