Recognized as part of the March 2026 San Diego Weekly Standouts Series honoring leaders shaping San Diego, California, the Cali-Baja region, and communities connected to the region around the world.
San Diego Weekly Standouts | March 2026 Honoree
Through ReKre8 Universal, DeBrenna Glastervann is transforming fashion into a platform for healing, identity, and empowerment, proving that what we wear can reflect what we overcome.
SAN DIEGO, Calif.
Some people rebuild their lives.
Others recreate them.
DeBrenna Glastervann’s story begins after everything she once knew about herself was taken away.
Before the accident, she was an athlete. Strength, movement, and confidence were part of her identity. Then a devastating car accident changed everything. She lost a lung and internal organs. She began living with traumatic brain injury and PTSD. She spent 13 years in a wheelchair. At one point, she weighed 400 pounds, in part due to the effects of steroids.
It was not just physical loss.
It was identity loss.
“I felt I would never be an athlete again.”
“I lost enough confidence in myself to keep trying.”
Then came the moment that changed everything.
“God whispered in my ear the word Recreate.”
That word became direction.
Rebuilding Confidence From the Ground Up
What followed was not fast. It was not easy. It was not visible to most people.
It was a quiet rebuilding of belief.
DeBrenna made the decision to retire her wheelchair and begin walking again. She returned to a Summer Sports program she described as a space for fallen heroes. There, something powerful happened.
Her athletic ability came back.
She earned MVP.
And for the first time in years, she felt something return.
Confidence.
The Birth of ReKre8
During her time in a wheelchair, DeBrenna faced a challenge that would later define her purpose.
She could not find clothing that felt comfortable, adaptable, or expressive. At the same time, she carried a deep passion for fashion.
That gap stayed with her.
“I created ReKre8 Apparel because when I was in my wheelchair I lost confidence. I gained a lot of weight from steroids and I felt I would never be an athlete again.”
That moment of truth became the foundation of her brand.
ReKre8 Universal was not built from trend.
It was built from lived experience.
Redisigning the Future of Fashion
DeBrenna describes her work as a community driven fashion initiative focused on empowering individuals through innovative and expressive clothing.
Her brand fosters belonging, encourages creativity, and promotes individuality while combining fashion with social consciousness.
Her message is clear.
“ReKre8 Universal is redisigning the future of fashion.”
And even deeper.
“Fashion is not just what we wear, it’s what we stand for.”
“Fashion is stronger when it uplifts people.”
This is fashion with purpose.
Who She Is Fighting For
Her work is open to everyone, but her heart is rooted in the special needs and disabled community.
A community she understands firsthand.
She speaks openly about the realities many face.
Depression. PTSD. Alcohol and drug addiction. Isolation. The feeling of not belonging.
The deeper need is acceptance.
To be accepted for who they are.
Whether their disability is seen or unseen.
Empowerment Through Fashion and Education
DeBrenna uses fashion as a platform to educate, uplift, and empower.
“I love encouraging our special needs and disabled community and empowering and educating through fashion and showing our community just because we’re disabled doesn’t mean we can’t be successful.”
Her impact goes beyond clothing.
She empowers youth.
She educates on upcycling and repurposing clothing.
She creates adaptive solutions for the disabled community.
She builds opportunities for economic empowerment through collaboration with local designers and artists.
She partners with community organizations to reflect cultural and social influence.
A Story Woven Into Every Collection
Each of her collections reflects a part of her journey.
The Confident Collection represents the confidence she regained.
The Drip Collection reflects her transformation, including losing weight from 400 pounds to 170.
The Athletic Collection represents her return to sports using adaptive equipment.
Each piece is a chapter.
Each piece is proof.
Each piece tells the story of what it means to rebuild.
ReKre8 Universal is built on a belief.
“People, like clothing, can be Recreated.”
It is not about fashion alone.
It is about identity.
It is about dignity.
It is about showing people they are not defined by their limitations.
“It’s never too late to ReKre8.”
“Just because we’re disabled doesn’t mean we can’t be successful.”
DeBrenna Glastervann
Recognized Voice and Growing Platform
Her work and voice have been featured across:
The Unsung of Unsung Heroes Podcast
Acronym a thon 2026
Voice and Viewpoint
We Can Make It Fashion Show
San Diego Union Tribune
Connect With DeBrenna and ReKre8 Universal
ReKre8 Universal
Email: rekre8universal@gmail.com
Facebook: ReKre8 Universal
Instagram: @ReKre8Apparel
Why Her Story Matters Now
Across San Diego and the Cali Baja region, conversations around inclusion and identity are evolving.
But many still feel unseen.
Many still feel overlooked.
Many are still searching for a way back to themselves.
DeBrenna’s work speaks directly to them.
Because what she is building is not just fashion.
It is representation.
It is empowerment.
It is proof.
That no matter what has been lost…
It is never too late to ReKre8.
This recognition is part of the March 2026 San Diego Weekly Standouts Series honoring leaders shaping San Diego, California, the Cali-Baja region, and communities connected to the region around the world.
San Diego Weekly Standouts | March 2026 Honoree
About the San Diego Standouts Series
The San Diego Standouts Series from San Diego Weekly highlights individuals whose leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and service are helping shape the future of San Diego, California, the Cali-Baja region, and communities connected to the region around the world.
Share a Story Worth Telling
Community nominations and story ideas are welcome.
Learn more or submit story ideas at:
Profiles featured in the San Diego Standouts Series are selected by the San Diego Weekly editorial team to highlight individuals whose leadership and service are helping shape San Diego and the Cali-Baja region. The Editor’s Choice is for individuals whose impact on San Diego and the broader region is undeniable: the founders redefining industries, the advocates transforming communities, and the visionaries building what comes next. Past and current considerations include civic leaders, nonprofit founders, tech entrepreneurs, educators, creatives, and cultural icons across the San Diego and Cali-Baja region. These editorial recognitions are independent features and honors, there is no fee required to be selected.
San Diego Weekly also offers separate sponsored storytelling and advertising opportunities for organizations wishing to highlight their work through paid promotional features.
Sponsored collaborations are always clearly labeled to distinguish them from editorial recognitions.
