Bella Duarte-Crespo Makes A Change
Founder, Hidden Innovations in Disguise
Born with spina bifida, a genetic condition that affects the spine and affects movability, Bella Duarte-Crespo has faced a lot in her 17 years. Now a high schooler, she’s been through four surgeries, constant chronic pain, and has had to deal with incontinence for most of her life. But Duarte-Crespo made something out of these struggles, becoming an advocate for the disabled and, in 2019, founding Hidden Innovations in Disguise.
The innovative apparel company manufactures and sells underwear and other clothing items that have hidden pockets for carrying incontinence items like liners or extra underwear, saving children and teens from the embarrassment of a public “accident.”
Latest Achievements
This summer, after an international travel incident where her wheelchair was lost between connecting flights, Bella Duarte-Crespo continued her advocacy journey. She wrote an open letter to American Airlines and British Airways (the two airlines involved), encouraging them to make air travel more accessible for people with mobility aids.
The airlines responded, offering her compensation for her troubles, which she refused. “It’s not about the money,” she says. “I would love to collaborate with them.”
A few months later in October, Duarte-Crespo partnered with Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream for a fundraiser in honor of National Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Day. Over 50 of her peers showed up to support. “I was blown away,” she says. The money was donated to the Spina Bifida Association.
What She Says
“It’s so much fun to get the word out, especially now that I’ve been able to manage my condition a little bit more,” says the Gables resident. “I really like being able to communicate with people and Hidden Innovations definitely opens up a lot of opportunities for me to reach out to more kids and young adults, letting them know that it’s okay to be different, to have a disability. Anyone can wear the hoodies we make because it’s all inclusive. We’re just about empowerment in general.”
Read about other notable Gableites in our People section.