Velorosa: A business built from RAGBRAI becomes a sisterhood of women cyclists - Des Moines Register |
- Velorosa: A business built from RAGBRAI becomes a sisterhood of women cyclists - Des Moines Register
- Women’s boutique giving away 5,000 new pieces of clothing to women affected by tornadoes - dayton.com
- Forever 21 apologizes for putting diet bars in women’s clothing orders - WTVR CBS 6 News
- 2 Blondes, a SLO CA women's clothing store, is for sale - San Luis Obispo Tribune
- The Best Hiking Clothes For Women - Forbes
| Velorosa: A business built from RAGBRAI becomes a sisterhood of women cyclists - Des Moines Register Posted: 27 Jul 2019 02:33 PM PDT If women cyclists can embrace the Lyrca of it all, they will likely face another apparel hurdle: Most biking kits are catered to men and their, ummm, equipment. In many bike stores, the women's clothing section is more paltry than panoply. Relegated to the tiniest rack, meager offerings normally include about two pairs of shorts and a few jerseys that are just smaller, off-brand versions of the men's choices. And if the shirts aren't exact copies, they're probably covered in pastel butterflies or soft-hued flowers. After many a failed trip to find new biking gear, Lisa Carponelli, a Simpson College professor and serious cyclist, wondered to herself, "If I am having problems finding comfortable, cool clothing, what was the casual biker going through?" "There just weren't many options and we used to talk about how frustrating that was," Carponelli said. "But it also got me thinking, I guarantee there's other women looking for the same kind of products and not finding anything good either." So, during RAGBRAI 2015, Carponelli and Kim Hopkins decided to do something about the dearth of appropriate dress. Using designs Hopkins previously reserved for her women's biking group, they set up a tent at the Bike Expo with the few pieces they had and, through sweat and sheer determination, launched Velorosa — a biking clothing company by women, for women. That first RAGBRAI they hit on something big, almost selling out everything they brought with them. They've returned every year since to bigger crowds and greater sales. (Carponelli goes as far as to say that the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa is "the reason" their brand exists.) But, recently, their brand has blossomed larger than one week in July. Their gear is now featured in nine stories across the Midwest, including Rassy's Bike Shop on Grand Avenue in West Des Moines, and the company has grown so fast that Hopkins quit her other work to focus full time on the company. The key to their business is simple: High-quality, good-looking performance gear with bright, loud patterns (butterflies need not apply). They want women on bikes to be seen and to express their personalities — but honestly, they just want to get women on bikes. "We've had such tremendous support from the women on the team, and Kim and I are two women who we started this business," Carponelli said. "So, you know, when women really get together and start to solve problems, a lot of positive, wonderful, dynamic change can happen." The starting lineLike all good businesses, Velorosa started with a need and a chance meeting. The need we've covered. The chance meeting took place in 2010 when Carponelli joined the Velorosa women's cycling team, which Hopkins had been on since its 2007 inception. (Both the local recreational team and the brand are named Velorosa, but riders don't have to be on the team to wear the clothes.) One night while out on a ride, Carponelli was paired up with Hopkins and complimented her "amazing design aesthetic." Pedaling next to Hopkins, she got to asking her more specifics about the bright kits — a term for cycling outfits — she made for the women's group to print on demand. "I said, 'Have you ever thought, because there's nothing really cool for women to ride in, about taking your designs and maybe making them bigger and available to a wider audience?'" Carponelli remembered. Hopkins didn't hesitate: "I'm like, only every day, but I don't really know how to get started." The communications professional and graphic designer decided not having the answers wasn't a good reason not to move forward, so they jumped in with both feet, staying accountable to each other for every step. It took a couple of years to come up with a plan, but Velorosa — a made up combination of the French word for bike, "velo," and Italian for pink, "rosa" — was born. Not for WallflowersJust before the Bike Expo at RAGBRAI 2019 — "Mambo No. 5" as the founders were calling it, a nod to their fifth year — Carponelli took to Facebook to show some new designs. Their tanks, she said, had two characteristics all women were clamoring for: A super supportive built-in bra and no elastic band around the bottom hem, meaning the jersey wouldn't ride up in the