News

With Labor Day right around the corner and swimming pools about to close, it's time to reflect on just how fast this summer has flown by.  At Belevation, this has been an especially busy season, as we've made several important product changes.

So we could go forward with an updated inventory, we held an online sale on Zulily in August. Launched in Seattle, in January 2010 by former Nordstrom and other retail veterans, Zulily is an amazing phenomena of our electronic age. Registration is required, but signing up is free and only takes a few seconds.

With over 4 million monthly visits, Zulily.com has grown at lightening speed. Specializing in discounted children's, woman's and maternity name brand merchandise, sale events run for 72 hours. As you can see from our Zulily map, Belevation products are now popping up across the entire USA!

A pleasure to deal with as a vendor, I know I will sneak back to Zulily as a customer soon, when my husband isn't looking. Join today for great buys on quality items for you and your kids. Daily emails to your inbox alert you to what's currently available.

As for what's new at Belevation, you may notice that our sizing brackets have changed. Originally we elected to use the size ranges S/M, M/L, L/XL. Realizing that this was too confusing, we have now simplified things with the conventional size ranges Small, Medium, Large and X-Large.  Happy shopping!

This week there's not only one, but there's two, Mom-Blog Belevation give-away's going on!  I've been surfing the mom-blogosphere like crazy and it's simply amazing. What a vast community of intelligent moms blogging from all around the USA!  In June, we ran a Band give-away on I Still Hate Pickles in Houston.

This month, we are heading north and south at the same time. (Mom Power!) Michelle from Georgia, seen on this beautiful southern front porch, writes The Not So-Secret Confessions of a 2nd Time Mom. I caught up with Michelle, a recent business school graduate, busy mother to 2yr. old Noah, and a blogger.

We mailed her a Belevation Support Band to try-out and here's what she had to say: "The Belevation band is great! It really offers a lot of support to my belly and back! I feel like I have awesome coverage and don't have to worry about my back or the bottom of my belly showing when I'm wearing it.

 Amy, a first time mom and accountant, who writes the Heard it from the Hills blog, from Illinois agreed to review our Yoga Culotte.  (*Please note Belevation has discontinued this item for now, sorry.)

"At 27 weeks, my baby bump is starting to put a strain on my petite frame. I was researching support products, when I received an email from Belevation regarding the launch of their new collection of maternity garments. I found the Belevation Yoga Culotte to be very comfortable and supportive. The blend of Nylon and Spandex Micro-Fiber allows the fabric to be lightweight and easily stretch and move with me, which is especially important to me while exercising, doing housework, and running errands.

I really like how the Belevation Yoga Culotte has an integrated Tummy Support Panel, to give me a gentle lift, while the tummy portion of the panel is super soft and stretchy to perfectly fit and expand around my growing belly. I think the Tummy Support Panel of the Belevation Culotte would provide me with some extra support post-pregnancy, too."

Amy's Belevation give-away on Heard it from the Hills ends on Sunday, August 7th at 11:59 PM, while Michelle's on The Not So-Secret Confessions of a 2nd Time Mom ends on Monday, August 8th also at 11:59. Check each site for guidelines and thanks for your interest in Belevation Maternity Support garments!

A couple of years ago, Cheers actor John Ratzenberger, came through our southern county on a national bus tour for his television show, Made in America, which ran on the Travel Channel from 2004 through 2008.

The following short film was shown to the audience, in the old court house in Rock Hill, South Carolina. With textile machines of our own that no longer hum with the sweet sound of productivity, the issue hit close to home.

All of Belevation's production, assembly and components are made entirely here in North and South Carolina. In today's globalized marketplace, that makes us rather unique. Life as a dinosaur, is not easy though. Mom and Pops have been driven out of our quaint downtown's.

Big box stores have conquered the turf in the hardware, drug and office supply markets (to name just a few) all across America. And when you pick up most of the products in those cavernous buildings, you will be hard-pressed to find much still made in the USA.

