Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in clothing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jennifer Moore, owner of Fit 2 Fly Apparel, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Fit 2 Fly is a community-minded, sustainable, low-waste lifestyle brand specializing in making activewear and casual wear for the circus, dance, yoga, pole artists, and anyone with a desire to be comfortable and fashionable at the same time.
Tell us about yourself
I started Fit 2 Fly in 2013, designing circus apparel for my performance colleagues and friends. In the circus, we need to cover and protect our bodies from silks burns and bruises, and most of the clothing I was finding in stores was low rise. I started making the clothing in my basement and bringing it with me to events and recitals. More and more people in the circus community started hearing about Fit 2 Fly, and we are now selling internationally.
I am motivated each day by the endless amount of creativity that can be made with a single roll of fabric. I love that customers can create their own look by choosing from any of our fabrics.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I would say my biggest accomplishment as a business owner is surviving the COVID 19 pandemic this far. We pivoted very fast to making fabric masks. We donated approximately $20,000 in masks to local hospitals, shelters, and people in need.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things about being a business owner is trusting your own instinct and paving your own road. Just because something hasn't been done before doesn't mean that it can't be done.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Trust in yourself.
- Don't listen if someone doesn't agree with you.
- Ask questions and be willing to think outside of the box.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Making all of our own apparel in Toronto is far less wasteful than purchasing clothing from somewhere else, where the product inevitably gets delivered in a ton of packaging. In addition to reducing our environmental footprint, we reuse and donate all of our fabric scraps to craft programs around the city. The fashion industry is one of the top polluting industries in the world. It is a major contributor to water pollution, plastic pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Fit 2 Fly aims to slow the trend of fast fashion by providing quality, versatile pieces while reducing our carbon footprint by producing products locally.
Fit 2 Fly aspires to create an impact in the fashion industry that encourages other brands to look deeper into how their products are sourced, produced, and packaged and to consider the changes that could be made to help reduce waste.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.fit2fly.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fit2flyapparel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit2fly_apparel/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