back or create the dreaded muffin top. Their shorts, one of their most popular items, also has distinctly feminine features, including a yoga pant-like waistband, a wide leg band and a chamois — the crotch part — made (this time) for women's equipment. "A woman came up to us at the Expo and she said, 'Wednesday's the longest day; that's when I'm wearing my Velorosa shorts,'" Carponelli said. "She had structured what she had brought so that she could wear our shorts on the day that was going to be the longest because they were going to be the most comfortable for her to wear." While shape and comfort are the most important part of Velorosa's clothes, their visually stunning designs are a close second. From colorful sugar skull sketches to retro 1960s patterns to sharp Keith Haring-esque 1980s designs, the clothes are bright and fun and #notforwallflowers, as one of their promotions said. "Part of our philosophy with the designs is that cycling is not one of those places you want to fly under the radar," Hopkins said. "You want to be visible; the louder, the better really. Because when you're out there on the road with cars, it's just not a time to try and minimize yourself." In getting Velorosa off the ground, Hopkins and Carponelli leaned on their team of women cyclists to test out new pieces or give feedback on fresh designs — essentially creating a network of fans and friends they can draft off as they grow as business owners. "The community has been really, really supportive," Hopkins said. "Because we've had to learn a lot, a lot of this has been new to me, and we've had to figure out what we know how to do and where we need help and they are always there for us when we need that help." Finding empowerment along the routeRiding along RAGBRAI, you'll pass lots of Velorosa-wearing cyclists, including men wearing their the company's male designs. But, on group rides like this, Hopkins and Carponelli notice a trend that they hadn't put into their business model: camaraderie. "When I'm out there riding, and we'll roll by somebody who's wearing Velorosa, they'll always yell out, 'Hey, Velorosa!' and it's like a little sisterhood, like everybody kind of high fives each other," Hopkins said. Cycling changed both Hopkins and Carponelli's lives. Balancing on two wheels checked their mental, physical and social boxes, and pushed them to try other adventures. "There are things I'd never thought I would do 15 years ago that I feel so empowered to do now because of cycling and the women I've met in cycling," Hopkins said, "so I'd just like to keep spreading that and having women step outside their comfort zone and find out that they're really empowered by doing that." "And then having them do it in our awesome clothes is also nice," she added with a smile. A lot of their long-term goals are centered around harnessing that sisterhood to get women out on the trails or roads or mountain paths. Carponelli would love a storefront where they could take women from never having ridden a bike to loving the sport. Hopkins dreams of a travel vertical where Velorosa guides women on cycling trips around the world. Short-term they just want to spread their clothes to the coasts, where there's a greater season for cycling. "But, hey," Carponelli offers with a smile, "Orlondo's is for sale." She's joking, she tells me quickly, but if these two put their minds together, I wouldn't bet against them. COURTNEY CROWDER, the Register's Iowa Columnist, traverses the state's 99 counties telling Iowans' stories. Getting over the Lyrca of it all will be key in her quest to do RAGBRAI next year. You can reach her at 515-284-8360 or ccrowder@dmreg.com. Follow her on Twitter @courtneycare. Read or Share this story: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/local/columnists/courtney-crowder/2019/07/27/ragbrai-velorosa-cycling-clothing-womens-jerseys-apparel-brand-iowa-recreation/1792443001/  |
| Posted: 26 Jul 2019 11:09 PM PDT  Neighbors, churches, non-profits and business owners continue to be beacons of light for people in the Miami Valley impacted by the Memorial Day tornadoes. LuLaRoe, a women's clothing line sold through local consultants, has partnered with New Path Outreach to distribute 5,000 new dresses, skirts, tops and leggings to women who were impacted by the disaster at a special event next week. >> RELATED: Dayton still standing strong in face of housing issues From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, July 29 at The Point Choice Food Pantry, located at 506 E. Main St. in Trotwood, women impacted by the tornadoes are invited to participate in the clothing giveaway. >> PHOTOS: What Trotwood neighborhood looks like 2 months after tornado "All women affected by the Memorial Day tornado outbreak, particularly those in Trotwood and surrounding Montgomery, Miami and Greene County communities, are invited to attend this