We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jessica Nguyen . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jessica below.

Jessica , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

24Athletics is a small business here in San Diego and the perks of being small is having the availability to be hands on with every aspect of design from start to finish. I have a selection of leggings that are handmade, which gave me the ability to source the fabric and come up with designs that can be tested until it meets my standard. I look for fabrics that are durable, comfortable, and made from high quality fibers. I aim to create leggings that feels like a second skin, so you can focus on the task at hand. A lot of time, I will reach for what makes me feel comfortable and confident. I believe a lot of people can relate to this.

Jessica , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Jessica and I’m the creator of an active-wear brand called 24Atheltics. Honestly, I’ve never imagined myself with an active-wear brand, but here I am! Growing up, I was known for being creative and talented in art. I started sketching designs for fun throughout high school. My sketches back then would be of dresses or fashionable street clothes. I had zero interest in designing active-wear. I also did not know how to sew or let alone operate a sewing machine. All of which lead me to the path of studying fashion design in college. My dream back then and till this day was to create clothes that makes people feel good. I was determined to study the in and outs of fashion design in order to make that dream a reality and do it with confidence.

At the age of 23, I found myself living in Kent, Washington and going through a tough time. I then turn to the gym as an outlet for my emotions. The one piece of work out garment that I struggled with the most was leggings! I couldn’t seem to find the right one! Most are see-through or slide down as I’m bending or running. I quickly realized that there was a lack for quality active wear in the market. That’s when I decided to create my own leggings and 24Athletics was born. Now, Quality active wear is easy to find. Awareness around fitness really took off and many clothing companies are putting out better active-wear and I’m thrilled to see that there are more options for consumers! My mission for starting 24Athletics was to contribute in making quality active-wear accessible to people who need them. I strongly believe that feeling good and confident in what you wear can only help you perform better and stay focus on achieving your goals.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

The moment I set out to make workout clothes, I asked my parents for a serger machine for Christmas. The first thing I purchased with my own money was fabrics to make samples. I slowly purchased all my equipment and products I need over a course of one year. At the time, I was working as a Front Desk Agent for a hotel and living in San Diego, California. After rent, car payment, and living expenses. I had very little money left, but they would go toward 24Athletics. The good thing about starting your own business is that you set your own deadline and because of that flexibility, I was able to start my business without any savings.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being creative is being able to communicate through my art. I’m not much of a writer and I find it hard to communicate exactly how I feel through words. Drawing, painting, and designing comes naturally for me and they are how I express my emotions, ideas, purpose, and intentions.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.twentyfourathletics.com
• Instagram: 24athletics
• Facebook: 24athletics

Image Credits
Justin Chen, Tamara Treskavica, Waimea Teixeira, Debra Alison, Sucha Kumar, Savannah Egg-Lyons, Jenny Godinez