Our Story

Industry know-how, lived experience and a little determination.

Michelle has spent more than 20 years in the underwear industry. But the idea for UnderWraps Underwear® began when putting on her own underwear became unexpectedly difficult.

Recovering from a hip replacement in 2017, she discovered how quickly an everyday routine could turn into an awkward exercise in logistics. Bending down was restricted, getting dressed required help, and privacy suddenly felt like something of a luxury.

For someone who had spent years designing and developing underwear, it raised a fairly obvious question: surely there was a better way?

With experience in design, pattern making, sewing and product management across Australian underwear businesses, Michelle understood fit, fabric and construction. She knew that sometimes, solving a problem meant rethinking how a garment went together in the first place.

So she started sketching.

The idea stayed with her, but it was another recovery, following spinal fusion surgery in 2023, that brought those sketches back out of the drawer. Faced with the same dressing difficulties, Michelle decided it was time to turn her idea into something people could actually wear.

Living with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia has given her an ongoing understanding of the challenges, too. She knows that some mornings, a movement most people barely think about can be a very big ask. She also understands how much it can mean to manage something independently—even something as seemingly simple as getting dressed.

That experience sits at the heart of UnderWraps Underwear®.

Michelle developed the signature Belted Front design, registered with IP Australia, so the waistband can be secured first, before bringing the front panel through the legs and fastening the sides. There’s no need to step into the briefs, and they can be put on while standing, sitting or lying down.

Naturally, with Michelle’s background, making them practical was only part of the job. They had to feel lovely and look good, too. Easier dressing was never going to mean giving up flattering shapes, soft fabrics or a little lace.

Bringing the collection to life has involved plenty of sampling, fitting, adjusting and asking, “Could we make this better?” It’s a process that suits Michelle’s hands-on nature and her eye for the small details that make a real difference.

Her ambition is simple: to make everyday dressing easier for people recovering from surgery, living with chronic pain or experiencing limited mobility, while supporting their dignity, privacy and independence.

For Michelle, the most rewarding part is knowing that an idea sketched during her own recovery could help someone else feel more comfortable, more confident and a little more like themselves.