Buckle up, this story is also my life story. Don't worry, I won't go into detail on all of it, but all legends have a good origin story so here's my attempt at creating the Pantheon mythos.
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
Oops, wrong story. But a long time ago, a frustrated college student whose clothes never fit right truly thought that her body was the problem. It wasn't the first time she thought that. She was a lifelong athlete who learned to swim before she could walk. She played a lot of sports - baseball, softball, soccer, swimming, karate, water polo, rugby, running; there are more, but you get the point. What she didn't understand was that these sports made her body different. She had big legs and a broad back. Even though her friend (who sewed her own clothes) told her that the clothes were the problem, not her body, she didn't believe it. So she stopped eating enough. She tried to make herself smaller. It didn't work. One day, she looked in the mirror, and she was horrified by what she saw. So she started eating again, and clothes didn't fit, and the cycle started again.
Fast-forward a few years, and she found bootcamp classes, then CrossFit. She started appreciating what a strong body can do. So she started having her clothes tailored and embraced taking up space. This didn't stop the frustration, though.
When she started coaching CrossFit to make ends meet while working at a nonprofit, she realized that she wasn't alone. A conversation with a newer gym member really stood out. The new woman was so excited about the strength she'd gained, but none of her clothes fit. Consensus around the gym was that this was totally normal and the newer woman would get used to it. I thought to myself, "I wonder if I can change this story". So, I reached out to my sister (who worked in fashion) and asked her if she could put me in touch with someone.
One day, I took a too-long lunch break and met with my sister's friend. He asked me all sorts of questions about the fabrics I wanted to use, the dimensions, fit, etc. I was so intimidated and overwhelmed that I decided I wasn't ready to solve the clothing problem. Instead, I stuck with my unfulfilling job and forgot about this dream for a while. Until my sister-in-law mentioned her mother's sewing classes. I learned how to sew - just the basics at first. I made a pillow case, some pajamas, and a cotton tote bag. Then, by complete coincidence, I met someone in one of the sewing classes who taught me how to draft a pattern and sew with stretch fabric. I filed it away for the future and got wrapped up in work, the pandemic, and family matters.
Skip ahead a few more years, and we're almost to the present. Bear with me, here's where we get started! A few months after being laid off (I was laid off mid-MBA program - don't worry, they did me a favor, I'd wanted to quit for years, but didn't have the guts or an exit plan), I half-joked to one of my friends that I might as well make it my mission to make leggings that fit since I had nothing better to do. Instead of joining my pity party, she told me she had a leggings pattern that she’d send to me so I could get started. Oh boy, the first pair was terrible. I used the wrong fabric (it was better suited to a t-shirt), my sewing machine broke multiple times, I broke a needle on the softest fabric I’ve ever worked with, and I learned I needed to practice measuring because I made the leggings in the wrong size.
Without further ado, please enjoy leggings version 1 - the mustard pajama legging!
Once I stopped laughing at the end result, I started learning about different fabrics, sizing, and pattern adjustments. I still have a lot to learn, but I know more about weave, warp, weft, percentage stretch, recovery, weight, and breathability than I ever thought I would.
My pattern and color choices throughout the testing process remained a bit questionable; I could only do so much while selecting from sale options, but the results kept getting better. Especially after buying a new sewing machine. Eventually, I was confident enough to try a pair out at the gym. It was nerve-racking, but the leggings survived squatting! The construction was acceptable, but the fit wasn’t quite right, so I got back to work.
I learned how to adjust the rise, make more space in the butt, and enlarge the legs of a leggings pattern. What had started as a pattern from a friend morphed into something of my own creation.
Along the way, I got enough friends excited about this wild idea to test the leggings and share their feedback. I’m still astonished by how much trust they put in my sewing skills to wear these prototypes around the house, while running errands, and while working out.
Several iterations later, and we were about 80% there with the pattern. So I found a manufacturer, and here we are - making this crazy passion-project a reality! While this is my passion project, it’s truly been a group effort by my friends and family. From feeling countless, almost imperceptibly different fabric samples to letting me measure them (I still don’t leave home without my tape measure!) to helping with branding and marketing and so much more, I’ve had a whole team helping me make these products something you will truly want to wear and build a business around them.
We’re creating entirely new activewear to fit real bodies. Built on the input and measurements of athletes and people of various body types. Using sustainable, ethically-sourced materials. With a focus on strengthening communities and uplifting local businesses. This is a labor of passion to make clothes that make you feel strong, confident, and powerful.