The idea for Issey Active came to me in my first year of teaching yoga. Living in activewear, it was my daily routine to slide on some leggings and throw on a cute bra. My yogawear collection started to build as I made purchases every few months to keep up with how often was wearing these items, not to mention some would wear down so quickly. I realised most of the brands I was buying from were huge fast fashion companies who didn’t have a great reputation for supporting sustainable fashion or ethical products. There was a huge gap in the market for cute and funky activewear (in the UK) who cared about their environmental impact. So the 21 year old yoga teacher from Newquay, Cornwall started her research, ready to start a whole new brand herself. Manufacturers, fabrics, designs, patterns, it took a l o n g time to curate a full collection ready for launch (almost 3 years from starting the designs to launch date!). Then you have to think about logos, packaging and marketing - luckily my sister is a training graphic designer, and a bloody good one too, so she’s been part of my team since day one, helping to tidy up my drawings, shortlist the thousands of ideas I had, and take control over the logo and packaging designs - thanks Maisy!
There were so many more things I had to think about if I wanted my brand to be all I dreamed of. First of all, a good sizing range, so no one felt excluded from purchasing any pieces, then different bra designs so every boob size was supported when working out. The quality - an important one - you want to feel good and look good in your activewear, not get the feeling it’s hanging off of you, slipping off your waist or worst of all, seeing your underwear through the bottoms! The products had to be tested not just by me, but by other body types. My sisters, my mum and my besties all slipped on the garments to give me their honest feedback on the first ever collection for Issey Active.
After I had finalised the designs, approved the samples and received my bulk order, it was time to let the world know Issey Active was finally launching. I organised a mini party / pop up for my closest friends to come and see the collection and for the public to try on some pieces before the day of launch. This day exceeded my expectations, selling out of pieces before properly launching them, it was a dream come true. The following Monday, it was time to sell online. It was a sell out. Some of the pieces sold out within the first few hours of posting, and this was just DMs through Instagram! Again, a bloody dream come true.
For those of you who missed out, don’t worry. A restock is coming very soon, so keep your eyes out and be ready to grab your favourite pieces! I hope you love this collection as much as I do and I can’t wait to show you what we have planned next.
Much love,
Issey, founder of Issey Active x