We had the good fortune of connecting with Theresa Gardner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Theresa, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?

I have been in eCommerce for almost 10 years now and successfully grew and sold a multimillion dollar global women’s boutique in 2017. I was pregnant with my son and decided to take some time to raise our family. Throughout my motherhood journey that itch to get back into women’s fashion never left and I knew I wanted to start another business once my children were in school.  About 3 years ago I was lucky enough to meet Alysha at a mom’s fitness group (she was one of the instructors) and we became fast friends over our realness about Motherhood and passion for connection with other Moms. Alysha is a Doctor of Physical (she co-owns a successful Wellness Center here in Colorado), a certified trainer, and was working with activewear on the side. I had brought up the idea to start an activewear company together a year ago and one weekend we finally sat down and really dug into why our company would be different. Neither of us wanted to be just another brand, we wanted to not only supply activewear but make a difference in a community that was close to our hearts – Moms. Our visions aligned completely and Alyth Active was born. Activewear by Mamas for Mamas. Alyth creates thoughtfully designed, versatile activewear & athleisure clothing. All of our products are designed to wear through all stages of our beautiful, ever-changing bodies. From pre-pregnancy through postpartum, our products are made to help you feel as beautiful as we know you are. The Alyth community is an inclusive and judgment free zone that has not only locked in clothes to help you feel amazing, but is also here to support and encourage you throughout your motherhood journey!

What should our readers know about your business?

Our passion to want Mamas to feel less alone in their motherhood journey as well as design and create extremely versatile clothing that bend and grow with our constantly changing bodies is what sets Alyth apart. There are so many women led activewear brands and that’s amazing, but we Mamas make up a HUGE portion of their client base yet no brand is really specifically catering their designs, fabric, and marketing choices to our community. Our bodies change significantly before, during, and after pregnancy. Our last concern should be finding clothing to fit us during all of these stages. We also tend to take care of ourselves last, so when we do finally make a purchase we want a product that we can wear in many ways that will also last, and that is what Alyth is all about creating.

What obstacles have you encounter while building your business?

The struggles definitely vary from day to day. Time management can be difficult as both Alysha and I have 2 children, 4 and under. The stress of feeling like you aren’t being as good of a mom because you are having to spend more time on the business one week compared to the last. You really can be your own worst enemy, so fighting that mental battle can be a struggle. Dealing with manufactures on a different time zone and different language also has its challenges. I have a lot of 1am-3am nights communicating to get our next product lines completed and then have to be up with the kids in the morning. Another big challenge for us is finding and working with influencers. Compared influencer marketing in 2017 when I had my previous business the market has become extremely competitive and oversaturated. It makes it difficult for the small gals starting out. But you just have to keep pushing through and not get discouraged. We know we have something amazing and when we do actually get in touch with an influencer and they try our product they love it as much as we do. We lean on each other during the stressful times and are always willing to pick up the slack when one of us has other obligations. We make an amazing team and that is huge for success.

One piece of advice for other entrepreneurs? 

Follow your heart and use your support systems. We both have incredible partners who have stepped up to allow us to follow our dream. Reach out to your community and use your platform to support other local, small businesses. We strongly believe that we will grow through helping others grow.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

Fit4Moms – Greater Denver Area. Alysha and I met because of this amazing fitness group that brings moms together not only to prioritize their health but to also create long lasting friendships. Without them Alysha and I would have never met and Alyth would have never born : )

Website: alythactive.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alythactive

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alythactive

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.