Freedom often comes in unexpected forms. For Kelly McCombs, it arrived on a hiking trail, mid-walk with her dogs, when the simple act of going to the bathroom revealed an inconvenient truth: women lacked functional apparel that allowed them the same autonomy as men. “Why can they put a man on the moon, but they can’t make a pair of pants for women to squat and pee without her butt sticking out?” she recalls. That question became the spark behind ELIRA Apparel, a brand dedicated to giving women the freedom to move, explore, and exist on their own terms.
The name itself carries weight. ELIRA, rooted in Albanian, translates to freedom, a fitting banner for a brand built on liberation in the most literal sense. “Freedom stands for everyone,” McCombs explains.
McCombs’ background as an interior designer provided the perfect foundation for her venture. Years spent mastering fabrics, textiles, and design translated seamlessly into the realm of technical apparel. “Because of my career, I was well-versed in the art of creating and designing custom items for homes. I knew patterns, and I knew the performance of fabrics. So I thought to myself, ‘I know how to do this.’ I just had to shift my designing mindset from homes to women’s fashion,” she shares. She designed a pair of pants with a patented invisible zipper, a deliberate piece of functional clothing that combines discretion with utility.
McCombs has patented underwear that is the perfect companion to the pants. You unzip your pants, squat, and gently part the underwear with your hands.
The pants exemplify technical efficiency, from the design to the materials. Our hi-tech fabrics are two to four-way stretch, repel moisture, are snag resistant, and quick to dry. They involve a hidden, two-way zipper that stretches from the navel to the lower back. You unzip and open to your desired opening, as wide as you want. This provides you with an advantage if you need more privacy, allowing women to relieve themselves effortlessly, whether they’re hiking rugged trails or navigating life outdoors. You literally don’t see or feel the zipper, as there is a zipper guard sewn over the zipper inside. “It is a game-changer for women,” McCombs emphasizes. “Especially for those who need to be active, outdoors, or away from facilities.”
McCombs also highlights that the pants can ensure repeated washing. “They’re high performing, but comfortable,” she says, adding that every design choice is informed by her personal experiences, as she wears the pants herself, testing them through hikes, outdoor shoots, outdoor work environments, and daily routines.
She notes how women who hike or spend time outdoors, in areas where toilet facilities are unavailable, may often withhold drinking water and avoid urinating, which, in turn, could increase the possibility of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) and bladder infections. Witnessing this herself and with those around her, McCombs’ dedication to creating a solution was only further strengthened.
ELIRA Apparel officially launched in February 2020, though McCombs had crafted the design as early as 2012. Its journey to market demanded ingenuity, persistence, and meticulous attention to quality, including sourcing custom-made zippers from Japan.
The impact, McCombs notes, has been profound. She highlights that through the accessibility offered by the pants, women across various professions, from FBI Agents to border patrol, hikers to climbers, and farmers to scientists, and even women in long-haul trucking, could benefit from them, and many already have.
“I’ve come across customers who have thanked us and shared their story, one being an outdoor photographer who was able to overcome her medical limitations with the pants and return to work. She wrote to me, saying, ‘My daughter says you’re going to save my life,'” McCombs notes. “I had no idea the pants would affect so many women in such profound ways. It’s been very rewarding every day.”
Looking to the future, McCombs envisions a global presence, extending ELIRA’s reach to communities where mobility, independence, and empowerment are essential. Her vision intertwines sustainability with social impact, aiming to support initiatives that nurture both the planet and its inhabitants.
ELIRA Apparel demonstrates that innovation need not be flashy to be radical. It is woven into every stitch, every seam, and every thoughtful design choice, giving women the confidence to move without hesitation.
As McCombs puts it, “Freedom is all I care about. We all long to be set free.” With these trousers, freedom can be tangible, practical, and immediate, a reminder that true empowerment can often begin with meeting the simplest, most overlooked needs.
