BFA alum Julia Remillard discusses with The Mercury her brand, Epi-Pals, which are in the process of being introduced to the market.
Q: What moment or experience sparked the idea for this kid-friendly Epi-Pen carrier?
A: I grew up with an anaphylactic peanut allergy my entire life. I was diagnosed at 10 months old. Truthfully, I have always felt like carrying my EpiPens was a burden with no good solution (or at least a cute one!). Recently, I was dining out with friends where I live in New York City and had a close encounter with peanut oil and in that moment realized ‘Holy Cow… Where are my Epis?’ It turns out they were at the bottom of my purse, stuffed away at my desk, nowhere near me.
And that day was when I finally sat down and said, ‘There has to be a BETTER way!’ And that is when Epi-pals were first born conceptually.
Q: Did you design this product with a specific child or situation in mind?
A: I actually didn’t design the product specifically for kids! I made it to solve the problem for myself, so the design ultimately was for me. The first handmade prototype actually was a 3-Dimensional plushie, and we ended up changing it to be more efficient, but at first, my inspiration was bag charms such as Labubu’s. I am a fiend for bag charms, as are so many, so I thought what better way to make this idea come to life than to bring it into that world.
Q: What were the biggest challenges you faced in creating something that’s both medically functional and appealing to children?
A: Oh BOY! What challenges aren’t there! It has been such a learning curve from idea to execution because the design is medically adjacent. The biggest issue we have run into is making a design that is structurally safe, with easy access, insulation, and also some amount of medical labeling, while also still maintaining a cuteness and discretion that allows individuals to feel ‘normal.’
By far, the manufacturing back and forth process across seas has been a constant battle and one that I deal with every single day in getting this design to be absolutely perfect and, above all else, safe.
Q: How did you involve kids and/or parents in the design process?
A: I was fortunate enough that this brand was a passion project and one that I can speak to from true personal experience, both from me and my extended family. But my main tactic in involving kids/parents was via Facebook Groups. I joined and posted in over 35 Facebook allergy-based groups to spread awareness and get real feedback from parents, which led to our many design changes, including insulation.
Q: What features did you add specifically to help kids feel more confident or less anxious about carrying their EpiPens?
A: The main feature is the design itself. I knew I wanted a plush-like character that could be worn as a bag clip or stroller clip right away, and Peanut Pup (our first design!) was chosen because, number one I felt puppies were a neutral animal for little boys/girls, and number two I wanted the first Epi-Pal to be for me by me hence the peanut name and coloration.
Q: How has your product evolved from its early stages of development?
A: It has come so far! As I mentioned above, our first vision was a plush Labubu-like stuffies or think JellyCat keychains, and I made the prototype using a bear-shaped dog toy and a clear vinyl pouch I sewed together from packaging scraps I found from a pair of old tights in my closet. I sewed it all together and went to the manufacturer right after–however, like any founder story, we had major issues, and our sample came back looking horrendous, so much so that we never even received it! The factory ghosted us.
But that setback (after some well-deserved tears!) actually helped me reassess my design, slow down, and produce something even better.
Q: How do you envision kids using this product day-to-day (at school, sports, travel, etc.)
A: I think Epi-Pals is meant to be used by children and their caregivers in a multitude of ways. For parents who love the idea, I can see them being worn to school, sports, sleepovers, and beyond on backpacks or even purses as they get a bit older.
Kids, teens, and adults have life-threatening allergies, and Epi-Pals are made to serve them all. I am 26 and wear mine with me on my purse, on my dog’s leash when we walk, and even on my lanyard at work. Anywhere you go, your Epi-Pal should too–it is an emotional support tool.
Q: How are you planning to reach parents, schools, or healthcare providers?
A: My main marketing strategy has been organic reach only. Within our first week of launching our social pages, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Substack, we gained over 1,100 followers. Epi-Pals relies on the allergy community to spread the word within itself, especially on social media, but also by word of mouth. It only takes one mom to start a chain reaction! But as a journalist, I also plan on utilizing my connections to bring this to market in every arena available.
To your healthcare question, I plan on going old-fashioned door to door! Allergists’ offices are a top priority to match our emotional support product with newly diagnosed families, and we’re hoping the providers find us too and reach out to find ways to support allergy awareness.
Q: What advice would you give to someone designing a product?
A: I feel like an imposter on this front because, truly, I am going into becoming an inventor blind. But if I could say one thing in terms of advice I gave myself, it would be JUST DO IT. (Yes, all Nike jokes aside!).
The biggest thing that holds people back, even me, is second-guessing and overthinking. If you are passionate about a problem that you feel needs fixing, then trust your gut and go for it. You lose more by being too scared or embarrassed to try, in my opinion.
Q: How do you hope this product will change the experiences of kids who need EpiPens?
A: My hope and prayer for Epi-Pals is that it changes the way children and young adults live with their allergies every single day. Life is scary; their EpiPens shouldn’t have to be. More giving back, more education, more ways to end the stigma using Epi-Pals and other like-minded products.
