Boston activewear company aims for inclusivity for all body types

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WE’VE SEEN LABELS FOR FOOD LABELS FOR BEER, BUT THERE ARE FASHION LABELS ALL AROUND US. THERE’S LUXURY DIOR, CHANEL, ARMANI, AND THERE’S THE MORE EVERYDAY LABELS NEW BALANCE, H&M, ZARA. AT 33 YEARS OLD, EASTON NATIVE KELLY BARNES RUNS HER OWN FASHION LABEL AND EXERCISE BRAND JUST A GIRL’S GIRL BRAND. IT REALLY IS FOR EVERY WOMAN WORKING AS A FITNESS INSTRUCTOR. BRABANT SAW THE NEED FOR LEGGINGS THAT FIT WOMEN PROPERLY. I STARTED MY WORKOUT CLASSES IN 2013 THROUGHOUT BOSTON, AND I CALLED THEM — BY RAY-BANS, AND IT JUST GAVE ME THE SENSE OF PURPOSE THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR IN MY LIFE. ON A TRIP TO BRAZIL, SHE FOUND WHAT SHE FEELS ARE PERFECT LEGGINGS. I WORE THEM AND FELT SO INSTANTLY AND CONFIDENT AND AMAZING. WE HAVE NO NUMBER APPROACH ON THE LEGGINGS FOR BRAVE PANTS, THE NO NUMBER CONCEPT WAS A NO BRAINER. LOOKING BACK TEN YEARS AGO, I’M JUST LIKE I WAS SO HARD ON MYSELF TRYING TO SQUEEZE INTO SKINNIER JEANS INSTEAD OF JUST GETTING MY TRUE SIZE AND I FELT LIKE MY APPEARANCE MATTERED MORE THAN MY PERSONALITY. WHEN I SAW THAT THESE LEGGINGS WERE ONE SIZE, IT KIND OF CLICKED IN MY HEAD. IT’S EXACTLY WHAT MY CLASSES ARE FOR. IT’S FOR EVERY WOMAN. IT’S ABOUT INCLUSIVITY. TODAY, — BY BANDS HAS THREE SIZE OPTIONS, THREE PHYSICAL LOCATIONS AND MORE THAN 800 DIFFERENT STYLES. AND COLORS OF LEGGINGS TO CHOOSE FROM. I STARTED WITH ONE PAIR OF LEGGINGS IN FOUR COLORS. WE’RE MANUFACTURING EVERYTHING IN BRAZIL AND IT’S BEEN SUCH A PLEASURE BECAUSE MY FAMILY’S ALSO DOWN THERE. SO I HAVE EXTRA EYES ON ALL OF THE MAIN FACTORING, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT. WE’RE ABLE TO HAVE THAT TRANSPARENCY OF REALLY GO IN AND VIDEOTAPE EVERYTHING AND SHOW PEOPLE LIKE THERE’S ALL THESE AMAZING BRAZILIAN WOMEN MAKING YOUR CLOTHES IN A SAFE FACTORY WITH AIR CONDITIONING, AND THEY HAVE TWO LUNCH BREAKS. IT’S ALL ETHICALLY MADE, AND I’M REALLY PROUD OF THAT. WE STARTED THAT WAY AND WE’LL END THAT WAY. ROMANCE IS INVOLVED IN EVERY STEP OF THE DESIGN PROCESS. I’M SUPER CREATIVE AND I LOVE DESIGNING AND COMING UP WITH IDEAS. WE JUST SPENT HOURS AND HOURS FOR WEEKS JUST GOING THROUGH MATERIALS, COLORS, TRYING EVERYTHING ON, WORKING ON SILHOUETTES. I GET TO SIT WITH MY SEAMSTRESSES AND ACTUALLY SEE THEM MAKING THE SPORTS BRAS AND THE SAMPLES. I’M SO INVOLVED IN EVERYTHING FROM THE LOGO TO THE TAG TO HOW IT’S PACKAGED AND THEN GIVEN TO THE CUSTOMER AT THE END. DESPITE THE LONG HOURS, BRAY BANDS CONTINUE TO TEACH WORKOUT CLASSES AND CONNECT WITH HER NEARLY 93,000 INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS. AT ONE POINT I REMEMBER PEOPLE TELLING ME THE LEGGINGS ARE GETTING SO BIG YOU SHOULDN’T BE DOING THE CLASSES ANYMORE BECAUSE LIKE YOU DON’T NEED IT FOR THE BUSINESS. AND IT WAS ALWAYS IN MY EAR AND IT NEVER ONCE STUCK WITH THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GROW A TON OF FOLLOWERS BUT NEVER REALLY KNOW YOUR FOLLOWING. AND WITH MY CLASSES, IT ALLOWS ME TO GET TO KNOW THEM IN PERSON. AS FOR THE FUTURE, THIS FITNESS FANATIC PLANS TO STAY TRUE TO HER ROOTS BY CONNECTING WITH HER CUSTOMERS AND LISTENING TO THEIR FEEDBACK. THERE’S SO MUCH, LIKE I SAID, SO MUCH COMPETITION IN THE INDUSTRY, SO I HOPE THAT MORE PEOPLE GIVE US A GIVE US A SHOT IN THE FUTURE AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO EXPAND TO DO MORE STORES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. BOONE SORRY, THERE YOU GO. BOONE THE BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG WAS NOT TO BE DENIED SOME CAMERA TIME. IN ADDITION TO BOONE KELLY BRABIN SAYS HER FAMILY IS THE KEY TO HER SUCCESS. SHE WORKS CLOSELY WITH HER SISTER, LIZ ON EACH PROJECT. KELLY’S LAST SUMMER WORKOUT CLASSES TOMORROW NIGHT AT GRANITE LYNX IN QUINCY. STILL AHEAD, T

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