Meet Ava Duel | Neurodivergent Entrepreneur & Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ava Duel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ava, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
For me, the main thought process behind the brand is how can I help people who have experienced some of the same struggles as I have. I have sensory-issues and this has affected me for as long as I can remember. There were times where I had to leave class and ask my mom to bring me clothes because I couldn’t focus due to my shirt being too tight, etc. Additionally, as I have gotten older, I have realized that hoodies function as a security blanket for me.

The brand comes from a connections of these two. I know first hand what it is like to have sensory-issues, and hoodies really help me to feel safe in a world that doesn’t always seem made for me. I want my brand to help people find their “security blanket” (whether it is hoodies or something else), and to build a community around being neurodivergent, showing that it is a strength and not a weakness.

What should our readers know about your business?
My name of my business is Nuro Apparel, and the goal is to create sensory-friendly hoodies (and eventually a full clothing line) designed for neurodivergent comfort and confidence. I am trying to hit at two things, both comfort and confidence, and I believe that this is what sets me apart the most. This brand is much more than a hoodie brand claiming to care about the neurodivergent community, it is a deeply personal mission driven by my own experiences. Being neurodivergent comes with many positives but there are also many negatives as well. Sensory-issues have been a big problem for me, and I know this is the case for many other people. Nuro Apparel offers high quality, sensory-friendly clothes to insure that your clothing is not something holding you back. Additionally, the core of the brand is to embrace neurodiversity and show that it is not something to be ashamed of. Giving people this confidence is also very important to me.

This has been an incredibly hard journey, and I will say that my neurodiversity has both helped and hurt. I have a hard time getting things done when there is not a strict deadline and have a habit of beating myself up over small things. To overcome these challenges, I have learned to focus on helping myself, even if I don’t want to take a break.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite thing in the world (other than my brand and my dog) is In-n-out. It is by far the best burger, and if someone disagrees it is because they want to be annoying. I also love soccer so LAFC games at BMO Stadium are great. I am not super outdoorsy but I really like Topanga, and walking around Rodeo is always fun.

When I was at school, I spent a lot of time in Playa Vista and there are tons of dogs so I love PV as well.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My dog is my rock. I love my family and all, but I wouldn’t be where I am without my dog. His name is Darwin and his official role is CEO (Chief Emotional Officer). I fire him almost every day but he somehow manages to win me back every time. Before I learned that hoodies are my security blanket, I would always lean on him (still do).

Website: https://www.nuroapparel.com

Instagram: @nuroapparel

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avaduel

Facebook: @nuroapparel

Other: tiktok is also @nuroapparel