On September 9th, 2016, Wear Your Label published a short video stating that co-founder Kyle MacNevin would be resigning later this month. The announcement was released rather poignantly to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day. As stated in the video, Kyle had attempted suicide 37 days prior.
Wear Your Label began in Fredericton as a school project that quickly launched into international fame. Kayley Reed and Kyle MacNevin created a clothing line meant to spur the conservation about mental health, and tackle the stigma that surrounds it. The two both had first hand experience: Kayley with an eating disorder, and Kyle with a Generalized Anxiety Disorder and ADHD. It was met with roaring success.
However, on Friday the company posted the video along with this message on their website:
September is Suicide Prevention Month. Every 40 seconds, someone dies by suicide. On September 9th, our co-founder Kyle chose to share his story. Kyle will be resigning from Wear Your Label this month in order to take time for his mental health, and focus on recovery.
“Hopefully this film will give the world some clarity in what many of us struggle with silently everyday. I understand that it can be hard to watch, it’s not meant to be triggering but informative, emotional, and healing. If you feel suicidal thoughts, or depressive episodes, please reach out to someone or the numbers below.”
1-800-273-TALK (8255) (United States)
1-800-668-6868 (Canada)
In the video, Kyle states that,“Just because the company is doing really well, the people who started it might not be.” He goes on to say that he’ll be trusting the management of the company to the rest of the team while he steps away for a bit of self care. It has not been made clear if that implies a permanent departure, or if MacNevin expects to return after a leave of absence. Wear Your Label staff were unavailable for comment.
“For a guy who wrote all those words on t-shirts, I never really read them, or understood what they meant. It’s not that I don’t love our family and our customers, it’s just that I couldn’t feel anything, and that’s scarier than feeling good or feeling bad. So I’m going to take some time to re-evaluate the person I am, because I don’t like myself. I don’t like the person I became, and that needs to change.”
“What’s next for Wear Your Label is going to be amazing. It’s going to do extraordinary things, because if there’s one thing I’ve realized in the last thirty-seven days it’s that we have so much to do, and so much good to spread around the world.”
Wear Your Label not only makes great strides in tackling this typically taboo subject, but for the last two years have been great leaders, innovators, and advocators within the New Brunswick business and cultural communities. We very sincerely wish the best for Kyle and a speedy recovery.
For more information wearyourlabel.com