Technical Sportswear

In the early stages of planning Kali Active, I initially wanted to create a more performance-based apparel line. Having done research on technical fabrics, I was excited for all the new capabilities that were being developed and I wanted to experiment to see what a startup could actually use as a launch.

I wanted to incorporate performance characteristics like sweat-wicking, SPF protection, and breathability. Sourcing textured fabrics and using print also felt like a good way to build more depth into the apparel.

Designing, sourcing, and budgeting from sketch to sample was challenging but I found most vendors were excited for me to develop something performance-based in the fight space for women.

AM TO PM COLLECTION

The initial collection had a night and day theme to which I incorporated into the actual garments. The reflective trim and reflective prints were a safety feature I wanted women to have for their evening or early workouts. After meeting with 3M and their suppliers, I ended up learning a lot about their new apparel initiatives and was excited to get my hands on some cool new trims.

My favorite day piece was the sublimated tank on the breathable mesh fabric. I wanted to incorporate color in a fun and versatile way. The print was based on a mash-up of graffiti sprays and drips that I mixed in with our branded print. This ended up making the final “cut” into the actual launch and became a favorite of our early customers.