This edition of Mutual’s Muses features Angie Mashford-Scott - counsellor, advocate and founder of endokind. Through her work supporting people living with endometriosis and chronic illness, Angie is helping create spaces that feel softer, safer and more validating for those navigating often invisible experiences.
Angie shares an in-depth look at her work, what it means to navigate fashion while living with an chronic illness, and the role secondhand clothing plays in her everyday life.
Read on to get to know Angie a lil better.
Photos by @gangofbabesphotography
MM: Hi Angie! Tell us a little about what you do.
AMS: Hi MM! I’m a registered counsellor and the founder of endokind, a specialised counselling practice supporting people living with endometriosis and related conditions. I work online with clients across Australia who are navigating endometriosis, its cousin adenomyosis, PMOS (previously known as PCOS), PMDD, perimenopause... and the wide-ranging emotional and psychological impacts that come with all of that. I also provide free (government-funded) counselling through the endo charity QENDO within their QENDOCare program.
Alongside my clinical work, I do a lot of advocacy and awareness-building when I have the capacity. I think while individual support is crucial, it needs to work in tandem with broader system work so we can create meaningful change. I launched the endokind podcast about a year ago, where I speak with a range of guests about endo, women's pain, healthcare and mental health, and the social systems that impact our experiences.
Conditions like endo aren't just physical - they affect you emotionally, socially, financially. They can affect literally every part of your life - your relationships, your work, your confidence, your identity, your independence, your sense of safety and trust in your own body. My work is essentially about creating spaces that hold all of these layers and complexities, and helping people feel seen and heard and supported.
MM: You founded endokind from your own lived experience - what was the turning point that made you want to create a dedicated space for people with endometriosis?
AMS: I’d had symptoms since I was a teenager, but like most people with endo, I went undiagnosed and misdiagnosed for a long time. I was told it was anxiety, diet-related, IBS, or just straight up 'nothing to worry about'. I never once thought to keep pushing for answers or help.
Then my pain really escalated in 2020 and I was finally referred to a gynaecologist and had my first surgery where a significant amount of deep infiltrating endometriosis was found. I so vividly remember lying there waiting to be wheeled in, in severe pain and yet worried they weren’t going to find anything - that I'd somehow exaggerated it all in my head.
I remember that strange mix of relief and grief. Relief that what I was experiencing was real and had been validated, and grief for the years of dismissal, the self-doubt, all the 'pushing through' that had come before it.
But the real turning point came a couple of years later, when I nearly died from serious complications after another surgery. It changed me and my life in profound ways. What struck me at that time was how little psychological support existed for people going through these things and how lonely the road is that many of us travel. I find that most people with endo say the mental health impacts are equal or even greater than the physical experience itself.
So I decided I wanted to create the kind of specialised support that I'd needed. A space built around compassion, validation, gentleness, but also a fierceness that only really comes from lived experience. So I trained as a counsellor and endokind was born.
MM: Chronic pain and fatigue can change how people relate to their bodies. Has your relationship with clothing or personal style shifted because of your experience with endo?
AMS: Absolutely. My pain and symptoms are at a low level right now thankfully, but when I had to manage fluctuating pain, fatigue, bloating, energy levels - comfort and softness became non-negotiable. I have no interest in wearing an item of clothing that contributes to my pain or discomfort. I stopped wearing heels years ago, bras with underwire, clothes that require you to suck anything in, itchy jumpers. No, thank you. It was kind of this quiet revelation - I can just stop wearing uncomfortable items of clothing or things that make me feel self-conscious or unconfident? Who knew?! So now this is just how I dress, all the time.
But I reject the idea that comfort means giving up on style. I think people living with chronic pain and illness often become incredibly creative about dressing because we've had to be - we develop more of a personal, intuitive style rather than trying to fit into some prescribed aesthetic or trend. We're used to our bodies and needs changing, and having to adapt, especially after surgeries.
I've found I can do a lot with accessories. Adding a cool cap, layering some necklaces, red lipstick, or some bright socks or sneakers can completely transform a comfort-led outfit, and give me a mood and confidence lift without requiring much effort or energy. And this approach has allowed me to be more playful and expressive, and develop an individualised style that just feels like 'me'. And of course, some days it's just about dry shampoo and clean PJs. And that's okay too.
MM: Have you noticed any patterns in how people with chronic illnesses adapt their wardrobes (e.g. silhouettes, fabrics, second-hand sourcing)?
AMS: Definitely. Comfort and adaptability are central. Soft fabrics, breathable natural fibres, stretch, layering, high waists, nothing pressing on the belly, oversized silhouettes - dressing in ways that accommodate fluctuation and make you feel more rather than less comfortable. Especially with endometriosis, bloating and abdominal pain can change day to day, so flexibility matters.
There’s also often a shift away from dressing for external expectations and more towards dressing in a way that prioritises softness, ease and sensory comfort. Clothing isn’t just about aesthetics - there's this relationship between style and embodiment. It affects how safe, comfortable and emotionally regulated we feel in our bodies.
At the same time, I think there’s often a real desire to still feel expressive and cool and connected to your identity outside of chronic illness. So as I said, accessories, colour, makeup, nails, jewellery are all low-energy ways to bring joy and individuality into your day when physically or mentally you might not have much capacity.
I also think second-hand fashion plays an important role here. Op shopping naturally invites creativity and individuality. You’re not buying into one prescribed trend or ideal body type. You’re finding pieces that work for you - your life, your body, your style, right now, and making it your own.
