Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Nowlan.
Kate, please share your story with us.
We are two active and gritty entrepreneurs. We have a lot in common: we’re both moms; we love fashion; we love to laugh; we love to find the beauty in every woman we meet; we love to run, hike, bike and ski and we have incredible energy.
Each time we trained together, we talked about what we wanted in athletic apparel: safety, sun protection, a place to store your phone, great fabric and compression in the right places. Most of all, we wanted to look our best so we could perform even better… no matter where we were or what we were doing. We wanted to look elegant and fit. We wanted to look sporty chic. We wanted clothing with function. We wanted to create an inclusive group of women that empower one another and share their stories.
We created an engaged community of women that work together, support each other and teach future generations what inclusivity looks like, what activated your power within feels like and what it means to be part of a brand that celebrates the stories of each woman as she finds her strength.
We wanted a company that reflected our values and our beliefs and the women that surround and inspire us. We proudly design and manufacture our product in San Diego, California, minutes from our offices in Solana Beach. Women who wear GRACEDBYGRIT feel powerful, confident, safe and motivated to be active. We understand what it takes to be a woman. We celebrate the strength and power behind every woman.
We are two active and gritty entrepreneurs. We have a lot in common: we’re both moms; we love fashion; we love to laugh; we love to find the beauty in every woman we meet; we love to run, hike, bike and ski and we have incredible energy.
Please tell us about GRACEDBYGRIT.
GRACEDBYGRIT was founded by Kate Nowlan and Kimberly Caccavo in Solana Beach, CA. Each time they trained together, they talked about what we wanted in athletic apparel: safety, sun protection, a place to store your phone, great fabric and compression in the right places. Most of all, they wanted to look their best so they could perform even better… no matter where they were or what they were doing. They wanted to look elegant and fit. They wanted to look sporty chic. They wanted clothing with function. They wanted to create an inclusive group of women that empower one another and share their stories.
GRACEDBYGRIT incorporated in 2013 which became an engaged community of women that work together, support each other and teach future generations what inclusivity looks like, what activated your power within feels like and what it means to be part of a brand that celebrates the stories of each woman as she finds her strength.
They wanted a company that reflected their values and beliefs and the women that surround and inspire them.
GRACEDBYGRIT proudly designs and manufactures our products in San Diego, California, minutes from their offices in Solana Beach. Women who wear GRACEDBYGRIT feel powerful, confident, safe and motivated to be active.
GRACEDBYGRIT understands what it takes to be a woman and celebrates the strength and power behind every woman.
Has it been a smooth road?
Our products were well loved and our brand was solid but fundraising was very difficult for us; we were getting very frustrated. We contacted female investors. We tried crowdfunding. We went to venture capitalists. We went to private equity bankers. Over and over, everyone said, “I love your clothes. I wear your clothes. But I’m not so sure about an investment.” It soon became painfully clear that we were at the same disadvantage as many women who are looking for funding for their businesses.
In 2018, research carried out by 99Designs shows that women entrepreneurs are half as likely as men to raise more than $100,000 in business funding, despite using the same fundraising strategies. The system is stacked against women-led businesses, and the few female investors out there aren’t in a position to take risks in the male-dominated world of investing.
But grit is in our bones. We stuck fast to our vision and found a way to not only survive but thrive, and we’re excited to announce that, as of June 1, 2018, GRACEDBYGRIT is entering an entered a new phase, in partnership with another company. HYLETE.
We found an athletic apparel company that, like us, believes its clothing helps its customers perform their best. HYLETEs primary focus is men, which gives us the perfect opportunity to add our customer base of engaged, motivated women into the mix to create a bigger, stronger, more successful company. Kate will be the first female executive on the team, giving GRACEDBYGRIT a seat at the table so that the voice of the women we exist to serve can be heard: women who live their lives with grace and grit.
We think this new opportunity is going to help us get that message across more effectively than ever before. We will still focus on empowerment, safety, quality, and authenticity, which our beloved GRACEDBYGRIT community demands.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
GRACEDBYGRIT activates the power within each woman to cultivate her GRIT and find her GRACE. We design and manufacture premium athletic apparel to make women look incredible and feel confident in Southern California.
We are a company that reflects our values, our beliefs and the women that surround and inspire us. We are an engaged community that works together, support each other and teach future generations what inclusivity looks like, what activating your power within feels like and what it means to be part of a brand that celebrates the stories of each woman as she finds her strength.
Our inclusive community of women who wear GRACEDBYGRIT feels powerful, confident, safe and motivated to be active. We understand what it takes to be a woman. We celebrate the strength and power behind every woman’s gritty moment. Women who have GRIT invest in themselves, make fitness and health a priority and aspire to be their best authentic selves, not only for their own well being but for the people they love and the causes to which they are dedicated.
Every woman has a story. Every woman has experienced a difficult moment that she thinks might just break her. How we make it through those moments defines us. Our grittiest moments give us our GRACE. Every woman has been GRACEDBYGRIT.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
San Diego is an incredible location to start an apparel business. There is incredible talent here that breeds creativity and innovation. Also, there are manufacturers located here in SD that are phenomenal at producing top-notch apparel.
Contact Info:
- Address: 153 N Hwy 101 Solana Beach, CA 92075
- Website: gracedbygrit.com and hylete.com
- Phone: 877-xo-GRIT1
- Email: heygirl@gracedbygrit.com
- Instagram: @gracedbygrit @trainhylete
- Facebook: @gracedbygrit @hylete
- Twitter: @gracedbygrit @trainhylete
Image Credit:
Naugle Photography, Jo Savage Photography, Mark Tesi Photography
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