event. Sizes XXS to 3XL will be available, and all items are brand new with tags. This event is made possible through a generous donation from California-based clothing manufacturer LuLaRoe, and all guests will enjoy a personal shopping experience thanks to local LuLaRoe boutique owners," according to a press release. >> PHOTOS: What Beavercreek recovery looks like 2 months after tornado Approximately 20 Dayton-area LuLaRoe boutique owners will participate in the drive. "The best part of owning my own boutique is helping women of all shapes, sizes and ages feel as beautiful as I already know they are. My friends and I just want local women to feel confident as they face the challenges of rebuilding that lie ahead. They need to know they are loved," said Nicolette Winner, local LuLaRoe retailer and a national top-seller. >> 100 young tornado survivors see 'The Lion King' for free New Path is a faith-based non-profit organization providing charitable services to residents in Miami and Montgomery counties, including some areas impacted by the tornadoes. "We appreciate the generosity of LuLaRoe and their independent retailers," says Executive Director William Lutz of New Path Outreach. "Partnerships like these allow us to help those that really need our assistance in new ways." >> After the tornado: 'If we don't do it for ourselves, no one is going to come in and help do it' WANT TO GO? WHEN: 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. Monday, July 29  |
| Forever 21 apologizes for putting diet bars in women’s clothing orders - WTVR CBS 6 News Posted: 24 Jul 2019 07:57 AM PDT  Forever 21 recently shipped diet bars along with customers' online orders. Not every customer welcomed the surprise addition to their packages. Forever 21 recently shipped diet bars along with customers' online orders. Not every customer welcomed the surprise addition to their packages. Many people on social media called Forever 21's diet bar shipments offensive and "fatphobic." A number of people on social media said they received the bars along with orders of plus-sized clothing. Atkins markets the bars as low-carb snacks for weight loss. "Bought a swimsuit online from Forever 21 and they sent me an Atkins bar along with it," Twitter user @caileeargudo wrote. "Thank u for reminding me that I don't have a beach ready bod." Forever 21, in a statement, said it sent the free diet bar samples with all orders and sizes. "From time to time, Forever 21 surprises our customers with free test products from third parties in their e-commerce orders," the company said. "The freebie items in question were included in all online orders, across all sizes and categories, for a limited time and have since been removed. This was an oversight on our part and we sincerely apologize for any offense this may have caused to our customers, as this was not our intention in any way." Others on social media confirmed the bars were sent with all online orders — not just to plus-size customers. This criticism comes as diversity and inclusion — of people of all shapes, sizes and colors — has increasingly become a focus for retailers and fashion companies. Victoria's Secret has come under fire and lost customers for failing to cater to a wide range of customers of different sizes. Others, like Walmart and Target, have expanded their size options through investments in plus-size labels. Alienating plus-size consumers could also mean missing out on a huge market opportunity -— it's in industry analysts estimate to be worth about $21 billion. Love trying new restaurants? Listen to Eat It, Virginia! Subscribe to the Eat It, Virginia! podcast. Email feedback and questions to EatItVirginia@gmail.com.  |
| 2 Blondes, a SLO CA women's clothing store, is for sale - San Luis Obispo Tribune Posted: 25 Jul 2019 03:52 PM PDT [unable to retrieve full-text content]2 Blondes, a SLO CA women's clothing store, is for sale San Luis Obispo Tribune A downtown San Luis Obispo women's clothing store, which opened nearly five years ago, is now up for sale. 2 Blondes Boutique at 1115 Broad St., owned by ...  |
| The Best Hiking Clothes For Women - Forbes Posted: 27 Jul 2019 03:00 PM PDT This story was written in collaboration withForbes Finds. Forbes Finds covers products and experiences we think you'll love. Featured products are independently selected and linked to for your convenience. If you buy something using a link on this page, Forbes may receive a small share of that sale.  