About

Bitter Threads: Clothing for People Who Know Better 

FUNctional Clothing

Let’s be real—dressing yourself (or your infant) shouldn’t feel like trying to assemble IKEA furniture. I’ve got ADHD, lose stuff all the time, and can’t stand inefficiency. So, I created Bitter Threads as my personal rebellion against annoying, over-complicated, throwaway clothing. This brand is basically a big middle finger to discomfort, wasted time & resources.

How It All Started

Baby Rompers

It all started when I was wrestling with baby rompers. Fasteners, buttons, snaps—seriously, who thought this was a good idea? The baby doesn’t care if it’s in couture or wrapped in a burrito blanket. So, I fixed it. No fasteners, no problem. Dressing my baby suddenly became 80% less rage-inducing.

Women's One Piece Long Underwear

Then I thought, “Why should adults suffer too?” That’s how the women’s MoonEaze™ one-piece (men's MoonEaze™ launches October 2024) came to be—a cozy outfit designed so you don’t have to get completely undressed just to use the bathroom. Think of it as a warm hug disguised as clothes. Comfortable, functional, and designed to make you feel like you’re winning at life—even if your laundry pile could rival a mountain.

P05K™ Micro Mini Utility Pocket Skirt

Then came the P05K™ Utility Micro Mini Pocket Skirt, or as I like to call it: "How Has This Not Been Invented Before?" It’s a mini-skirt with four (yes, FOUR) huge pockets. And not those sad, fake ones that barely hold a tube of lip balm. These are the real-deal, deep enough to stash your phone, wallet, keys, snacks, and whatever else you’ve been hoarding in that oversized purse. Whether you’re out dancing, running errands, or surviving a festival, you don’t need a bag because you’re already wearing one. It’s like I looked at women’s clothing and said, “What if we did pockets... but better?”

Bitter Threads Tees & Hoodies

And because life’s too short to be serious all the time, I inject my love for dark humor into t-shirts, stickers, and pins that say what we’re all really thinking. Whether it’s a deadpan slogan or poking fun at life’s little absurdities, it’s sarcasm and self-deprecation on a tee. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry—but mostly, you’ll look awesome doing it.

What Makes Bitter Threads Different?

It’s simple: I can’t stand stuff that sucks. I hate clothes that make you uncomfortable. I hate inefficiency, fasteners, and anything that adds unnecessary chaos to life. My designs solve real-life problems with a focus on comfort, practicality, and yes, a little fun too.

Whether you’re a new parent trying to get your kid dressed without a meltdown, a festival-goer who needs all the pockets, or someone who just loves a solid joke on a t-shirt, I’ve got you covered—literally.

At Bitter Threads, I also prioritize sustainability wherever I can. From using eco-friendly fabrics to experimenting with my new line, R3G3N3R8 Reword, where I repurpose used clothing with fresh designs, I’m constantly working toward reducing waste.

And don’t worry—you won’t have to strip down just to pee.

Sourcing Transparency:

Baby Rompers, MoonEaze™& P05K™ are handcrafted by me, right here in Portland, Oregon—land of craft beer, kombucha, and people who take sustainability very seriously. I make my MoonEaze™ long underwear one-pieces, baby rompers, and belt skirts with care, from sustainable materials, and print on sustainable tees. So, you can feel pretty good knowing you’re not contributing to the fast-fashion dumpster fire.

I believe in being transparent about where my materials come from, so here’s a look at the sources I rely on:

For MoonEaze™, I source fabrics from Kinderel, while for P05K™, I purchase deadstock end rolls locally from Pine Crest Fabrics.

When it comes to blanks, I prioritize sustainability and quality. I use Royal Apparel for their USA-made, eco-friendly options and also source from Original Favorites. Though not made in the USA, their products are high quality, sustainably produced and Fair Trade certified.

For stickers I use local company Diesel Fuel Prints and Sticker Mule for super small runs where I am testing a design. Neither of these are sustainably made. 

Biography:

Rosalee Rester is Portland artist turned serial entrepreneur. Her infatuation with art goes back (way back). At age six, Rosalee watched with fascination as her second cousin Betty showed her how to press paint between two pages to create magical scenes and places. Her six-year-old resolve: recreating that wonderment.

Rosalee attended UC Davis, where she studied rhetoric and art, then went on to get an MBA from San Francisco State University. 

After the birth of her daughter, Rosalee launched Baby Wit, a baby clothing business featuring local artists and musicians.

The birth of her son in 2007 marked the inception of MoonEaze™ (formerly Yankers), a line of fastener-free baby rompers. Amid the 2019 pandemic, when the world was adopting a casual style, Rosalee introduced a line of fastener-free Union Suits, or one-piece long underwear for women.

With the invention of the MoonEaze™, she embarked on a journey of innovation and creativity. Several years into her progress, she was faced with an unexpected challenge when someone claimed a patent against something she'd created years before. Recognizing the need to protect her intellectual property, she took decisive action and filed her own patent for her P05K™ Belt Pocket Skirt, a unique and inventive concept that she had developed.

With support from a city of Portland grant, Rosalee launched Makers Outlet, a pop-up shop in November 2021. Fueled by her love for sample sales of handmade goods, Makers Outlet offered samples and discounted clothing from local vendors. 

In her professional realm, Rosalee handles the retail website for her favorite basketball team. Yet, she still finds time for passion projects, the most recent one being the launch of P05K™ Apron Bag Waist Pockets Mini Skirts in July of 2023.