As we watch our national trade-deficit continue to balloon, there are those across American trying to reclaim our manufacturing and retail past, like John Ratzenberger and folks in Oregon, at this cool Portland based buy local group.

In the past month, Belevation's US made production has been featured by several of these organizations. On the terrific Still Made in USA website, Belevation Maternity can be found under both the active wear and lingerie categories.

Stephanie, the sites webmaster notes that "The loss of American manufacturing jobs has meant hardship for families and entire communities. Many (domestic companies )are barely hanging on, and unless consumers make an effort to support them, the choice to buy American-made will be gone."

Consider what opportunities you have in your daily life to support local businesses and buy American products. By doing so, you are making a huge, positive impact in your community for our collective future.

Big News! There's only one day left to the I Still Hate Pickles Belevation Band give-away. FYI: I found I Still Hate Pickles out there in the vast mommy blogsphere. Kirsten bills her site as an alternative to the traditional mommy blog. She's got an MFA in creative writing, and skates in the Houston Roller Derby.

Oh yeah - and she's a prolific, talented blogger, and the mother of three boys. Her office is the kitchen table, her work clothes are her pajamas (me too!) and coffee keeps her going.  See what Kirsten has to say about Belevation and log-onto her site by tomorrow evening to win! 

"Belevation has generously offered one of their Support Bands for a giveaway!  I totally wish I'd had one of these when I was pregnant with the boys. I think they would have helped for sure with some of the pain I had as I got bigger (and bigger and BIGGER).

Here's a little blurb about how they are designed:

Belevation maternity garments are designed with a symmetrical, highly engineered support panel extending through the lumbar region and under the belly. The breathable four-way stretch fabric used throughout provides a gentle lift and smoothing control. More than just another bellyband holding up pre-pregnancy jeans, Belevation was designed as an under-layer, imparting the ultimate in comfort and support where it is needed most.

Richly embellished with a jacquard design on the breathable tummy pouch, and an embroidered logo, Belevation garments are outstanding due to their state-of-the-art features. It is these carefully crafted details that set Belevation apart from other similar products made overseas with lightweight fabrics that offer little real support. Sounds great, right??

There are two ways to enter to win your own Support Band: 1. Leave a comment on my give-away site. 2. "Like" the Belevation Facebook page. Once you do, leave another comment here to let me know." The giveaway will end on Monday, June 20th at 11:59pm. Good luck! http://hatepickleslovestuff.blogspot.com/2011/06/belevation-giveaway.html

Belevation Maternity Support was reviewed by Jen Thomas from Mommies with Style on March 16th, 20011. It is a cool mom-resource site from the Philadelphia area with a lot of great coupons on there! Here's what she had to say about the products she tested: 

"At 28 weeks pregnant with my third child, I am pretty big. Yet I am still active chasing my two boys around, working, and trying to stay fit at the gym and playing tennis. However, lately, I have noticed how hard it is wearing my regular underwear and feeling a total lack of support.

I happened to have some Belevation under- garments in my drawer that they were kind enough to send me to sample. I gave them a try and was SO THRILLED with the comfort and support that I had throughout the day around my belly. I wish I had tried these undergarments sooner! I tried both the Brief as well as the Belly Band. Both were great and so supportive.

I loved that the brief was comfortable, didn’t ride up (or fall down, a problem I have been having with my regular underwear!), and fit perfectly around my belly and waist. The Belly Band is perfect to wear for layered looks. All of the Belevation products are made with a unique, seamless, four-way stretch microfiber construction with moisture wicking, breathable mesh that is extremely comfortable. 

Now that I have discovered and tried the Belevation undergarments, I will not go to the gym or play tennis without wearing one. It’s almost a necessity to keep me comfortable. Every mother-to-be should have a pair or two of these great products to keep them feeling as comfortable as possible. Enjoy!"

Belevation Support Garments were featured in the 2010 Charlotte Parent Baby Guide.  Included in a collection of  "Itsy Bits and Pieces",  the Belevation Support Brief was shown with a group of products that make things easier for mom and babies.