GORE Wear Any time you do active sports you want high-quality gear, but this becomes even more important when you head into the wilderness. Whether you're on a short hike or a long one, the best clothing will keep you comfortable and protect you against the elements. Here are some of the best. Title Nine Clamber Capris Title Nine If you are struggling to decide whether it's a shorts day or a pants day, then it's probably a capri day. Title Nine's Clamber is about as highly rated a pair as you will find—and for good reason. As one of the best-established women-only activewear specialists, Title Nine knows comfortable fit, and these are soft and stretchy with the company's "ClambR" fabric of nylon and spandex. Made for adventures such as hiking, trekking and climbing, they boast great freedom of movement and have a water-repellent finish just in case bad weather moves in. The capris have functional pockets, a comfortable waist and a 24-inch inseam. Icebreaker Persist Shorts Icebreaker Icebreaker's Persist shorts are ready for hiking adventures, and they look and feel great, too. The outer material is made of stretchy nylon for durability, but since these are from the merino-wool experts at New Zealand-born Icebreaker, they are lined with the soft, comfortable and wicking wool, while the waistband is lined with their Cool-Lite fabric for comfort. Lots of pockets, including three with zippers, keep gear secure. These gusseted, longer-length shorts (9-inch inseam on size 29) will work well on the trail and look nice at the café afterwards. Mammut Zinal Hiking Pants Mammut Swiss-based Mammut has been outfitting mountain adventures since 1862 and is known for innovation, utilizing the best materials and pushing the boundaries of technical design. Its new Zinal hiking pants feature an array of modern features with a sportier take. The pants are tailored for maximum comfort and freedom of movement from stretchy nylon and spandex, have a water-repelling treatment, five secured pockets, a zippered hem and mesh-lined, zippered side slits for ventilation, a rare hot-weather feature. Smartwool's Merino 150 Base Layer Micro Stripe Short Sleeve Smartwool You can't beat a good t-shirt for hiking, and nothing beats merino wool. I love it in all seasons, for any activity. This shirt is 85% wool with 15% nylon for durability. The merino is wrapped around the nylon core to keep the temperature regulation, moisture management and the wool's softness next to your skin. (Plus, it doesn't stink when you work up a sweat.) It does everything you want in a base layer, but it is also lightweight stand-alone piece in warm weather. The micro stripes up the cuteness factor. Backcountry La Sal Long-Sleeve Active T-Shirt Backcountry Backcountry is the best-known e-retailer in outdoor clothing, and it has its own excellent line in addition to the roughly 1,000 brands it sells. The Backcountry La Sal Long-Sleeve Active T-Shirt offers lightweight, breathable performance. It features a moisture-wicking polyester blend—keeping you cool and dry from trailhead to mountaintop—with spandex for stretch and an anti-odor treatment. Raglan shoulders with offset seams ensure chafe-free comfort beneath a pack, and thumbholes at each cuff keep your sleeves in place if you decide to add layers. Craghoppers Insect Shield Pro II Pants Craghoppers Bugs used to just be annoying—buzzing around your head and giving itchy bites—now they're downright scary, transmitting terrible diseases. You need to protect yourself, but if you'd rather not spray bug repellent on your skin or want extra protection after dousing yourself, wearing clothing impregnated with permethrin is the way to go. Insect Shield is the leader in this safe and odorless way to repel mosquitos, ticks, flies, ants and other creepy crawlies. The treatment lasts through 70 washes. Craghoppers uses this technology in its Insect Shield Pro II Pants, which are made for travel and the trail. Made of nylon and spandex, they'll help keep you comfortable on hot hikes and have UPF 50 sun protection, odor control and five pockets. Gore Wear H5 Gore-Tex Active Hooded Jacket GORE Wear Gore Wear's H5 Gore-Tex Active Hooded Jacket takes up barely any space, so it will become a go-to item on every adventure. There are several types of Gore-Tex material—all breathable and waterproof—but Gore-Tex Active is you the lightest option for a fully waterproof jacket, and the "H" series is specifically designed for hiking. It's also extremely breathable, completely windproof, has seam-free shoulders for use with a backpack, large, zippered front pockets and an integrated hood with drawcords to adjust its width and size. If it rains, you'll be dry and happy. Patagonia Nano Puff Vest Patagonia Patagonia's Nano Puff Vest is the perfect layer. It's ultra-light and filled with PrimaLoft Gold–literally the gold standard for synthetic insulation, and unlike down, it maintains its warmth even when wet. The quilted design keeps the insulation in place and the recycled polyester shell is windproof and water-resistant. There are zippered, hand-warmer pockets, and the entire vest stuffs into an internal chest pocket with a loop that you can attach to your pack. You won't even know you are carrying it–until you need it.  |
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