SANDPOINT — When Kristina Wasylko designed the KCarry Holster, she designed it specifically for women. Her inspiration, she said, was to create something for women designed by a woman.

"I knew this was a fantastic market, and I knew there was very limited options for women," Wasylko said.

But the design, versatile as it is, is quite popular with among men as well, she said.

The harness, which goes over the shoulders and around the torso, is designed for comfort and adjustment. The harness works with nearly any body type as it can be adjusted to allow the gun to sit higher or lower, depending on where it is most comfortable for the wearer. And the holster itself is universal as well, Wasylko said, as it can fit nearly any small to mid-size handgun. It can be worn outside of a shirt or, for women, Wasylko has a line of wrap-style shirts, which can be purchased on her website along with the holster.

Wasylko said she started the business following a divorce when she was looking for a way to support herself and her two children.

"This was the perfect opportunity to do something fantastic and encourage my kids; to inspire my kids and show them that a woman can create a business, be successful and provide for herself and her kids," Wasylko said. "I think that is really important."

Wasylko began working on the design four years ago and had a solid design about a year later. She then set out to find a manufacturer who could reproduce the product with quality and consistency. The product officially launched at the end of August this year, and is now available on the website as well as Wrenco Arms in Sandpoint and the Sharp Shooting Indoor Range and Gun Shop in Spokane.

So far, she said, sales have been going well and the holster was featured in the September issue of "Recoil" magazine.

The holster, for both men and women, is $95 and comes in extra small/small for a chest circumference ranging between 30 and 48 inches; or medium/large, which fits a chest circumference of 41 to 60 inches. The women's tops are available in various sizes for $60-$75.

Information, including a "holster fit chart" for firearms, can be found on Wasylko's website at kcarryholsters.com.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailybee.