Comfa Stitches Growth into Sensory-Friendly Fashion
- Marta Macialek
- Oct 14
- 3 min read
Comfa was co-founded in 2021 by Matthew Palfrey and his son Max; the idea was born from Max’s experiences as an autistic individual navigating the discomforts of traditional clothing.
£100,000 boost towards:
Increased production
Enhanced marketing
Working capital
Region: Derbyshire
What does your business do and how is it different from competitors?
We design and sell sensory-friendly clothing with encased stitching, peel-off labels, and discreet sensory elements to help neurodivergent individuals self-regulate during moments of anxiety or overwhelm. The Fidget-T has hidden pop-its in the hem, which is not something we’ve seen anywhere in the clothing industry, so we are the first to create something like this.
What inspired you to start this business?
Max had a brilliant idea of combining a fidget toy with a t-shirt, so he wouldn’t lose it no matter where he was. As a neurodivergent family, we were very aware that a lot of the clothing out there isn’t what neurodiverse people can tolerate. So, when he came up with this idea, we thought it was a great way to bring those two things together.
Initially, we expected that somebody was probably already doing something like this because there are fidget toys everywhere in toy shops. As soon as we realised that there wasn’t anyone making anything like this, we jumped on it, and here we are.
Do you think there’s information for small businesses on where to access funding?
I think when you’re first starting out, it can be so overwhelming that you don’t necessarily know where to look. That’s where it’s been really helpful having Business Advisors and different organisations who’ve been able to pinpoint us in the right direction.
It’s just knowing who to talk to, where to look for it, which is just one of the many different skills you need to pick up as a new business owner.
What challenges did you face, and how did the funding help?
One of our challenges was being able to expand how much stock we could order to deal with an increase in demand. The funding has allowed us to negotiate better stock terms, ensuring we can maintain inventory without delays between production runs. It’s been a major boost for our growth.
Not only that, we’ve also been able to attend events like the Occupational Therapy Show, which increased our brand awareness.
How was your experience with First Enterprise and your Advisor?
The support from our Investment Manager, Nabeel, and the First Enterprise team both during and after the application process was amazing, helping to make what might have been a daunting and overwhelming task feel incredibly easy. We are grateful for their help in taking our business to the next level and reaching more people who struggle with clothing.
Comments from our Advisor, and our Partner, British Business Bank:
"Working with Matthew on Comfa’s journey has been incredibly rewarding. His family’s commitment to designing sensory-friendly clothing that addresses real needs in the neurodivergent community is truly inspiring. Their focus on comfort and confidence is at the heart of their innovation, and I look forward to seeing Comfa grow and positively impact even more individuals who benefit from their thoughtful designs."
Comments Nabeel, Investment Manager at First Enterprise
David Tindall, Senior Manager at British Business Bank, commented: “The Midlands Engine Investment Fund II supports innovative and community-led businesses across the region. We’re pleased to be able to support Comfa’s next chapter focused on business growth and making its merchandise available for those who need it.”
First Enterprise is a responsible finance provider offering unsecured loans ranging from £500 to £250,000 to support both start-ups and established businesses across the UK. Since 2011, First Enterprise has lent over £77 million to 7,305 businesses.
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