About

Bearstone Soaps is a veteran owned business supporting the special needs community. Justin Meredith started Bearstone Soaps in 2020 after returning from deployment to Kuwait and Iraq. Soon after coming home, the world was shuttered by a global pandemic and Justin learned that his son has both Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Separately, Justin noticed that he was not adjusting well to post deployment life. As he struggled with rising up to the challenge of his son's diagnosis, surviving a pandemic, and coping with war, he and his wife Katie decided what Justin needed was a hobby.

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Katie loved the idea of Justin making "fancy soaps" and suggested that he picks up soapmaking to help with their situation. Justin decided that if he was going to make soap, he wanted it to be meaningful and somehow assist his family. Not soon after,  Bearstone Soaps was in development. "Bear" was a term of endearment between Justin and Katie and was used when they wrote letters to each other while Justin was deployed. Justin would sign his name and make a paw print with a circle in the palm of the paw. The word "Bear" was adopted by Justin and Katie after Katie's brother, also diagnosed with FXS and ASD, called Justin a bear one day.

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Justin learned how to make soap and then set out to connect his new hobby to his son. Justin liked the idea of the puzzle piece shape and the symbolism it had to the autism world. He realized that he could use the puzzle shape with his soap to help spread awareness and acceptance of people with special needs. Justin spent the next few months designing the puzzle piece. One critical feature he wanted was that it connects to other pieces.

The logo design was next. Justin redesigned the simple bear symbol he and his wife used in their letters from war and made it an eye catching black and yellow. A teal circle was added to highlight his son's fragile x condition and the autism hearts symbolized the love Justin had for his autistic son.  

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Since we opened our doors in early 2021, Bearstone Soaps has built a reputation for its signature puzzle piece soaps made from natural, environmentally friendly, renewable ingredients. Though we sell our soaps far and wide, each item that we sell is still made right here in our Sellersburg Indiana studio. Each item that ends up in your home is sourced, crafted and packaged with dedication and care.

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Thank you for your business, your support, and for being a "Proud Piece of The Puzzle!".