Give the People What They Want
Kelley Cullenberg & Sarah Doscinski, Spandits
How many times have you put on a piece of athletic or outdoor gear and been totally annoyed at the fit, colors, lack of quality, etc? Probably a bunch, but if you’re like me, you yank the waistband up to your boobs and just go on your merry way complaining.... or if you’re REALLY like me, you take off the offending garment, grab a snack or a beer (or both), and flop on the couch/bail on whatever the activity was that you were going to be uncomfortable or look like a doofus doing.
Thankfully, Kelley Cullenberg and Sarah Doscinski aren’t like me. At all.
A decade ago, when the track teams Kelley and Sarah were coaching asked for some sassy team tights to run in, they found some options, but each one was worst than the last - the fit would be off, or they would fall apart immediately, or the full-length tights would be like capris on their runners.
Instead of just going back to buying the blah black or navy ones that were the norm, these two enterprising women decided to make their own. Never mind that they had basically zero experience designing or stitching garments. And basically zero spare time.
That scrappy side hustle is now Spandits, a fun and functional Maine brand that has achieved a national footprint through its devoted brand ambassador evangelists and its internet and social media presence.
I learned about Spandits when I was stalking some potential podcast guests, and noticed many of them were all over instagram in these fantastic, super funky athletic tights. It only took me, what, 6 months to figure out ‘HELLO THEY ARE ALL USING THIS HASHTAG, JEN, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY TAKE A LOOK!’
Ok, I never claimed to be a social media guru…
You can find Spandits online at Spandits.com, as well as at selected retailers. Also make sure to follow Spandits @spandits on Instagram and Facebook, and who knows, you just might see some familiar faces from previous episodes of the podcast popping up in their feed!
Useful links from our chat:
What is Title IX? (‘Cause she’s NOT talking about clothes!)
Sarah Canney of Run.Rise.Retreats on Guides Gone Wild (and maybe even sport your new Spandits at Sarah’s next Rise.Run.Retreat in Wolfeboro NH on October 14-17!)
Common Ground Fair (Unity, ME)
Check out Spandits Ambassadors Acadia Gantz and Alissa Wetherbee on Guides Gone Wild too!