About

Fit for Her Game. Built from Experience.

I'm Barbara Mervin, founder of APTOELLA. This brand was born on the pitch, not in a boardroom. It came from injury, frustration, and the belief that girls and women in rugby matter and deserve better.

In 2005, I was competing at University Nationals for the University of Western Ontario when I separated my shoulder. Protective gear for women did not exist. As soon as Nationals ended, I boarded a plane to France with Canada's Senior National Team, young and injured, wearing youth boys' rugby shoulder pads because that was literally the only option.

They pinched.
They shifted.
They killed my confidence.

I have never forgotten how wrong they felt.

In 2009, I went back to school for Fashion Design with a chip on my shoulder (pun fully intended) and a very clear mission. I had played alongside some of the strongest, most talented women in sport, athletes whose bodies did not fit one mould and never should have had to.

Women's bodies in rugby come in every shape and size. Every single one of them is earned through brutal gym sessions, punishing tackles, and pure grit. Those bodies deserve kit that actually fits, performs, and makes you feel powerful, not hidden, oversized, or apologetic.

So I built it.

While at fashion school, I designed the first rugby shoulder pads made specifically for the female body. They fit where they are supposed to and move how we move. And yes, I made them hot pink, because strength and femininity can exist at the same time. I wore them at my first Rugby World Cup in 2010.

That was the birth of APTOELLA.

2010 Rugby World Cup England

For the next seven years on the National Team, I continued to design, test, and refine products with the advantage of having incredible teammates willing to push every design.

2014 Las Vegas 7s

2014 World Cup Number Ones - No more Polos!

Big High Won: Vegas 7 2x, Hong Kong 7s, and Dubai 7s!

Big Lows: 2016 CAN vs ENG in New Zealand - we didn't win.

Because women deserve better.
Better fit. Better protection. Better performance.
No shrinking. No compromises.

Today, I wear a couple of other jerseys: mom and coach. Watching the next generation take the pitch changes everything. Protection is no longer just about performance. It is about keeping our daughters safe while they chase big dreams. That perspective, elite athlete meets protective parent, drives every decision we make at APTOELLA.

APTOELLA Photoshoot with Baby #1

APTOELLA Studio Shoot with Baby #1

APTOELLA exists to help female athletes play fearless, feel confident in their bodies, and perform at their best, while giving parents peace of mind through protection designed specifically for girls and women.

Every piece we make is rooted in real experience and tested by athletes who know exactly what it means to tackle hard, sprint fast, and show up strong. At the APTOELLA Design House in Victoria, BC, each custom order is handmade with intention, precision, and a whole lot of heart.

As a Rugby Canada Hall of Fame inductee, my mission is simple. I create gear that does not just fit the female body. It protects it, supports it, and celebrates it.

And now striving to support my own and other children's safety and, of course, their inspiration.

When you choose APTOELLA, you are not just buying protective gear.
You are joining a movement that says women belong in this game, loud, powerful, and unapologetically.

Fit for Her Game. Built from Experience.