How Girlfriend Collective Started Making Leggings From Recycled Water Bottles

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Shop Small is a monthly series highlighting small business owners from diverse backgrounds. This series aims to go deeper than your typical product roundup, diving into the inspirational stories behind some of our favorite brands. By taking a behind-the-scenes look at how their shops came to be and highlighting the products they (and their shoppers!) love, we hope to put a deserving spotlight on these marginalized business owners.

You might remember Girlfriend Collective from its 2016 free leggings campaign, where it gifted a pair of leggings to consumers — you just had to cover the shipping cost. Husband-and-wife duo Quang and Ellie Dinh first introduced the activewear brand to market with that campaign, which led to a surge of positive reviews. "People were saying, 'I got these leggings pretty much for free on the internet, and they're the best leggings I ever had,' and we had thousands of reviews that said the same thing," says Quang Dinh.

In addition to its creative brand launch, what stands out about Girlfriend Collective are its sustainable products made from recycled water bottles and its commitment to inclusivity. To learn more about the sustainable activewear brand, including how it started and its current bestsellers, we spoke with co-founder Quang Dinh. Here's what he had to say:

What's unique about Girlfriend Collective's products?

From the beginning, everything was seamless, smoothing and simple. That was purposeful, because we wanted to create the legging you reach for when walking the dog or going to the grocery store. Our original legging (the Black Compressive High-Rise Legging) is not too heavy, but it feels substantial and sturdy — and you can wear it year-round. Soon, we made sports bras and at that time, we were one of the very few brands that did matching bottoms and tops — this was around 2015.

We started with the Paloma Racerback Bra, which is now a best-seller. It has a long-line silhouette, and almost looks like a tank top — that was Ellie's idea. At the time, I thought, "Why would you want to wear a tank top as a bra?" She wanted to create a top that provides coverage, but also fits as many people as possible in terms of bust. It's a simple top, but performs like a really great sports bra.

Dylan Tank Bra

Compressive High-Rise Legging

Bianca One Shoulder Bra

FLOAT Ultralight Bike Short

Paloma Racerback Bra

Sport Skort

Your sizes span from XXS to 6XL. Why is size inclusivity important for you?

Even when it comes to choosing the brand name, we want to be a place where folks feel safe. The catalyst for Ellie was talking to people and hearing that there are very few activewear brands with products that fit them and perform well. It felt like we had a really great opportunity to build a brand and include people who are left on the wayside in terms of performance activewear.

What inspired you and your wife to get into activewear?

We've always wanted to do something together, and my background was in fashion. When we first started ideating, I knew if I were going to do anything, it needed to have a positive impact environmentally and socially. With that base, we started looking at industries and verticals, wondering where we could make an impact — and we began with a long list of ideas.

My wife’s into fitness and she realized there weren’t any brands that spoke to her as an individual in the activewear space. We researched the industry as a whole, and the further I dug in, I realized, activewear is an industry where nothing had really changed in the last, say, 50 years. Everyone was using synthetics and spandex, and performance apparel had been stagnant in terms of sustainability. Many clothes were and are still made in factories (AKA sweatshops). I felt like we could make an impact in terms of how we produced the product and Ellie could create a brand that spoke to people in terms of inclusivity and diversity.

What was it like to start a business with your wife?

We got married in 2013 and we felt like we could do anything together. Starting a business with your partner is extremely hard — especially a startup, where there's a lot of tension and contentious moments. We both have really strong personalities, but when we put our minds together, we can create something beautiful. My advice for anyone starting a business with a partner: Draw a line in the sand and don't cross it. Leave work at work and don't take it home.

What did you each bring to the table?

I always feel confident in terms of making a product that people will like and want to wear. But, I didn’t really have the mindset of making something beautiful that has meaning and emotions when it comes to leggings and bras. From the early days, Ellie really achieved that. Our landing pages and newsletters feature people of different diversities and body sizes, and around 2015 to 2016, we started getting reviewers writing "I finally see myself represented on a website." That's the power of a partnership — to really trust that person and understand when they say "this is my world."

What's one lesson you've learned as a business owner?

The brand is everything. That’s the biggest lesson I've learned over the course of the last five years. Metrics and numbers mean something, but if you don't have a brand that people actually like, what do you represent?

You Might Also Like

• 67 Best Gifts for Women That'll Make Her Smile

• The Best Pillows for Every Type of Sleeper