Concerned about the environment and wanting to work from home to be with her young daughter, Brenda started GladRags in 1992. Inspired by her daughter's soft cotton diapers, Brenda decided to design and market GladRags Cloth Menstrual Pads.

GladRags are now distributed through health food stores, food cooperatives and on-line retailers across the country, as well as in Japan and Europe. GladRags is a small company with a big presence trying to promote positive attitudes toward menstruation and making the environment a safer, cleaner place at the same time.

Besides the in-house employees and a Portland-based sewing contractor, GladRags hires a crew from Oregon Employment Services Company, which finds job opportunities for those with developmental disabilities.