Leah says that she believes clothing is a natural extension to our wellbeing. "When a woman is wearing something that is comfortable and looks great, it can positively affect her entire outlook on the day."
With no experience in the clothing industry to lean on, she had to start from the beginning learning everything she possibly could about apparel manufacturing. While continuing to work a full time job during the day, she spent every additional moment researching, designing, and forming her new company. "There was more to do than I could have ever imagined", Leah says. "The harder I worked, however, the more passion and excitement I developed for the company I was creating."
Advertising was the field that Leah had been working within for 20 years. "Through my work in advertising I developed a great interest in color and how important it is to branding and marketing" Leah shares. "I became especially interested in the impact color has on the way we react and feel". She began to study color therapy, which is a holistic healing practice utilizing the energy of color to balance the body, and became a certified color therapist around the same time she was starting her company. "It was this connection that led to the inspiration for my company's first product. I wanted to provide women with a fun and easy way to get color therapy".
In September 2008, Puttin' on the Bliss began manufacturing Color Me Balanced® undies. The product is the first and only underwear line to provide a color therapy system for wearers. Packaged as a seven pair collection, the set includes each of the essential colors used for color therapy. The colorful panties come in a ready-to-gift organza pouch with a tag that explains the concept. The idea is to wear a different color each day of the week to revitalize and balance. "They work because we receive energy from the colors we wear against our skin", Leah explains. "I tend to think of them as 'Days of the Week Undies' for your spirit!" Leah filed for a patent to protect the system and got to work on the rest of her premier collection.
Sales to retail locations have recently begun and the products have found a home at numerous clothing boutiques as well as renowned resort and spa locations such as Canyon Ranch in Tucson and The Phoenician in Phoenix. An online shopping environment has also been created at www.PuttinOnTheBliss.com where her company donates a portion of all revenues to charity.
"Giving back is a very important focus for my compay," she says. "I believe that starting this practice from the very beginning, instead of waiting until we are earning large profits, will ensure it is an ingrained part of how we conduct business."
As her company is now ready to start taking the next steps toward growth, Leah feels very accomplished to have taken a vision in her mind and turned it into a reality. "Although I have never strived harder in all of my life, the work is feeding my spirit and I am blissfully excited about what the future may hold for Puttin' on the Bliss."
Beth Anderson is the Editor in Chief of Chic Galleria.com and Co-Owner of Chic Galleria Publications.