MM: Is there something the fashion industry should be doing in terms of inclusivity for people living with a chronic illness?
AMS: Fashion has a pretty narrow idea of what bodies are supposed to look like and do. There’s often this assumption that our bodies are stable, pain-free, super mobile and consistent day to day - but that’s not the reality for so many people. And that's natural. Our bodies change through the menstrual cycle, through pregnancy and birth, through perimenopause. So any move towards considering fluctuating bodies, sensory needs, chronic pain, bloating, and body-confidence would be positive.
There’s also a financial side to this conversation. Many people with chronic illness are dealing with reduced work capacity or high medical costs, so accessibility and sustainability matter too. That’s one reason I love second-hand fashion spaces like MM - they feel more democratic and community-oriented. You're still buying quality, often designer items, because they're selective and curate what they stock, but you're not paying anywhere near full price. And you can walk into one place and find lots of different styles and items rather than having to walk into a bunch of different stores to get what you need. Can you tell I'm a MM fan :)
MM: Tell us a little about your relationship with second-hand fashion?
AMS: I'd say around 70% of my wardrobe is second-hand.
For me, it’s partly about sustainability and affordability, but it’s also about creativity. There’s not one prescribed way to wear something. You’re not just consuming a trend exactly as it’s been marketed to you. Each piece feels like a little treasure waiting for someone to reinterpret it. You’re looking at what’s in front of you and thinking, “How could I make this work for me?”
I tend to search for quality streetwear - like vintage Adidas and Nike hip-hop style pieces and sneakers - and a 1970s rock n roll style with soft, floaty pieces and denim. I love mixing up styles like delicate dresses with sneakers, retro sportswear with jewellery, clashing colours and prints. I think contrast, adding something unpredictable, breaking rules, is so much cooler than following one style or set of rules. I've come to realise that a sense of things being a little messy and joyful rather than polished makes for the coolest outfits.
I also think second-hand clothing carries a kind of emotional texture. It already has a history and a life to it, which somehow makes it feel more personal and special.
When I do buy new, I try to buy from local designers where I can, and I try to support local artists and bands I love. In this shoot, I'm wearing a black dress from Afends, and the t-shirt is from Melbourne-based band, Milou Moon. My earrings are from Linda Tahija. Ring by Susan Ewington. Cap is from Pinky's Store. Singlet top from Retropolis. Sunglasses from local chemist. Rollas Jeans are from MM :)
MM: On days when your mood is low, what’s your go-to outfit?
AMS: This changes but if I was feeling low and was also low on energy, it'd be my fave Adidas vintage-style tracksuit pants with an oversized jumper, a cap, a few layered necklaces and some sneakers. If I was feeling low but had capacity, maybe my favourite Rollas jeans, a top that makes me feel comfy and sexy, some special jewellery, and I'd wash my hair.
MM: What’s been your greatest second-hand find?
AMS: Well I recently found this singlet top at Retropolis that I absolutely love (in photos). I think it was about $40 and I’m pretty sure it’s actually a bathers top, which makes me love it even more. I’ve worn it swimming, out at night and in this shoot. That’s what I love about op shopping - it encourages you to think creatively rather than literally. One piece can become so many different things depending on how you style it and what you want it to be. There are no rules. I think second-hand fashion naturally makes people more individualistic because you’re building a wardrobe through discovery rather than looking at pieces through some prescribed lens.
MM: If you had to choose one song to describe your style, what would it be?
AMS: Music is a big part of my life so choosing just one song was near impossible, so I've chosen two!
'Any Colour You Like' by Pink Floyd: It's dream-like and playful; a beautiful, gentle mix of textures and colours and sensations; it feels open and expansive, like I'm free and drifting.
'Dopamine' by Robyn and Jamie xx: This song speaks more to seeking aliveness; embracing contrast and the unexpected; being unapologetic; dressing to 'feel like me'.
I think these two songs together probably capture my style and relationship to fashion. I want to feel comfortable and at ease within myself, and I have a whimsical, creative, gentle side, and a vibrant side that's looking for stimulation, release and expression. And I embrace both.
MM: What’s the oldest item in your wardrobe, and why have you held onto it for so long?
AMS: I have a vintage Adidas stripe bomber jacket from the 70s that came from Savers on Sydney Rd, Brunswick, maybe 20 years ago now (also seen in photos). It's a versatile colour and I can wear it with literally anything and feel cool in it. It's the item that feels the most 'me'. I wear it over dresses, with tracksuit pants, with jeans. From a dance class to a night out. I'll just add more accessories if I'm going out anywhere. Sometimes all it takes is hoop earrings and I'm done.
I think when your body changes a lot because of illness, there’s comfort in having certain pieces that carry continuity and familiarity, and that always fit and feel comfy.
MM: And finally, who or what in your community is inspiring your work right now?
AMS: I'm endlessly inspired by the chronic illness community, their resilience and creativity and resourcefulness.
And I’m especially inspired by people creating spaces rooted in care and community, whether that’s through fashion, art, music, healthcare, advocacy.
I think there’s something very powerful about softness right now. About creating environments where people don’t have to perform wellness or some version of curated perfection. Cultivating compassion and softness towards ourselves and others, and celebrating individuality. That's the aim of the game.
Stay tuned for our next conversation coming up soon. Do you have someone you think we should sit down with? Let us know!
xx MM