Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Missy Hazeldine. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Missy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

I was diagnosed with bipolar 1 at the age of 16 after surviving a traumatic life event that I’ll share more about at a later time. It was never explained to me – bipolar. I felt alone, misunderstood, and like a stranger in my own skin. I started journaling shortly after—to get the “noise” out of my head.

“Comfortable Silence” became the alias I used in my writings—it was something I yearned for. To think I came up with it at 16—it still makes me ache for that younger version of myself.

I went to school for Apparel Merchandising and spent a significant part of my career as a buyer. I always dreamed of starting my own clothing brand, coming up with ideas here and there, but everything felt forced—until 2022. After a significant mental health break, I realized that the one thing I had kept secret, the alias that helped me cope, could be the very thing to resonate with and save others.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Missy, I’m a 33-year-old weirdo and a true Pisces through and through—which probably explains a lot! I love my kitties, Bukowski, the band Brand New, and I’m a huge stand-up comedy fan. I consider myself cultured, having grown up in Germany, studied for a semester in Italy, and traveled as much as I could—I was fortunate to see a lot of the world at a young age. At 33, I’m still figuring out what life is and what it doesn’t have to be. I’m single, don’t have kids, don’t want kids, and don’t own a home. I’m not the norm—but the norm is bullshit.

I’ve always had a deep love for fashion. I was one of those “hell yeah, I’m gonna be Lauren Conrad” types heading into college, where I studied Apparel Merchandising. My time in Italy and my travels only deepened my fascination with people and their stories. We all have a story, and that’s something I’ve always found captivating.

What I’m most proud of is pulling myself out of darkness, asking for help, and admitting when I couldn’t take care of myself. I turned the one thing I once hated about myself into the power that drives me—the fuel to help others. I’m passionate about reminding others that they are not alone, that there is light after darkness. I truly believe I am serving my life’s purpose through my business.

Everything about Comfortable Silence is me—my trauma, my words, my art. Every design has meaning behind it, with a story for every piece. That’s what sets the brand apart from the rest.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Sure!

I was let go from my full-time, well-paying job in September of last year. By that time, I had already started the brand. This was after I had moved back home to recover from my mental health break. Things were going well, and I was finally back on my feet. But like anyone, I needed money to survive, so my job paid the bills, even though it was a toxic environment. I collected a paycheck because, well, money.

When I was let go, it came out of nowhere—and it was a pretty nasty break. I didn’t see it coming, and the reasoning was, frankly, bullshit.

I allowed myself to cry and slept a ton that weekend to make sure I didn’t slip into an episode. But then I remember thinking, “You told yourself you wanted more time to focus on the brand. The Universe is like, ‘Surprise, bitch!’ Here it is.”

So, I took what little money I had and stretched it as far as I could. I dove headfirst into the brand and didn’t stop. I went from making good money to living on $400 every two weeks from unemployment. I went on EBT (and I still am—damn proud), and I made notes of everything I went through so I could help others find the resources they might need as well.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I’m still working on building my presence, to be honest. Social media can be really draining for me, which makes it hard to stay consistent. But along the way, I’ve met some incredible people through the brand—people who have become close friends, even though we’ve never met in person. They’ve taught me a lot about gaining traction and building brand awareness within the mental health community. The rest has been a lot of trial and error, and honestly, I’m still figuring it out.

The truth is, I have no idea what I’m doing most of the time, and that can be a bit scary. But I’m learning as I go.

One thing I’ve found to be a huge catalyst for the brand’s growth is my vulnerability. Instead of just sharing facts about bipolar disorder, I share my life—my real, day-to-day experiences. I’ve posted my writings from when I was a sad, depressed, and confused girl, and I’ve shared the ups and downs of my journey. It’s terrifying sometimes, but it’s also what connects with people the most.

So, my one piece of advice for anyone just starting out is to be yourself. Authenticity and vulnerability are what speak to people and inspire them. It shows them that you’re human—you fuck up, you get sad, and you’re confused about stuff just like everyone else. At the end of the day, there’s only one of you in this world. Ain’t that something?

Contact Info:

• Website: www.comfortable-silence.com
• Instagram: @__comfortable.silence
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/missy-hazeldine/

Image Credits
Photos 1,2,4 – Felipe Zamudio Last Photo – @adhexion