Poppy + Monarch was born out of a desire to make disabled and chronically ill people feel seen, heard, validated, represented, respected, understood, and accepted — all the things.

I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in March 2018, and have since used my voice to advocate for fellow people living with chronic and invisible illnesses. What I’ve learned along my wellness journey is that I am not my illness/disability. It informs who I am and how I operate in the world, but it’s not all of me. Yes, I’m sick, but I’m also hopeful, driven, quirky, and stylish — if I can say so myself :) 

I’ve long been a lover of enamel pins. My personal collection is well over 100 pins and counting. I got my feet wet with making my own pins back in 2020 when I created a limited-edition pin to market my bestselling self-help memoir, “Jesus Year.” The process was thrilling and rewarding, and it sparked the idea to build my own pin business one day. Well, that day is here! Poppy + Monarch officially opened in October 2023, and the product offerings have since expanded beyond pins to include tote bags, T-shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts.

My signature product is The MRISWTR™, a first-of-its-kind MRI-safe sweater, completely free of metals or zippers, that allows patients to stay warm, covered, and confident — while still giving clinicians seamless access to the arm for contrast dye injections, infusions, and blood draws. The MRISWTR™ was born in one of the most vulnerable, overlooked moments in healthcare: lying still inside an MRI machine, cold, exposed, and uncomfortable. It is thoughtfully engineered, providing both function and style, proving that patients should never have to choose between medical necessity and personal dignity.

You might be thinking, “What does Poppy + Monarch even mean?” Poppies and monarch butterflies are two things native to California that bring me, a California girl, joy. They also happen to be two objects that are orange — the official color of MS awareness. Plus, poppy flowers are in bloom for a short season and the lifespan of a Monarch butterfly is just two to six weeks. That in itself is a reminder of the ephemerality of life, to be present and enjoy the beauty of every moment to the fullest.

All of our products are envisioned with the disabled and chronically ill thriver in mind. I hope that our pins and other products resonate with you and you’re inspired to add them to your collection.

Thank you for supporting my small, Long Beach, CA-based business!

- Ashley Ratcliff Lundy,
Founder & CEO, Poppy + Monarch