I often wonder how this idea came to my mind: the idea to create personalized wraps for urns at an affordable price to most people. One can customize urns in various ways, yet I was looking for an option that was a) affordable, b) allowed customers to personalize as much as they wanted, and c) you could swap one illustration of what your loved one meant to you or how you wanted to celebrate their life with another relatively easily. So, after wavering through the “is this something that I’d want to do” moments (read months), I started curiously exploring taking screen printing classes, visiting local vendors, and connecting with talented folks to craft the idea into a product. Eturnal Wear was born out of a need to grapple with the emotional turmoil I never addressed from Dec. 20, 2022, when I received the call about my dad’s passing. Good Grief has some amazing resources I wish I had stumbled across earlier, yet I encourage you to check them out.
So far, I’ve visited about 30 funeral homes, and it is truly inspiring to connect with so many people who care about families and ensure support through the most challenging times. The funeral industry is massive—around $16 billion is generated solely from funeral homes annually. Cremations in the US are increasing to a current rate of 61% and are on track to be 82% by 2045. Cost is a large factor, while families also consider what is the most appropriate means to celebrate and joyfully memorialize a loved one.
Before creating Eturnal Wear, I had zero knowledge of the funeral, textile, or online industry I would need to fully understand. It’s still a work in progress that I embrace with determination, which may sometimes be overshadowed by ignorance. Yet, within those moments of clarity, I hope that Eturnal Wear does provide joy to those who grieve.