Mental Health & Me was created from loss.

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After losing someone I deeply loved, my world stopped.

The emotions were overwhelming shock, anger, sadness, confusion, and the constant question of “why?”
I lost my appetite, my motivation, and my ability to think clearly. My heart felt heavy, my eyes carried a sadness I couldn’t hide, and I didn’t know how to explain my pain.

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My whole family was grieving, each of us lost in our own emotions. I kept asking myself, where do I go from here?

The hardest moments weren’t just the days after the loss but the birthdays, anniversaries, and festive seasons that followed. Life moved on, but my grief didn’t.

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As my mental health began to spiral, I wanted people to know I was struggling but I didn’t have the words.

So I created something that could speak for me.

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Mental Health & Me allows people to express what they’re feeling without having to say it out loud. It’s for anyone who has experienced loss, grief, anxiety, or emotional pain and needs to feel seen and understood.

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Alongside this, Children’s Special Occasion Wear was born from my love for children. Having worked as a teacher supporting children with autism and learning disabilities, I wanted to create clothing that helps every child feel confident, comfortable, and truly special during life’s important moments.

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Valerie Richards is more than a brand.

It’s about emotion, healing, inclusion, and love and reminding you that you’re not alone.