Building Confidence, Community, and Crabapple

My name is Whitney Titheridge and I am the owner of Crabapple Clothing Company. 

Truthfully, my path into this business was certainly not linear and most definitely unexpected.  My high school “job” turned into my career, and I found my way and myself through becoming an entrepreneur. In a world where we have become so disconnected, I have made it my mission to create connection and community.  Going the extra mile with customers, to make them feel heard, seen, and fabulous - this is my daily inspiration. 

As I’ve gotten older, my definition of happiness has shifted.  As a younger individual, happiness was driven by achievements.  Now, I find happiness in routine, rest, and in following my curiosity.  I feel my best and most happy when my brain, body, and spirit are challenged yet at peace.   

My style philosophy revolves around two tips.  Ditch the label and ditch the rules.  Sizing is inconsistent, not standardized, and completely irrelevant, forget what the label says.  Secondly, your body is not a piece of fruit, you are not a season, if you love something, wear it.  Confidence is everything.   

My story is one that every single woman can relate to.  I grew up in the 90’s where diet culture was incredibly prevalent, our parents’ fed us margarine, skim milk and we watched our mothers and friend’s mothers constantly dieting and talking about dieting.  We know now how this has impacted our relationship with food and our bodies. 

I was a bigger kid, always incredibly active in sport but “chubby” nonetheless.  I got bigger and bigger as I went through school.  Fortunately, I was athletic and a good student and managed to escape most bullying.  I was however; unable to escape the bullying in my own head, the loudest and nastiest voice of all.  I dreamed of being “skinny”, thinking that I would have it made if I was thin.  People always said, “you have such a pretty face”, if only I had the body to match.  It wasn’t until my mid-late twenties that I figured out how to successfully lose a significant amount of weight.  Little did I know that losing 80lbs was literally just the beginning.  What people don’t tell you about weight loss is that it doesn’t inherently make you happy.  Yes, it may in some ways be easier to walk around in this world, but the mental work is required regardless of the weight on the scale.  Following my weight loss, I struggled for YEARS with body dysmorphia and extremely disordered eating.  I thought about my body and food 24/7, missing out on the life that was right in front of me.  Over the last decade plus, I have put in endless hours of work on myself.   I can truthfully say that I am now in a good place.  During my weight loss journey, I found my inner athlete again and in the last several years, I have finally been able to switch my way of thinking.  I now lead with gratitude for what my body is capable of, for how strong it is and how fast it can go and yet I still strive to be faster and stronger, both things can exist.  Do I still fixate on my thighs or poke at my belly?  Of course I do, but ultimately, I recognize I only have one shot at this life, and I am sure as hell going to eat that donut.  I love exercise and good nutrition, but I also don’t believe that food is good or bad, it is simply food, some will fuel your body more appropriately and some is just super tasty.  I share this story because I believe we all have our own versions of this experience.  Size does not equal happiness.  Happiness is a mindset, some days I don’t chose happiness and it requires daily work, but that remains the goal.  Happiness is contagious, if you can spread just a little, it will have a ripple effect that is immeasurable.  And lastly, can we all stop commenting on people’s weight?  You never know their story…