With content geared for expectant moms, and continuing for parents of preschool, elementary school, tweens and teens, Charlotte Parent is a one-stop resource for the NC region and beyond.

A free local publication, Charlotte Parent is a member of the Parenting Publications of America.  Without a doubt this fabulous publication and it's sister organizations around the country should be applauded for the criticial support resources they provide for American families.

On March 24th, 2009 Belevation staff traveled to New York's 5th Avenue to the top floor of The American Girl Store, where Big City Moms holds their annual "Biggest Baby Shower Ever" event.

An expatriate New Yorker, this Belevation staffer enjoyed the thrill of hundreds of pregnant woman all in one room for this exciting event. It was a great opportunity to get feedback from so many sophisticated expectant mothers all at once, as well as viewing other exciting products new to the maternity marketplace.

Among the many terrific people I met that evening were Vivian Chiang, co-founder of Orbit Stroller and the wonderful ladies from Keeping Babies Safe. Check out more about the Big City Moms Biggest Baby Showers Ever events. We <3 it! 

Belevation, LLC is pleased to announce the launch of their new collection of maternity support products available for direct on-line sales. Just what expectant moms have been asking for, Belevation™ products combine the most advanced technologies in seamless garment design with the best in ‘smart fiber’ engineering. Comfort-driven seamless knitting which has been utilized in active wear and undergarments, provided a perfect fit for maternity apparel.

Available in a Mid-thigh PettiPant, a Brief and Support Band, Belevation Maternity garments are designed with a symmetrical, highly engineered support panel extending through the lumbar region and under the belly. The breathable four-way stretch fabric used throughout provides a gentle lift and smoothing control.

Conceived by a Mom and Pop team in South Carolina, this unique line of Belevation mother-to-be products surpasses all other support garments currently on the market due to its sophisticated feature-rich construction. 

More than just another bellyband holding up pre-pregnancy jeans, Belevation was created as an under-layer, imparting the ultimate in comfort and support where it is needed most.

Richly embellished with a jacquard design on the breathable tummy pouch, and an embroidered logo, Belevation garments are outstanding due to their state-of-the-art features.  It is these carefully crafted details that set Belevation apart from other similar products made overseas with lightweight fabrics that offer little real support.

It was the gracious assistance of numerous pregnant volunteer models and product testers, that made the creation of Belevation products possible, and the response has been truly overwhelming!

“ I love the product so much! I wear them daily!” Whitney, Charlotte, NC “I have enjoyed the support band. I wish I had one for my prior two pregnancies. Great for exercising.” Carrie, Fort Mill, SC “Wearing your Belevation Boyshort I was able to sit on the floor with my toddler and read five books, when usually I can only read one before my back starts aching.  I have worn it everyday since I received it because it has made such a difference.” Joy, Torrance, CA "I definitely feel a difference at the end of a long day after I’ve worn my Belevation – less back pain” LeeAna, Charlotte, NC

Produced with pride in the USA, Belevation products will add much needed comfort for expectant mothers.

Seamless knitting from Circular Knit Services, Belevation's parent co. was featured in the November 2007 issue of Apparel Magazine. With involvement in textile and apparel development for more than two decades, Belevation staffers were well-equipted to design a terrific line of Seamless Maternity Support Garments.

Apparel Magazine is the leading resource for global apparel executives and has been serving the industry  for over 40 years.   Circular Knit Services was featured in the monthly Concept to Spec column, written by Jordan Spear, Apparel's Editor in Chief.

Welcome to our Belevation Blog page. For a multi-tasking mom like me (and probably you), taking the time-out to write this Belevation Blog provides a perfect opportunity for reflection. Belevation products were not around during my pregnancy, nor was the Internet for that matter.

Remembering back to my special nine months (more than 20 years ago), I was definitely a seeker of information, as I still am today. So, I will joyfully do the research to make this Belevation Blog a useful parenting resource in this fast past world of products and information. Most special of all, is that my web designer, blog partner, tech source is the very same character who made me so violently ill for those first four months, and then got so comfy he didn't appear to have any plans of coming out at all. So treasure every